Wanjiru Kamau, Winner of 2011 Purpose Prize for Community Service

Wanjiru Kamau Purpose Prize Winner

She provides community service by helping African immigrants adjust to life in America

As she saw victims of the Rwandan genocide arrive in the United States, many of them illiterate and bewildered by modern city life, Wanjiru Kamau was taken back to her own childhood. She grew up in rural Kenya without running water or electricity, carrying loads on her back that left her permanently scarred. She needed to help, says Kamau, 69, winner of a 2011 Purpose Prize: "This is why I was educated, to give back" through community service. See also:

The 2011 Winners

Wanjiru Kamau In 2000, with her four children grown, Kamau quit her job at Penn State University (where she had come from Kenya, in 1977, to pursue graduate studies in psychological counseling), withdrew $10,000 from her retirement account and moved to Washington, D.C., to start the . Since then, Kamau's nonprofit organization has helped more than 6,000 immigrants from 45 countries adjust to their new lives in the United States. Many of them arrive with trauma from loss and family separation, severe poverty, cultural and linguistic barriers, and illiteracy. Bob Sacha/Civic Ventures Wanjiru Kamau, winner of a 2011 Purpose Prize. "Mama Kamau," the kids call her, and African parents, respectful of age, listen to her. A dozen consultants and some 35 volunteers (including pro bono lawyers and psychologists) help her, and the foundation partners with state and local governments, schools and universities. Kamau draws no salary, has no private health insurance and became a vegetarian to save on food costs. But, she says with a smile, "There are days I wake up and feel 15." To learn more about how Kamau's group helps immigrants, watch the video in the player above.

Related

Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.