TANARI INTERNATIONAL REPORT

By Muhia Karianjahi
Executive Director

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Young people around the world need to belong to safe and relevant communities (churches, schools, neighborhoods, and institutions), from whence they can thrive and flourish as they tackle contemporary challenges of growing up in a postmodern world. Tanari’s rites of passage (ROPES) program appealed to these leaders as a starting point for equipping such communities. 

The board that they formed to lead Tanari International now consists of Dr. Paul Robinson (Wheaton
College, IL), Alexis Beggs Olsen (nonprofit management and governance consultant, West Chicago, IL),
Rob Cook (Vistage International CEO coach, DE), Susan Puckett (a stay-home mum with amazing admin
skills, Franklin TN), Dr. John Crabtree (Special Consultant to the President, Crossroads College, IN),
Lillian Covington (Vice President, Resource Development, Opportunity International, IL), and Muhia
Karianjahi (Executive Director, Tanari International).

The first task was to send one of their own to walk alongside Tanari Trust and to help in program and
capacity development. Muhia Karianjahi, who is also a Trustee and founder of Tanari Trust, took up this
responsibility in August 2004. Joining an exciting team of staff and volunteers on the ground, he witnessed
God’s favor as Tanari Trust grew from ministering to about 500 young people a year then, to over 8,000 in
2007. Programs, facilities, staff and impact grew, even as is evident from the rest of this Open Day report.
Tanari Trust and its programs are now a crucial part of the Kenyan youth ministry landscape.

The Tanari International Board now feels that it is time to reach out beyond Kenya’s boarders. God has
favored this desire too, and we have seen amazing developments these past two years.

A most exciting development has been  the staff multiplication. Scott Barnett, a well seasoned camp programmer, joined Tanari International as Program Director in July 2008. Scott is at the final stages of his doctoral studies in Education Studies (with a dissertation on spiritual formation in camp programs) at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, which he is completing from his new Kenyan base. He is married to Lara, a fellow camp ministry enthusiast who teaches at Rosslyn Academy. Scott has trained camp leaders in three continents and is enthused to join in the growing vision of youth ministry through Tanari International. We have also been joined by Tina Otieno, a young, energetic administrator to undergird our ministries with sound office backing. She previously was with Tanari Trust and carries essential Tanari DNA.

Tanari International has these past two years continued to support Tanari Trust in various ways. Scott, Muhia and Tina are involved in helping grow the ROPES program to new levels locally, developing regular residential camps and expedition programs for Tanari Trust, and generally providing expertise, training and counsel where needed.

On the international front, TI led pilot programs in Chitipa and Ntisi in Malawi, and in Cape Coast province of Ghana in 2008. Later this year, Scott and Muhia will lead experiential learning training in South Africa. Tanari International is also playing a key role in the development of Africa Christian Camping (ACC), a network of camp facilities and practitioners with the mandate to synergize Christian camping in sub-Saharan Africa. Scott Barnett recently led an ACC training day here in Nairobi for 40 trainers.

Tanari International’s revised mission statement is Equipping Communities to Disciple Youth. We sense God calling us to boldly step out with what he has incubated and birthed through Tanari Trust, to help transform the youth of this continent by influencing the landscape of youth ministry in
churches, universities, governments and their societies in general. What a privilege it is to be part of this movement!