Educating street children in the Mathare slums

Mathari Children Fund Panairobi (MCFP) continues to champion SDG 4 through its scholarship program. The program is aimed at ensuring that the most neediest children in the Mathare informal settlement and its environs access quality education. MCFP is committed to ensuring that all our scholarship beneficiaries have access to equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

In this reporting period, we feature the story of John ( not his real name ) . His journey is undeniably both tragic and uplifting, a testament to the human spirit's resilience against all odds. Born on June 14, 2012, John grew up in the harsh and unforgiving environment of Mathare's Kosovo section, a place notorious for gang activities and rampant substance abuse. The streets of Kosovo are often filled with individuals in a state of "brain blackout" due to excessive drug intake, painting a bleak picture of life in this slum.

Despite the immense challenges he faces, including the loss of both parents and mistreatment by his step-grandfather, John showed remarkable resilience and determination. He lived with his elderly grandmother and elder brother, enduring mistreatment from his step-grandfather whenever his grandmother was away. This mistreatment always drove John to the streets of Eastleigh in search of food, only returning home when his grandmother was back.

Fortunately, John was allowed to break free from this cycle of poverty and despair through The Mathare Children’s Fund school sponsorship program. He enrolled in Mathari Primary School, where he quickly distinguished himself as the best student in his class, earning the role of class prefect. Later, after consulting with his grandmother and uncle from their rural home, it was decided that John and his brother to be relocated to the village to remove them from the unconducive environment in the informal settlement. This move was intended to offer them a more comfortable living environment and ensure uninterrupted schooling. 

Since the move to their rural home, John has emerged to be among the best-performing students with great prospects for the future. John's story serves as an inspiration to all who hear it. His determination to succeed academically and his resilience in the face of adversity are truly commendable. Further, he is undergoing mentorship and counseling to help him cope with the traumas he has experienced in his life and build a strong foundation for his future.

The story of John is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of education and the importance of providing support to those in need. With the right assistance and opportunities, Binato has the potential to achieve great things and make a positive impact on his community and beyond.

MCFP highly appreciates all our GlobalGiving donors who make the school scholarship program such a huge success.  

With scholarships, Vulnerable children are able to pursue their education, without having to choose between their school fees and financial needs at their family. In such a context, the availability of scholarship funds assumes significant importance, particularly for vulnerable and underprivileged families living in Nairobi informal settlements. Scholarships serve as a crucial source of relief, enabling vulnerable children to access education on equal footing and pursue their aspirations.

One shining example of the transformative power of scholarships is the journey of Deryl Atieno, a brilliant scholar and beneficiary from the Mathiri Children FundPanairobi (MCFP) Scholarship. Despite facing overwhelming hardships as she comes from a very poor family, Deryl is currently showing remarkable progress with the support of MCFP scholarship. Deryl's academic performance has been consistently impressive since her enrollment in the support program. At the end of each term, she has consistently placed within the top five positions in her class. Notably, in November 2023, she sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and emerged as the top candidate among those sponsored by The Mathare Children’s Fund Panarobi and she is awaiting to top secondary schools in Kenya

Deryl Atieno Omondi is the first born in her family of three. Her mother, who gave birth to her while still a teenager faced numerous challenges that included significant societal stigma, financial challenges, depression among others. In this state she was not able to raise Deryl and hence grandmother, a single parent also,  took the parenting responsibilities. Deryl grandmother had a small business of selling porridge by the roadside where the income could hardly support the family. The family many times slept without a meal and more often the land lord removed the door to their house when they were unable to pay house rent.  Deryl's father,a casual worker at a construction site,abandoned his responsibilities of taking care of the family. In this circumstances Deryl was at the verge of missing and opportunity to access education. Her grandmother tried her best to keep her in school but Deryl was always sent home due to lack of school fees. This exposed her to other vulnerabilities in the informal settlement such as sexual exploitation, drugs and substance abuse among others.

Deryl was identified as a vulnerable child by community leaders. Following a background check, she was deemed eligible for school scholarship at MCFP. She was subsequently reintegrated into school 

According to her teachers , she has a promising excellent academic performance and she aspires to have a successful career as a lawyer in future.