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Dr. Ebi Kalahi Kimanani was an active member of our Beaurepaire, Montreal community. With her wonderful presence and engaging manner, Ebi involved those around her in projects to benefit her Kenyan homeland. She grew up in Itegero and worked through the Beaurepaire United Church and wider community, to integrate her two cultures. "Share the Bread", in cooperation with Itegero Busali Women's Group, was initiated by Ebi to be a sustainable, income generating maize mill for her village.

Ebi, a statistician, biomedical research consultant was involved in establishing ethical clinical trials for malaria and AIDS in Kenya and Uganda. Tragically, Ebi succumbed from malaria in Feb. 2005.

We honour her memory with our efforts to provide assistance to her childhood community.

History of Suitcases For Africa

Suitcases For Africa began in 2005 with a small shipment of 3 suitcases of school supplies and books to Ebi's village of Itegero, Kenya. These were sent in memory of Ebi to the school where Ebi began her education, Itegero Primary School. This shipment was a gift from children and parents of Miss Darlene's Nursery School which Ebi's sons had attended. When a video arrived showing the celebrations held at the school over the arrival of the suitcases it became apparent that the need was very great. Teachers, students and parents of Christmas Park School, which Ebi's sons had also attended then joined forces with the nursery school to direct more assistance to Ebi's village school. Ebi's fellow church members with "Share the Bread" joined them too. This project soon touched the hearts of the surrounding community. Fundraising began and donated supplies poured in. Twenty seven suitcases filled with school supplies, clothing and shoes, 12 boxes of new and donated library books and seven physician travel packs containing $35,000.00 worth of medicine for the region were collected. All of these items were gifts of love from our community in memory of and thanksgiving for, the life of Dr. Ebi Kimanani Johns.

A group of Ebis friends in the community began to plan a visit to Ebi's village to share in their loss and to show how much she was respected and loved by our community. This group of women included teachers, librarians and health care professionals and became known as the "Kenya Girls". Their aim was to link our two communities, village to village, share in their community life and to assist them in the areas of education and health.

Seven of the eight Kenya Girls

Linda Toivanen, Susan Cruickshank,

Darlene Anderson, Doris Morgan, Debbie Pearson, Eta Markowicz, WendyHamel (absent-Maya Byers)

Suitcases and boxes after their arrival in Itegero, Feb 2006