About SetCan
A registered non-profit for Kalenjin people in Canada — most of us in Edmonton and Calgary, all of us a long way from the Rift Valley.
Our mission
We are a community of Kalenjin people who have found a welcoming home in Canada, particularly here in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. United by our rich cultural heritage, we strive to maintain our traditions, support one another, and contribute to the diverse tapestry of Canadian society.
In practice that means fostering a strong sense of community, providing support and resources for newcomers, and sharing the beauty of Kalenjin culture with all Canadians. We keep the language and traditions alive, connect families across the province, act as a central point for settlement resources, events and links to the organisations that can help, and honour the wisdom of our elders.
In the organisation's own formal wording:
Mission. To support programs that improve community health and well-being while empowering community members socially, educationally and economically to better serve the community and the Nation.
Vision. To have a socially cohesive, educated, economically empowered and vibrant healthy community.
What we do
SetCan runs a calendar of about a dozen gatherings a year — the summer BBQ and athletics day, the end-of-year gala, women's breakfasts, youth mentorship evenings, and the small park meet-ups that need no occasion at all.
Between events, the work is quieter: helping newcomers with the first three months, pooling contacts for job searches and business licences, preserving the Kalenjin language through educational programs, and sitting with families through weddings and funerals. We also partner with other organisations to advocate for the needs and interests of the community.
Our values
- Unity — We believe in the strength of togetherness, and work to foster it among Kalenjin Canadians.
- Respect (Konyit) — Respect for our elders, for our traditions, and for the diverse perspectives within our own community.
- Community — Mutual support, and working together for the common good rather than individually for it.
- Resilience — The strength and adaptability that has always been a hallmark of our people.
- Progress (Teset ab Tai) — Growth, learning, and the pursuit of excellence in everything we take on.
How we are organised
SetCan has been a registered non-profit since November 2010, run by a volunteer Secretariat with members in Edmonton and Calgary. Our core mandate is improving the cultural and socio-economic status of Kalenjin Canadians, and advancing their interests here.
"We are proud to keep our Kalenjin culture alive in Canada. Through gatherings, storytelling, and traditions, we pass on the rich heritage of our ancestors to the next generation while embracing the maple leaf."
Secretariat
- Chairman — Philemon Kandie
- Secretary — Ruth Cherogony
- Treasurer — Humphrey Kandie
- Youth leader — Dominic Kemboi
Executive board
All members of SetCan Secretariat are also the members of the executive and will act so up until when the community deems it fit to setup a team of executive board
Founders
- Nicholas Lang'at
- Hellen Lang'at
- Nathan Rutto
- Alice Ruto
- Rorogu Ngeno
- Rebecca Ngeno
- Haron Cherogony
- Ruth Cherogony
- Philemnon Kandie
- Loice Kandie
- Evans Bargoret
- Ruth Bargoret
- Jeremy Kosgei
- Julia Maru
- David Maru
Get involved
Come to an event first — nobody needs an invitation. After that, there is always a committee short of hands: events, youth, communications, the archive, or the settlement buddy list.
Our community is built on mutual respect, support and shared values, and we welcome everyone interested in learning about and celebrating Kalenjin culture — whether or not it is your own.
Curious about the community before you come? You can ask our AI about the Kalenjin people of Canada.