“It’s my mission and my responsibility to help Africa, Kenya, my community,” said Jeremy Peng, the founder of the “+&- in Love” club. Founded in September 2024, the club’s primary mission is to help young mothers in Kenya, Africa, by raising awareness in the Kenyan community, advocating through lecturing, publishing high-quality videos, and providing financial and healthcare support for Kenya.
“Time is running out, and we must act now,” said Peng. Kenya, a country in Africa, is well known for its beautiful natural scenery and mysterious creatures; what people don’t know is that Kenya is facing a major problem. Based on the data that Jeremy investigated, “the maternal deaths are 530 per 100,000 births, and 21 infants will die per 1,000 live births.” All these phenomena were caused by poverty, lack of medical infrastructure, and social stigma. Hence, Peng decided to start his journey to help Kenya.
For Peng, the issue is more than just statistics—it is also personal. Jeremy’s love for Kenya is beyond words; he has visited Kenya twice and built lasting connections with the people, community, lives, and culture. Jeremy refers to Kenya as his community and a place full of magic and hospitality. However, this year, his friend, Aria, a teenage girl, passed away during pregnancy. This incident made his determination stronger than ever. He said, “On that day, I made a wish—to bring Kenya’s story to all parts of the world, so that people, every flower, every blade of grass, every living thing can hear the voice of Africa. I will help Africa, and I believe Africa will overcome the ‘mountain.’”
In just the past year, “+&- in Love” has built a partnership with IHEA (a local Kenyan NGO), donating $150 each month and providing 12 free ultrasounds in Kibera, Nairobi. On campus, “+&- in Love” is fulfilling its mission by participating in Kent’s Social Justice Week, creating awareness videos, and presenting at the Wellness Fair. These actions have also benefited the Kent community as a whole. Different events offer Kent students a global perspective and real-life impact experience. This club empowers students to engage with global healthcare issues and fosters connections and empathy with others. As Jeremy said, “We’re not just helping them—we’re learning from them too.”
In the future, “+&- in Love” plans to participate in the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) and in the Atlanta Global Health Conference in the fall of 2025. But this summer, “+&- in Love” will return to Kenya for direct community work. “I couldn’t save Aria,” Peng said, “but maybe, through this, we can save someone else.”
