A Call That Sparked a Movement

As a young doctor in Kenya, Dr Florence Muindi knew she wanted to do more than treat illness – she wanted to get to the root and break the cycle of extreme poverty. Her specialisation in public health, including time at the University of Geneva, was meant to prepare her for humanitarian crisis management.

But back in Africa, she realised: external expertise alone is not enough. Sustainable transformation must come from within – when local people are equipped to take responsibility for change.
What followed was not only her personal journey, but the beginning of what would become the LIA approach.

In the Leprosy Village with the Maasai

In the mid-1990s, Florence began her first projects among the Maasai in Kenya, alongside her husband and two sons. In a remote leprosy village, she witnessed both the depth of need and the powerful untapped potential within local churches and communities.
That experience left a deep and lasting impression.

In the Slums of Ethiopia

Florence wanted to make a long-term commitment – not to offer selective help, but to enable a sustainable path out of poverty. When the opportunity arose to go to Ethiopia, she said yes – even though it meant leaving behind home and the familiar.
In a poor neighbourhood of Addis Ababa, she began working with a small local church to establish a medical ministry.

From Health Project to Multipliable Model

What began as a simple initiative quickly evolved into a holistic approach: church members received medical training, conducted home visits, provided first aid, and took responsibility for vulnerable people in their community.
This work gave rise to a model that could be replicated. The leaders trained by Florence began passing their knowledge on to others.

The Launch of Life In Abundance

In 1999, Florence founded Life In Abundance International (LIA) in Ethiopia in response to this growing movement.
Today, LIA operates in 14 countries across Africa and the Caribbean. Together with local partners – often churches – we accompany villages and urban neighbourhoods on their journey toward holistic transformation.
Florence served as LIA’s CEO for many years and continues to lead as President.

What Moved Florence Then Still Moves Us Today

The conviction that every community holds potential for change. And the belief that God calls people to shape and renew their environment – out of love, and with lasting impact.