10. Immigrant Parents and Their "Third Culture" Children

Akinyi Adoyo

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“The culture of a people is their identity as it affords them due recognition….there is no denial of the fact that what makes any human society is its culture; a Latin word which was derived from “colore” meaning to practice or cherish. For a society to be societal it must be cultural; therefore, society and culture are also intertwined.”

The podcast episode features an interview with Akinyi Adoyo, born and raised in Kenya, who shares her personal experience and work with a nonprofit called Friends of Africa. In this conversation, we cover important topics such as cultural preservation, identity, and the impact of immigration on families. She discusses what it means to be a third culture kid and the challenges they face while emphasizing the importance of creating safe spaces to explore and celebrate their culture. She shares examples of incorporating cultural elements into school projects by sharing Kenyan games, music, and food. The conversation highlights the therapeutic nature of culture and the importance of community in shaping one's identity.

In this Episode, We Cover:

Akinyi Adoyo's Journey: Akinyi Adoyo's experience growing up in Kenya, studying in Arkansas, and settling in Houston, and how becoming a mother in the US made her realize how African she was.
The Therapeutic Nature of Culture: The speakers discuss the therapeutic nature of culture and how it can be overwhelming in the US due to individualism versus community.
Ubuntu Philosophy: The speakers discuss the South African philosophy of Ubuntu, which centers human collaboration and highlights interconnectedness.
Challenges Faced by Third Culture Kids: The speakers discuss the challenges faced by third culture kids, specifically in the African culture, including bullying, racial issues, and microaggressions in schools.
Shy about using African names: Akinyi shares an example of how some kids were initially shy about using their African names, but later embraced their culture and language.
Challenges faced by third culture kids: The conversation covers the challenges faced by third culture kids, including cultural preservation, identity, and the impact of immigration on families.
Importance of cultural preservation: We discuss the importance of cultural preservation and the challenges of passing down culture to future generations.

Who is Akinyi Adoyo?

Born and raised in Kenya, Akinyi Adoyo is a mother, sister and daughter who believes deeply in the African philosophy of Ubuntu.
She co-founded and directs Friends of Africa, a non-profit organization that focuses on culture passion and connection. Under Friends of Africa, is flagship program AfroKidVenture that mainly focuses on our Third Culture Kids here in Houston.

"During the day" she is head of Marketing at Medical Bridges, a non-profit organization that collects medical equipment and supplies from the US and redistributes them to healthcare workers across nations. She passionately believes that we can rewrite our stories, heal and thrive through deliberate and structured collaborative efforts. Akinyi has been awarded the Humanitarian Award by the Kenyan Community at the Mashujaa Award Ceremony, "You Make a Difference" Award by the American Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (Presented by Mayor Yolanda Ford), a congressional award by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and most recently Volunteer of the Year Award by the Nigerian-American Multicultural Council (Presented by Commissioner Rodney Ellis)
Akinyi holds a Computer Science Degree from the University of Houston -
Downtown.