The Friends United Meeting office in Kisumu, Kenya, is situated in a hub for the Centers for Disease Control, as well as for many non-govermental organizations (NGOs) relief, and economic development agencies that are doing tremendous work throughout Africa. The recent executive order to suspend U.S. foreign aid has a direct impact in Kisumu and the world, including programs under the care of Friends United Meeting.
For years, FUM has collaborated with USAID staff to oversee grants through the ASHA (American Schools and Hospitals Abroad) Program. Both the Lugulu Friends Mission Hospital and Ramallah Friends School have benefited from this program.
Currently, FUM has received a $1.4 million grant to construct an assembly hall on the lower campus of Ramallah Friends School. Construction was underway when, on 28 January 2025, we were notified that our grant was suspended.
On 25 February 2025, FUM received the official notification regarding termination of award No.72ASHA21CA00016 : Your award is being terminated for convenience and the interests of the U.S. Government pursuant to a directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his capacity as the Acting Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
To comply with the terms of the suspension, we ceased work on the project, released our contractors and workers, and filed compliance reports. Currently, we have a gaping hole of a construction site on our campus. We are liable for the work completed on the project, and, to date, we owe our contractors and workers $332,000. We are still waiting to know if this distribution request, submitted before suspension, will be honored. And, we need to raise an additional $1,058,488 to complete the project. FUM remains committed to conducting our business with transparency, integrity, and compassion.
Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital is another program deeply impacted by this suspension of American foreign aid. The hospital is supported by Catholic Charities and CHAK (Christian Health Association of Kenya). Both agencies receive funding from U.S. foreign aid programs. FLMH’s Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC), supported by Catholic Charities through U.S. foreign aid, employed twenty-three dedicated staff members who provided life-saving medical services and counseling to patients diagnosed with HIV and tuberculosis. The clinic also runs essential programs to mitigate malaria in the region.
The enforcement of the executive order required the hospital to cease clinic services to over 2,900 patients and dismiss clinic staff. However, Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital is trying to absorb some of the operational costs that Catholic Charities and CHAK usually underwrite—about $12,000 per month. As of today, the suspension remains in place pending the outcome of the review. We remain concerned that the decision to suspend this program will result in the preventable deaths of the very patients we are called to serve.
As part of our burden of concern for Lugulu Friends Mission Hospital and Ramallah Friends School, we are encouraging members of the Quaker community, RFS alumni, and people of goodwill to consider making meaningful contributions to these ministries.
In Ramallah, we are pivoting the leading focus of our Foundation for Tomorrow Campaign to include the completion of the construction project. Click here to learn more about this initiative. Donations for the campaign are received online: https://bit.ly/RFS_foundation-for-tomorrow. Additionally, Kelly Kellum would be happy to visit with you about a donation you might want to make on behalf of the campaign.
For Lugulu, donations for the hospital may be made through the FUM website: https://www.friendsunitedmeeting.org/giving/donate. Please use the Global Ministries Form and designate Lugulu Hospital.
Your generous support at this time is greatly appreciated.
Make a meaningful donation to the Foundation for Tomorrow campaign here:
Recently, FUM General Secretary Kelly Kellum wrote to the U.S. President to express his concern over how the halt in U.S. foreign aid is affecting our Quaker brothers and sisters in other countries. You can find his letter here.
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