Community Involvement
Mukuru Slums Education Program:
Mukuru Slums are the second largest in Kenya, second only to the Kibera slums, which is considered one of the largest slums in the world. Within the Mukuru Slums there is a population of over half a million people where access to clean water, sanitation, education and medical facilities is at its lowest. Crime, drugs, prostitution, abortions and many other vices are the order of the day. It is a normal thing to find a premature baby aborted and thrown along the pathways where robberies and drugs are a persistant problem.
It is these conditions that made us initiate the idea of starting education programs within these slums. We established Joy House Education Center that oversees three Mukuru Education Centers with over 600 kids. The challenges we face today is the high number of kids who want to join the centers but the space and resources are limited. We have very few volunteer teachers compared to the number of kids who want to attend. We receive school supplies from volunteers and tourtists who come to travel on safaris in Kenya. We also welcome volunteer teachers. Through Pack For A Purpose, we get some school supplies though the demand is very high. In addition the donations given help us construct more classes and hire more qualified teachers. Our doors also remain open to volunteer teachers, donation of school supplies, new and used clothes and shoes, gently used or new laptops among others. We are also open on new ideas on how we can improve this slum through education.
