Help us celebrate what would be Amado’s 26th birthday this May by donating to the Amado Khaya Initiative, a community organization nonprofit dedicated to further advancing the social justice causes he was passionate in.

Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez was born on May 9th, 1998 in Oakland, CA. His Filipino name, “Amado” means beloved, and his South African name, “Khaya” means home. He truly lived up to his name. He died doing the work of literally building homes for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines. That was preceded by work of fighting to preserve affordable homes in his city of birth. And all along the way he worked to create and build home--a sense of community--on a daily basis through his deep love for his family and friends.

Though his life was short-lived, it was a life well-lived. Amado serves as a shining example of the kind of ethos, the kind of
commitment that today’s world so desperately needs.

Donations will allow us unrestricted funding to continue our programming in youth leadership development fellowships and healing justice retreats. The Amado Khaya Initiative (AKI) aims to disseminate indigenous, land-based, decolonial knowledge and promote individual and collective healing, transformation and liberation. Learn more about us and our programming at amadokhaya.org and make sure to read about Amado’s beautiful and impactful life story at amadokhaya.org/about

He is the new ancestor that has carved out a new path and way of being.

He is the success story we need to celebrate.

He is the epitome of humanity.

Be love. Be loved. Be Amado.

Amado Khaya Initiative

Team Members