Krystina was one of Shannon's best friends from high school, who was diagnosed with cancer the same year she started this non-profit. A co-founder of the project, Krystina spent six months volunteering on various projects in Kenya in 2012. Krystina took full advantage of her time in Kenya and spent many of her weekends exploring East Africa including rafting and bungee jumping over the Nile River in Uganda, spotting the Big Five while on safari in Kenya, and trekking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She loved getting to know the families that hosted her and taught herself Swahili so she could communicate with the children she was constantly surrounded by. Always looking for a new project to work on, one day Krystina ventured into Kipsongo Slum with her friend and fellow volunteer, Lindsey. After seeing the dire situation the community faced, Krystina decided she would put her talent, passion, and resources to use to do her best to affect change in Kipsongo. Hence, The Kipsongo Project was born. Soon after returning home from her time in Kenya, while studying for her Master's in Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver, Krystina was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Krystina battled the disease for over two years, the whole time working toward her goal to empower and bring hope to the women and children of Kipsongo. In December of 2014 after an extremely courageous and dignified fight, Krystina lost her battle with the disease. The Kipsongo Project lives on with her family and friends determined to see Krystina's visions and dreams come to fruition.
