Building Your Support Network: Lessons from Kenyan Cancer Families

Practical Activation Strategies

The Family Meeting Approach: Call a family meeting within the first week of diagnosis. Be specific about what you need:

• "We need someone to coordinate meal deliveries"

• "We need help with school pickups on Tuesdays and Thursdays"

• "We need someone to manage communication with extended relatives"

The Church Community Strategy: Kenyan churches excel at crisis support, but they need clear direction:

• Speak to your pastor privately first

• Ask for specific ministry team activation (women's group, men's fellowship)

• Create a simple communication system for updates

• Establish boundaries about privacy and information sharing

The Workplace Integration: Many Kenyan employers offer support beyond medical leave:

WhatsApp Family Groups: Create specific groups for different purposes:

• Medical updates group (inner circle only)

• Practical support group (active supporters)

• Prayer and encouragement group (broader community)

Google Sheets for Coordination: Track meal deliveries, transportation schedules, and other practical needs in shared documents that supporters can access and update.

Success Stories from Kenyan Families

The Muthoni Family (Kiambu): Activated their church's women's group to coordinate meals and childcare. Result: Mother could focus on treatment while maintaining family stability.

The Ochieng Family (Kisumu): Created a workplace support team that managed both professional responsibilities and fundraising. Result: Maintained income while accessing private healthcare.

Building Your Network: Week-by-Week Action Plan

Week 1: Identify your inner circle and have honest conversations about needs Week 2: Activate church and community networks with specific requests Week 3: Set up communication systems and coordination tools Week 4: Evaluate what's working and adjust approaches

Remember: accepting support doesn't diminish your strength—it multiplies it. The families who build strong networks don't just survive cancer better; they often discover community connections that enrich their lives long after treatment ends.