Educating street children in the Mathare slums

One of my earliest childhood memories is watching my mum waste away with no one to help her get treatment or food for our family. I don’t know my father; and only as a child can, I imagined that his presence in our life would make everything better. This was never to be. Many are the days we went without food; forcing me to stay away from school as my rumbling stomach and hunger pangs distracted me from the teaching. My days were endless and the nights were not any different until one lucky afternoon. I was walking along Nairobi streets as was the norm at the time; hoping to meet a Samaritan willing to buy me food when I was approached by a well-dressed lady. She said hello, and I quickly responded thinking here is my chance for a few coins or a meal. She asked about my family and why was not in school. I asked her for food which she graciously agreed to buy for me. As I gobbled down the chips, I told her about my life. She said she will take me to a place where I could get an education and help for my mother. I looked at her doubtfully, but agreed to her idea simply because she said my mum would be helped.

It was a few days later when I met the team of Mathare Children’s Fund (MCF). They spoke to me about going through rehabilitation and later facilitating my education if I was willing to take this step. I asked them what they would do for my mother, to which they responded that they would link her with their partners who would get her medical treatment. This felt like the beginning of a new chapter in my short life, I was only 7 years old at the time. Rehab was initially difficult for me. I enjoyed the regular meals and play mates but hated the time restrictions and routine imposed on me. True to their word, once my rehabilitation was over, MCF enrolled me in a primary school. They took care of my tuition costs and provided me with books, uniform and all else I needed for school.

Sadly, my mother succumbed to her illness two years later. My life once again became complicated. I moved in with my elder sister and her husband who lived within Mathare. A few months later, I was forced out of their home by my brother in law. He did not want the burden of an extra mouth. I missed my mother, I missed her love and I missed her calming reassurance that everything will be fine. My elder brother took me in, but his unpredictable lifestyle affected my school attendance. On realizing this, MCF discussed it with him and he supported their idea to enrol me in a boarding school. I sat for my Kenya Certificate of Primary education in 2009 at Mwago Memorial Academy in Nyeri and ahieved 323/500 marks. I joined Kirimara High School in 2010 and four years’ later sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education attaining a grade of C+.

With the continued support of Mathare Children’s Fund panairobi I went on and joined Mt. Kenya University. I enrolled for a Diploma in Community Development. I completed my course and GRADUATED on the 15^th December 2017!!! I remembered my mother’s words that everything was going to be alright; and now with my Diploma in hand I knew this was true.

I chose Community Development that I may give back; my life experience nurtured in me a gift for reaching people. I want to CHAMPION children’s education, I want to promote community empowerment. I want to build their skills, I want to see families and especially children enjoying their basic rights to food, shelter and education. Looking back at my life, I realize that am the only one of my age mates still alive, which is my motivation. Today, am an intern working for the County Government of Nairobi as a Community Development Officer in Huruma.

I owe MCF my life.

THANK YOU MCF FOR MY EDUCATION! Thank you to all the partners who support MCF for making this possible. Thank you that I am now a beacon of hope for my community!

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