Kuwinda is a Kijiji’…a ‘Mtaa’ here in Nairobi, Kenya. Some call it a slum. 300 households, the elderly right though to babies. Imagine living in a house that can barely fit a queen size bed! Imagine living on less than $1.25 a day (Kes 125/-)! Well that is Kuwinda. 4 to 7 members per household who live in cramped quarter. The houses are barely habitable, do not have running water, electricity or internal plumbing. How do they cook, wash up, clean? What do they do for toilets and bathrooms? How do they live! Most houses have earth floors, which in itself under such conditions, compounds the nightmare.
But that doesn’t faze the brave hearts of Kuwinda. The youth led by young Michael Mugo mobilize twice a week. They look the challenge in the eye and say to themselves “we can rise, aspire and become great”. Great servant leaders. They clean the open drains, collect garbage and provide other community services like manning the humble library. Even though the outcome is still far from perfect, through Michael’s leadership the community is experiencing a cleaner environment and lower levels of uncollected garbage. Michael and his team of young volunteers have also dug three pit latrines. Three?! you say. You see before these three, any open space was fair game. So what was left for the little ones, if their 2 by 6 meter play spaces were soiled. Where is the dignity in this? And so the 3 new pit latrines have and will make that difference for everyone.
Michael is a determined, confident and unwavering young man who, one drain at a time, one garbage bag at a time, one pit latrine at a time is restoring the dignity of living in Kuwinda.
This community is supported by Rotarian Margaret Thande, of the Rotary Club of Karen. She believes in every smile she sees in Kuwinda. Her heart is Rotary’s heart. Compassionate! We believe in the value of those who live in Kuwinda. Margaret has given of herself, her time and her resources to ensure that Michael is supported. Rotary Club of Karen has also purposed to be a gift to Kuwinda too. In August, the club initiated the formalization of Kuwinda as a RCC (Rotary Community Corp). Think of a RCC as a group within the community that works alongside Rotary club. Through this formalization, Rotary will have an opportunity to extend further support to the community.
In September, Rotary Club of Karen joined the effort, and donated cleaning equipment, garbage collection bags, rubber boots, rubber gloves. Rotary’s friends, the Longhorn Publishers (expanding minds), joined in with the most generous contribution – books. When we expand their minds, we open their options. When they can see more options, they conquer the opportunities.
And yet we can do so much more. We and them together.
With such few latrines serving both adults and children, it is only humane that separate, size appropriate, facilities are provided for the children. Little toilets for the little people. The children will no longer use garbage heaps and road side drains as toilets. Separate pit latrines for the children will also mean, cleaner and safer sanitation. A shed for the cleaning tools will mean that the tools are not sneaked into the library for overnight storage. And rotary will be part of this initiative.
But more than just donating, it is important we give a gift that keeps giving. The youth are vibrant, compassionate and determined. They do so much with so little. And yet, educated but employed, educated but without income educated but with few opportunities. And yes we are knocking our heads on the wall…how do we turn this around? We are working with them to identify, support and initiate income earning initiatives and small businesses. Trash to cash has just been launched as a think tank and has been tasked to think of how to convert their garbage into money. So it is not just about restoring the dignity of living, but also the dignity of productivity.
All work and no play will make Kuwinda youth, bored and bitter! So we have added the soccer flavor. We have identified a local school, a university and a residential association who are willing to be part of the Kuwinda story through soccer. We kicked off in October together with Catholic University football players. Perhaps one day, Kuwinda too can participate in more formal tournaments and win accolades. Dream big, start small!
What about the little ones. Yes Rotary Karen in partnership with Longhorn publishers have donated books worth Ksh150,000. BUT! …. who reads to them? Who will inspire in them the joy of storytelling, reading, learning and discovering? Do you have a Saturday morning to spare? This is the commitment Rotary, in partnership with Rotaract Club of Catholic University and * of Hillcrest School have made….to give of their time to inspire a reading culture among Kuwinda’s young.
We have provided electricity to the Library so the kids can read longer hours, started the Saturday reading camp – all about making reading fun, and committed to Rotarians at work every month.
Yes indeed, there is so much more we can do together with Kuwinda!