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Spokane’s Partnering for Progress strengthens Kenyan community after nearly 20 years
Spokane-based Partnering for Progress nears 20 years of helping Kopanga, Kenya, improve education, nutrition, safe water and economic development.
By Max Broennle | FāVS News Reporter
Partnering for Progress (P4P), a Spokane-based organization that aims to support Kopanga, Kenya, through education, nutrition, safe water and economic development, is witnessing the progress they’ve achieved alongside the Kopanga community as they approach 20 years.
“What we’ve done is just bring the world closer together, I think as God intended, that we would help whenever we can, and we would reach out to other people so that when we have more to give, we can uplift other people,” said Joan Muse, co-president of P4P’s board.
Sandy Ivers and Stacy Mainer are the co-founders of Partnering for Progress. While visiting Kopanga in 2007, they were witnesses to malnutrition and preventable diseases that were widespread throughout the area. They were inspired to dig into what actions they could take to support those affected.
“I’ve seen that in other international organizations that you become very dependent. This is a very strong, vibrant, independent community that really is working as a community to build themselves up. I remember one of our earlier things that we’ve promoted was, we’re a hand up, not a handout, and I really see that with P4P,” Mainer said.
Celebrating 20 years
2027 will mark Partnering for Progress’s 20 year anniversary. Not only have they witnessed changes assisted by their own work, the cofounders explained, but they have also addressed how technology has increased in Kopanga — allowing P4P to expand on what they can offer.
“Technology connects worlds. So if people are in the rural areas, there was no way we could effectively support those communities because we wouldn’t be able to get real-time feedback. But now they’re going to take photos, they’re going to communicate because they’ve charged their phones,” Muse said.
Direct communication and feedback were not available when they began their initiative. Ivers expressed how the support in 2026 has been streamlined to what will actually bring about lasting change.
“Initially, we were spending a lot of time with medical teams coming over with us to help with the medical piece, but as time went by, I think we became more and more aware that this incredible poverty that they experienced there really was the base of the larger problem,” Ivers said.
Now, P4P has support in place to assist the beginnings of a sustainable and improving system of education, nutrition, water and economic development.
Education improvements
P4P has created scholarships to allow students in Kopanga to pursue higher or secondary education without the financial burden of tuition and boarding fees, according to their website.
Additionally, period poverty causes many young girls to not be able to attend school. P4P promotes menstrual education and reusable period products for menstruating students.
“We continually encourage them and tell them as we support you, we would also want this to be sustainable,” Muse said.
Health improvements
Malnutrition is a widespread problem, especially for children in Kopanga.
Through milk, food baskets and home visits, P4P provides and organizes resources to assist in the fight against childhood malnutrition while maintaining their sustainability message.
“Those participating in the Power of Milk program are also being trained to plant kitchen gardens so that they can grow crops for their family’s daily consumption,” their website says.
Sustainable farming and animal breeding has begun a lasting impact on Kopanga. P4P worked to bring resources and education for these practices, allowing the community to have opportunities to grow and expand on the support they’ve been given.
Safe water and sanitation
Through assisting the building of hand washing stations, rain collecting tanks and digging latrines, P4P has worked to bring water and sanitation to Kopanga.
Those who previously walked miles to water — water that was potentially contaminated — now have access to tools necessary for hygiene and life within their direct vicinity.
P4P relies on donations and sponsorships to continue their relationship with Kopanga, Kenya.
They’ve teamed up with Water from Wine to donate all of their revenue to providing water and sanitation to Kopanga. Additionally, they hold an auction annually where the profits all directly fund their sustainable initiatives and are always accepting donations on their website.
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