Teens Use Service to Promote Interfaith Inclusion Across Nairobi

At the International School of Kenya (ISK), a group of students has been working to strengthen interfaith understanding through a mix of learning and community service. The Cultural & Religious Inclusion Initiative (CRII) was founded by students, Liam Sanders and Ben Gremley to help students experience Nairobi’s diverse religious communities first-hand.

Instead of focusing only on discussions or comparing beliefs, CRII members visit different places of worship and partner with faith communities on charitable projects.

Visits and Service Across Nairobi

One of their first activities was at the Hare Krishna Temple in Ngara, where they delivered food supplies including rice, beans, wheat, and lentils to support the temple’s community kitchen, which feeds people in need across Nairobi.

Later, the club visited ACK Christ Church in Westlands. There, students contributed notebooks and other school supplies to the church’s “Kids to Kids” program, which helps underprivileged students continue their education.

Earlier this year, CRII members visited the Jain Shwetamber Munisuvratswami Temple in Parklands. They learned about Jain teachings such as nonviolence and mutual respect and donated to the temple’s general charity fund.

The group’s most recent visit took them to the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple, the first LDS temple in East Africa, where students toured the facilities and learned more about Mormon beliefs and practices.

Activities Within School

Alongside these visits, the club also runs book drives that collect religious texts from different faiths, giving students a chance to read about traditions they may not be familiar with.

Posters and student-made videos are displayed around the school to raise awareness of Nairobi’s religious diversity and encourage respect and understanding.

With around 20 active members, CRII aims to show that service can be a powerful way to build connections across different beliefs. By working side by side with faith communities, they hope to move interfaith learning beyond conversation and into everyday action.

Upcoming events

Looking ahead, the group plans to reach more schools and religious organizations so that more young people in Nairobi can learn through direct experience and community service. For CRII, interfaith inclusion works best when people help each other and learn together.

Get Involved and Contact

For more information about the Cultural and Religious Inclusion Initiative (CRII), or to inquire about partnerships or upcoming visits, please contact: Email: [email protected]​, [email protected]