Faith-Hope-Love. That’s the meaning of the name Imani-Tumani-Upendo, the only non-profit member of the Innovation Underground here in Bryan, Texas. This is only the second summer Imani has coordinated mission teams serving organizations working on the ground in Africa, but the company has already expanded from one team in 2011 to four teams this year. Next year, Imani expects to send nine teams to Africa.
Jenny Jenkins (r) and Rachel Driskell (l) are the founders of Imani-Tumani-Upendo
Imani founders Jenny Jenkins and Rachel Driskell are especially proud that they are able to offer internships for credit to Texas A&M University students serving on the mission teams.
Imani trains team leaders and prepares participants for the summer in training sessions in downtown Bryan before they set out to Africa. Imani’s new video produced while on the ground in Jinja, Uganda provides insight into the impact these teams are having, and just as important, the impact the mission is having on each team member.
So far, Imani supports three mission organizations, including:
Real4Christ operating in Mombasa, Kenya
Healing Faith, Jinja, Uganda
The Cries of a Child, Burundi, Africa
Jenny and Rachel hope to expand by reaching out to additional mission organizations operating in Africa and enhancing their operations to provide support to more individuals and even organization seeking mission opportunities abroad.
Rachel in the mission field.
Watch the Imani video to learn more, and visit their website to get the full story about this rapidly growing start-up.