A community
It seems it is not "politically correct" or sensitive to refer to a community as a "slum". I (Deb) was told that the new reference is "economically disadvantaged communities." But "slum" does communicate what we all know as a place of great poverty and despair. And that is Kasarani. It has grown to perhaps 30,000 people in a very small area by the shores of Lake Naivasha, but nobody really knows. It is thought that up to 50% of the population are children under the age of 8. Flower farms provide opportunity for work, which also provides hope and sustenance for families, but there is also large unemployment as the population grows and others move in hoping for work. The majority of the residents are not from this area but come from rural areas to find work, making the village very tribally mixed, adding to the problems among a basically illiterate community.
Poverty produces despair, lack of hope, hunger, homelessness, and life styles to escape depression and real situations of not being able to even find food for your family. Alcoholism and drug abuse, stealing and crime, prostitution leading to an increasing incidence of HIV-AIDS and other diseases, lack of electricity and clean water ... all are factors in Kasarani. Alongside the employment the flower farms provide there is a feeling of growing dependency on outside help, so attitudes are a struggle for those of us trying to help. There are 21 churches of different denominations in Kasarani. Through connections from Eagles Wings, we were able to provide Bibles for every student and staff member at St. Andrews, and 20 Kiswahili Bibles each to the churches for distribution in their congregations. They were a donation from the Bible League in the US, through their Kenya office.
Poverty produces despair, lack of hope, hunger, homelessness, and life styles to escape depression and real situations of not being able to even find food for your family. Alcoholism and drug abuse, stealing and crime, prostitution leading to an increasing incidence of HIV-AIDS and other diseases, lack of electricity and clean water ... all are factors in Kasarani. Alongside the employment the flower farms provide there is a feeling of growing dependency on outside help, so attitudes are a struggle for those of us trying to help. There are 21 churches of different denominations in Kasarani. Through connections from Eagles Wings, we were able to provide Bibles for every student and staff member at St. Andrews, and 20 Kiswahili Bibles each to the churches for distribution in their congregations. They were a donation from the Bible League in the US, through their Kenya office.
But there is hope, more light yet to come.
Sew What Tailoring and Design School: A training and sustainable income project
Sew What was founded by Eagles Wings and 2 wonderful visitors to Kasarani. Families in Kasarani headed by single mothers, and others struggling with poverty have little to none marketable skills to help feed their families. The purpose of the school is to train Kasarani women (mostly) to become financially independent through attending a 3 month training program in tailoring. The school administrator/teacher/tailor has been successful in getting contracts from other schools and St. Andrews High School to make the uniforms for their students. This has resulted in hiring back students to work for Sew What, giving these mothers income to help pay their students school fees.
Donors provided the start-up costs to rent a building, purchase 10 sewing machines and needed furnishings. In addition they sent donated fabric from the US. These donations have helped Sew What become financially independent, but during these days of COVID, they also provided extra financial support to pay the administrator/tailor/teacher with his salary. We are SO grateful, but Sew What is on it's way and sets an example for Kasarani and a program and a way out of poverty, or at least to help their circumstances. The first picture below is of David Gicheru, the administrator, who also lives in Kasarani.
Sew What was founded by Eagles Wings and 2 wonderful visitors to Kasarani. Families in Kasarani headed by single mothers, and others struggling with poverty have little to none marketable skills to help feed their families. The purpose of the school is to train Kasarani women (mostly) to become financially independent through attending a 3 month training program in tailoring. The school administrator/teacher/tailor has been successful in getting contracts from other schools and St. Andrews High School to make the uniforms for their students. This has resulted in hiring back students to work for Sew What, giving these mothers income to help pay their students school fees.
Donors provided the start-up costs to rent a building, purchase 10 sewing machines and needed furnishings. In addition they sent donated fabric from the US. These donations have helped Sew What become financially independent, but during these days of COVID, they also provided extra financial support to pay the administrator/tailor/teacher with his salary. We are SO grateful, but Sew What is on it's way and sets an example for Kasarani and a program and a way out of poverty, or at least to help their circumstances. The first picture below is of David Gicheru, the administrator, who also lives in Kasarani.
TAFA Soccer Academy
When COVID hit last March, the schools were closed in Kenya. That meant that the kids were on the streets of Kasarani. Boredom led to trouble for many - drugs, alcohol, abuse of girls, pregnancy, and gambling. Samson Kaleki, the director of the Student Peer Mentor Program at St. Andrews and 3 other teachers from the Kasarani primary school started a Soccer Academy for boys ages 7-20. The goal was to get them off the streets but also to develop athletic skills, thereby giving them a sense of fun and exercise. It has been amazingly successful thanks to these volunteer coaches. The teams have played other teams in the county and were named the best Soccer Academy! Eagles Wings has taken it on as a project and raised donations and financial support for the Academy. Uniforms are on their way from the US soon. Visitors to Eagles Wings have participated in giving and playing with the kids. Now that schools are back in session, they practice after school during the week and on Saturdays - playing in tournaments. Eagles Wings encouraged them to do their own version of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. It was so fun and the kids have amazing skills at memorizing the choreography. There is now joy in the youth of TAFA!
When COVID hit last March, the schools were closed in Kenya. That meant that the kids were on the streets of Kasarani. Boredom led to trouble for many - drugs, alcohol, abuse of girls, pregnancy, and gambling. Samson Kaleki, the director of the Student Peer Mentor Program at St. Andrews and 3 other teachers from the Kasarani primary school started a Soccer Academy for boys ages 7-20. The goal was to get them off the streets but also to develop athletic skills, thereby giving them a sense of fun and exercise. It has been amazingly successful thanks to these volunteer coaches. The teams have played other teams in the county and were named the best Soccer Academy! Eagles Wings has taken it on as a project and raised donations and financial support for the Academy. Uniforms are on their way from the US soon. Visitors to Eagles Wings have participated in giving and playing with the kids. Now that schools are back in session, they practice after school during the week and on Saturdays - playing in tournaments. Eagles Wings encouraged them to do their own version of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. It was so fun and the kids have amazing skills at memorizing the choreography. There is now joy in the youth of TAFA!
Mentorship at TAFA
Samson and his team began a mentorship program in partnership with Eagles Wings. The vision is to become a center of positive behavior change in the youth. The mission was to engage the youth in healthy social activities that will shape their lives with Biblical values and behavior. In pursuit of this, donors were found to rent a Kasarani community center built with World Bank funds. It is now the TAFA Community Center. Out of this center will be monthly speakers on topics that youth are facing in Kasarani. It will be held on a Sunday, and a guest minister will give a sermon based on the topic. Refreshments will be served and time for fellowship. In August a community sports day. and every school holiday break the Center will host a vacation Bible school (VBS). Out of the Center will be Bible clubs, games and activities that will attract the youth. The first Mentor program topic was the dangers of alcohol, and out of that an AA group will be formed, with perhaps an Alanon group to follow. This is an amazing outreach for this community!
Samson and his team began a mentorship program in partnership with Eagles Wings. The vision is to become a center of positive behavior change in the youth. The mission was to engage the youth in healthy social activities that will shape their lives with Biblical values and behavior. In pursuit of this, donors were found to rent a Kasarani community center built with World Bank funds. It is now the TAFA Community Center. Out of this center will be monthly speakers on topics that youth are facing in Kasarani. It will be held on a Sunday, and a guest minister will give a sermon based on the topic. Refreshments will be served and time for fellowship. In August a community sports day. and every school holiday break the Center will host a vacation Bible school (VBS). Out of the Center will be Bible clubs, games and activities that will attract the youth. The first Mentor program topic was the dangers of alcohol, and out of that an AA group will be formed, with perhaps an Alanon group to follow. This is an amazing outreach for this community!