KeelMaster Kenya: Progress, Persistence, and Power of Potential
When KeelWorks Foundation introduced the KeelMaster Solution in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, we knew progress would take time. In Kakuma, learners are building futures while facing limited technology, unreliable internet, scarce economic opportunities, and daily responsibilities that compete with learning.
Yet something powerful is taking shape. Participants are learning, adapting, and beginning to see new possibilities in themselves.
KeelMaster is being implemented with the Voice for Disabled People Association (VDPA), a refugee-led organization focused on inclusion and opportunity. The first cohort includes 20 participants from different nationalities, abilities, experiences, and levels of digital familiarity.
More than a training course, KeelMaster is designed to understand individual needs, remove barriers, build competencies, provide ongoing support, and create pathways to internships, work experience, and employment. Kenya is showing what that journey looks like in practice.
Meet Our First Director of PMO
Mariya Jaffery has been named the first Director of PMO and Founding Director of the Quality Management Department. Here are some words from this tireless leader:
"I am deeply honored to serve KeelWorks Foundation as Director of PMO and Founding Director of the Quality Management Department. These first-of-their-kind roles reflect our collective commitment to excellence, governance, and quality. None of this would be possible without this incredible team. Thank you for your trust."
New Member Joins The Board
Therese Cagle, Program Manager Fundraising, will join the KeelWorks Board in September. Here's more about Therese:
Therese Cagle has held multiple cross-functional roles within healthcare, including physician liaison and business analyst, plus five years in staffing, coordination, HR workforce development, and management training. That range gives her a big-picture view of how organizations work, spotting bottlenecks, running needs analysis across departments, and applying Strategic Organizational Communications training to turn good intentions into workable systems. She reads operations end-to-end, translates challenges into measurable priorities, and aligns people, process, and funding around outcomes that move the mission forward. Therese holds a Master's in Instructional Design and Technology and brings 18 years in IT software, network, and technical support.
Associate of the Month: Anish Menon
My time at KeelWorks Foundation has been a rewarding journey of learning, collaboration, and growth. I have had the opportunity to contribute across HR, project management, and quality management while working with talented people from diverse backgrounds. I am grateful for the trust, support, and opportunities I have received, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to KeelWorks's mission and growth.
Associate of the Month: Anish Menon
My time at KeelWorks Foundation has been a rewarding journey of learning, collaboration, and growth. I have had the opportunity to contribute across HR, project management, and quality management while working with talented people from diverse backgrounds. I am grateful for the trust, support, and opportunities I have received, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to KeelWorks's mission and growth.
Founder's Message
There are so many exciting projects underway at KeelWorks that it can be hard to just pick one, but the move for each department to develop a formal certificate program is especially important. We've long been preparing instructional designers, but now we have training and certificates for project management, UX, grant acquisition, and finance. Our goal has always been to get people to work, and we are proud of the constant stream of participants leaving to paid employment.
The biggest gap in KeelWorks development has been quantification of operations and benefit. Without data showing this and transparency on data methodology, grantors are less willing to grant. The gap is closing with our new data services functional lead, Priyamvada Maan. I am very excited to see our data services department swarming over the data challenges. Pray that we garner significant grants to eventually support paid staff.
Speaking of fundraising, this year has seen our lowest donations since 2020. It is largely my fault for not asking people directly (my least favorite part of the job). I am seriously concerned because our expanding systems and services are an increasing burden on our resources. Please consider making a donation, even a $10 one makes a difference.
Thomas Garrod, Founder
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The work we do wouldn't be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Your donation helps us get people to work.
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