The Story of WHISCA
Founding Willing Hearts
Willing Hearts International Society of Canada was started by Canadian Teacher Gerri Graber in 2003 with a focus on advancing education and supporting community development in Africa.
Under her leadership they successfully completed projects in Chad and Cameroon.
Gerri passed away in 2011 at the age of 73. For more information about Gerri’s work, click here.
Gerri Graber and local children in Chad.
Photo by Jan Padgett, sourced from The Province.
“Our mission was their mission”
When WHISCA founder Gerri Graber and Khayanga Jenipher Wasike met at a Vancouver conference in 2009, the next chapter of the organization began. Khayanga took over Willing Hearts and the organization moved their focus to the Lugari region of Kenya.
Since then, WHISCA has run a range of programs at their Lugari Community Resource Centre in the village of Musembe. Ou programs include sustainable agricultural, rural micro-enterprise, participatory education, career development, sports, health, early childhood development, environmental conservation, and youth leadership.
Khayanga Wasike always knew she was meant to return home to Kenya and help her community.
Growing up in the Lugari region, Khayanga experienced first-hand the hold of poverty on life in her village.
She and her family lived in a small grass hut in their remote community. Khayanga and her siblings would often do work for other families to get enough food for themselves.
Khayanga’s Story
Khayanga with local girls handing out Feminine Hygiene Kits.
“In the beginning, it was a little bit like a dream. Going to school was a dream”
Throughout it all, Khayanga persevered and kept attending school. With the support of her mother, Khayanga attained the opportunity to attend secondary school, and then University where she studied to become a high school teacher. She dreamed of changing the lives of girls like her through education and empowerment.
After teaching for some years, Khayanga found another home in Canada. She secured a sponsorship and settled in Vancouver, where she worked as a social worker and eventually pursued her Master’s at the University of British Columbia (UBC). But, in her mind, the dream of returning to Kenya lived on.
“But every single day, through all this, I prayed I would head back home and help my community”
Khayanga returned home after over 10 years to find her community struggling. The challenges she faced were still affecting others and, in fact, they had only worsened. So, she went to friends and community members with an idea and a dream.
In 2008, Khayanga purchased 4.5 acres of land in the village of Musembe and founded the Lugari Community Resource Centre (LCRC). The centre would run programs and services that would relieve poverty, advance education, and develop community sustainability.
Khayanga (right) giving a presentation to volunteers from Utah.