Educating street children in the Mathare slums

Dear Friends                                     

My name is Silver (not my real name) a resident of Jangwani slums in Utalii Sub-Location, since the year 2000 and this is my story of change. I have been living in the slums of Jangwani.I was born in Mathare slums, one of the largest slums in Kenya. I’m the 4^th born in a family of 6 children.

I was living with my mother for 11 years until when she passed away in July 2011 when I was still a student in Form 3. My parents separated when we were young around 1997. My father was an alcoholic man and was very chaotic whenever he got drunk. He was so violent to my mother which led them to separate. My mum decided to move out with us and it was not that easy to manage. She was unable to cater for all our needs. Shelter was also a problem since she could not afford to pay rent. We could be hosted by some neighbors when the land lords locked the doors.

She would find some casual job which enabled her to afford to pay rent and buy food though most of the time we went hungry whenever should could find job. The work was not that good for her health since she spent too much time working in cold water that resulted to frequent pneumonia. Getting jobs for my mother became so rare because of poor health. We slept several nights without food and the poor living conditions made me run away from home to the streets in search of scrape metal that I could sell to the scrape metal dealers.

The streets of Eastligh in Nairobi became my home as I rarely went home in Mathare and I stayed there for two years. My sisters ended up becoming house maid.

My odyssey at MCFP began in 2000. I was recruited to the organization together with some of my friends and taken to the center for rehabilitation. The center was known as “MADODO”, meaning, “COOKED BEANS” since it was the main dish served at the center This was a “Garden Of Eden” to many of children who come from the streets and those who are vulnerable. The staff made background check on me so as to know establish where relatives were and got enrolled in the program

At Mcf there were so many activities that that made going to the center attractive for us kids who had spent most of our time sleeping in the cold and hungry. There were programs which were helping children mentally. I was rehabilitated and enrolled in the school and all that changed me mentally and the way I looked at things. Some of other programs were:

• Food program – Food was provided daily for us with fruits.
• Hygiene - Bathing was daily, we could wash our clothes in the Center.
• Games – There were so many games that we played, e.g. Ludo, Chase, Cards
• Sports – We played Soccer, went for jogging and swimming.
• Trips and tours-  We visited game parks and animal orphanage
• Camping was one of the best that times.

My education began in 2002-2008- This is the year I first wore uniform in my life. It was a year of change to me. I began my Primary School in January at Class 2, at St. Benedict’s Primary School which I completed in 2008 with 335 Marks in K.C.P.E. that enabled me to join High School.

In the year 2009-2012- In February 22,2009 I joined St. Mary’s High School. After four years, I completed my secondary school with a Grade C Plain.

In the year 2015-2017- I joined Mount Kenya University, Main Campus in January 2015. I took Hospitality Management as my study course. In 2016, May-August, I had my training at Hemingway’s Nairobi, a 5 Star Hotel in Karen. In the year 2018,3^rdAugustI graduated with a Diploma in Hospitality Management with Credit 1  

Since I finished my college education I have been doing casual work especially in construction sights whenever I can find one. I’m soon joining a crew ship company, Royal Caribbean Cruise Limited, in Miami,California,USA.for my first formal employment.

My journey of success has been made possible by you who have been supporting the Mathare Children’s Fund panairobi by your donations. I witnessed my friends in street being killed by a mob for snatching an item form a person so that he could sell to buy food. I later came to realize that the child could have been alive today had he been in school. Once I get the job I will be able to support my family and also support a child from the slums of Mathari There could be another child somewhere who is going through what I went through of even worse than me. That child can be rescued from the streets and given a brighter future by making a donation to this noble course.

Dear friend would you like to join the movement that is supporting former street children? Your donation can help us inspire the next generation, define their values and chart their paths in life.   

• Silver photos (DOCX)