A 25-year friendship between an Indiana student and a Kenyan pastor ignited one of East Africa's most trusted grassroots development organizations.
"To fight HIV/AIDS, provide primary school education, encourage microenterprise development for women and provide healthcare for the people of Western Kenya — without regard to religion, politics, ethnicity or nationality."
In 1998, Hank Selke, an undergraduate student from Indiana University on a travel adventure, found himself in the rural village of Kabula in Western Kenya. There, he crossed paths with Rev. Reuben Lubanga, a passionate community development worker already trying to fight HIV/AIDS with almost no resources.
With little more than a donated television, a VCR, and a wheelbarrow, the two men began traveling to remote village centers — screening health education films and facilitating community discussions about AIDS prevention at a time when the subject was surrounded by dangerous stigma and silence.
That first year of collaboration planted the seed of ICODEI — Inter-Community Development Involvement — and launched a cross-cultural friendship that would grow into an international volunteer network touching hundreds of thousands of lives.
Two men from different worlds, united by a shared belief that communities can heal themselves — with the right support.
A graduate of Indiana University, Hank stumbled into Kenya with a spirit of adventure and left with a life's calling. He is the primary bridge between international volunteers and the Kabula community — recruiting, fundraising, and coordinating programs from the United States while maintaining deep personal ties with every family in the village.
A pastor, educator, and development champion, Rev. Reuben was fighting AIDS stigma in Bungoma long before ICODEI existed. He is the operational heart of the organization — managing clinic operations, coordinating with government schools, running microenterprise visits, and ensuring every visiting volunteer is immersed deeply and safely in the Kenyan community.
Betty opened the community preschool in 2001 that grew into Epico Jahns Primary Academy — now one of the highest-ranked primary schools in Western Kenya. She also coordinates all of the women's microenterprise and reproductive health programs, serving as a trusted mentor to over 100 women's self-help groups.
Joyce joined the Volunteer Kenya / ICODEI team in January of 2007. She oversees all the day to day planning and organization of our volunteer activities. Joyce acts as the on-the-ground coordination point between our field coordinators, overseas volunteers, drivers, and translators. Joyce has a background in general management and accounting.
From a single VCR to a full-scale clinic, school, and microenterprise network — every milestone was earned through community trust.
Hank Selke meets Rev. Reuben Lubanga in Kabula. Using a donated TV and VCR, they begin HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns across remote village centers in Bungoma District.
The organization is formally registered in Kenya as ICODEI — Inter-Community Development Involvement — with a full governance board of local and international directors.
Betty Lubanga opens a community preschool in Kabula. Volunteer teachers help grow it steadily; today it serves 450+ children from Pre-K through Grade 8 as one of the top schools in Western Kenya.
First seed capital grants ($500–$600) disbursed to women's self-help groups for tailoring, bee-keeping, and horticulture. The model scales to 100+ groups over the next decade.
The permanent clinic, named in memory of Hank's father Bill Selke, opens its doors in Kabula. Mobile clinic outreach begins — traveling 1–2 hours into remote villages weekly to treat malaria, typhoid, and infections for 100+ patients daily.
EMPOWER — a structured peer-educator training curriculum for high school students — launches, equipping young Kenyans to break HIV/AIDS stigma in their own communities.
Over 1,000 volunteers from 24 countries have served. Medical students, doctors, teachers, and social workers live in farm homestays and work side-by-side with Kenyan staff.
ICODEI has reached over 200,000 people with AIDS awareness, educated 450+ children annually, supported 100+ women's groups, and run thousands of mobile clinic patient encounters — all under the philosophy of teaching from within, never from above.
Six principles guide every decision — from clinic protocols to volunteer recruitment to program design.
All programs are designed alongside local Kenyan leaders. International volunteers support — they do not lead or replace.
We treat the whole person and the whole community — providing curative care, preventive education, and emotional support.
Education is the most powerful investment we make. No child should be denied schooling because of poverty.
When women thrive economically, families and communities follow. We invest directly in women-led enterprises.
We build friendships, not projects. Volunteers are guests in a living community, expected to listen, learn, and respect.
Every dollar spent is accounted for. Volunteer fees directly fund clinic medicines, school supplies, staff salaries, and vehicle fuel.
Whether you come for one month or three, volunteer in the clinic, the classroom, or a women's group — you leave having changed both a community's future and your own.