This last three months saw reason also prevailing in Kenya after mindless violence and useless deaths. . Although Kenya is yet to have a government, at least they’re not killing each other anymore. I was moved by Raul Odigna statement, when he said that “…..You cannot forget the past, but you can forgive it…..”. According to the Financial Times story, he adapted Jomo Kenyatta’s message to the British who had imprisoned him. Odinga went on to say that, “…..Everything in life is in the future. You Don’t want to continue to be buried in the past…” This is powerful for all of us who constantly strive to better our lives, yet somehow are trapped in our past mistakes and never wish to let go. We need to not only be able to forgive others who may have wronged us, but also forgive ourselves and learn from our mistakes. I pray for all to adapt this mantra for the better of us of all.
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
3/30/2008
Forgiveness and its' nobility
1/16/2008
Kenya, Our Elections and All that Jazz....
Well, Kenya has succumbed to violence. It is sad, to say the least. Why the lust of power consumes even someone like Kibaki who came into power with so much promise. The idea of tribalism that continues to haunt Africa is the greatest challenge Africa faces. If tribalism cannot be overcome, economic inequality, Aids and all the other challenges can't possibly even begin to be addressed. Kenya was a rare success story..and Kibaki has destroyed it. He has turned into another Mugabe. I fear that Zuma will go down the same path, despite the speech he made about unity as he faces the prospect of being indicted on corruption. I won't even begin to talk about Congo and the sad state of affairs it is in now.
As for our elections, we still seem to have a race. Romney just won Michigan, This means that the Republicans will continue to battle it out. February 5th will hopefully settle the issue so that we can all start thinking about our choices for the General Election. One thing has become clear: The time for change is now..and people are yearning for it. We have tough economic times ahead of us and the choices before us are going to be tough and the road hard.
As for our elections, we still seem to have a race. Romney just won Michigan, This means that the Republicans will continue to battle it out. February 5th will hopefully settle the issue so that we can all start thinking about our choices for the General Election. One thing has become clear: The time for change is now..and people are yearning for it. We have tough economic times ahead of us and the choices before us are going to be tough and the road hard.
12/13/2007
A Story of Hope and Inspiration
I could not help but post this message of hope and inspiration. I shared this with my students, simply because it underscores the need to believe in the art of the possible....enjoy!!!
Source: http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details/2618/News/, retrieved 12/13/2007
Miraculous journey from the slums of Kenya ends with university graduation
This may be the end of the first part of my journey, but it certainly isn't the end of the road. In my field work in July this year, I was able to share and set some foundations of how best to work effectively with slum communities.
Sammy Gitau
A former Kenyan slum child who found University of Manchester prospectus leaflets in a dustbin will finally achieve his dream of gaining a Masters degree today.
Sammy Gitau discovered the documents inside a discarded cardboard wallet decorated with the University's name in a well-to-do neighbourhood near his home in Mathare, Nairobi 's oldest slum district. Sammy read references to his country on a page about a course based at the university's renowned 'Institute for Development Policy and Management'.
And after a struggle of epic proportions he'll receive the accolade today. Aged 13, Sammy became his family's breadwinner when his father, who brewed illegal alcohol, was killed in a hammer attack. After he was beaten by angry mobs for thieving he became a drug seller in 1997, hitting rock bottom when he overdosed on cocktail of drugs soon after.
Even after he was accepted on to the course, Sammy was forced to take on the UK immigration service, which after hearing about his limited schooling, refused to believe he was a genuine student. The ruling was overturned seven months later. Drawing on his experiences, Sammy established a community resource centre which lobbies for fresh water and an electricity supply, as well as helping young men to come off drugs and find a job.
A group of wives of local and international officials - including the wife of the head of the Kenyan EU delegation Monica Quince - helped Sammy to convert cargo containers into classrooms from which he could teach skills to disenfranchised youngsters, such as carpentry and computing. And it was another EU official Alex Walford who encouraged Sammy to apply to the university's School of Environment and Development to take the MSc in the 'Management and Implementation of Development Projects'.
He said: "After the drugs put me in a coma, I remember hearing hospital staff telling me I was going to die and when you are dying, you make a deal with God. You just say, get me out of here and will do anything. I will go back and stop children going through the same kind of life as me. This may be the end of the first part of my journey, but it certainly isn't the end of the road. In my field work in July this year, I was able to share and set some foundations of how best to work effectively with slum communities.
"It is the hope and the trust in the eyes of my people that strengthens and ensures me of great success in the future. I have big plans for the centre - I hope to expand the project into other areas of Nairobi. Who knows, it be may a model which can be emulated across Africa. If it wasn't for my amazing experience and support from my friends at Manchester University and constant support from donations around the world, this dream would never have become a reality."
Sammy's University programme director, Dr Pete Mann said: "I found it humbling to teach Sammy - it really is a remarkable achievement. In class, he was reflective, thoughtful and creative - a very successful student. A development project or agency can only benefit from one who has witnessed so much adversity yet brings such intense spirit of endeavour on behalf of others. We have only begun to hear from Sammy Gitau."
Source: http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details/2618/News/, retrieved 12/13/2007
Miraculous journey from the slums of Kenya ends with university graduation
This may be the end of the first part of my journey, but it certainly isn't the end of the road. In my field work in July this year, I was able to share and set some foundations of how best to work effectively with slum communities.
Sammy Gitau
A former Kenyan slum child who found University of Manchester prospectus leaflets in a dustbin will finally achieve his dream of gaining a Masters degree today.
Sammy Gitau discovered the documents inside a discarded cardboard wallet decorated with the University's name in a well-to-do neighbourhood near his home in Mathare, Nairobi 's oldest slum district. Sammy read references to his country on a page about a course based at the university's renowned 'Institute for Development Policy and Management'.
And after a struggle of epic proportions he'll receive the accolade today. Aged 13, Sammy became his family's breadwinner when his father, who brewed illegal alcohol, was killed in a hammer attack. After he was beaten by angry mobs for thieving he became a drug seller in 1997, hitting rock bottom when he overdosed on cocktail of drugs soon after.
Even after he was accepted on to the course, Sammy was forced to take on the UK immigration service, which after hearing about his limited schooling, refused to believe he was a genuine student. The ruling was overturned seven months later. Drawing on his experiences, Sammy established a community resource centre which lobbies for fresh water and an electricity supply, as well as helping young men to come off drugs and find a job.
A group of wives of local and international officials - including the wife of the head of the Kenyan EU delegation Monica Quince - helped Sammy to convert cargo containers into classrooms from which he could teach skills to disenfranchised youngsters, such as carpentry and computing. And it was another EU official Alex Walford who encouraged Sammy to apply to the university's School of Environment and Development to take the MSc in the 'Management and Implementation of Development Projects'.
He said: "After the drugs put me in a coma, I remember hearing hospital staff telling me I was going to die and when you are dying, you make a deal with God. You just say, get me out of here and will do anything. I will go back and stop children going through the same kind of life as me. This may be the end of the first part of my journey, but it certainly isn't the end of the road. In my field work in July this year, I was able to share and set some foundations of how best to work effectively with slum communities.
"It is the hope and the trust in the eyes of my people that strengthens and ensures me of great success in the future. I have big plans for the centre - I hope to expand the project into other areas of Nairobi. Who knows, it be may a model which can be emulated across Africa. If it wasn't for my amazing experience and support from my friends at Manchester University and constant support from donations around the world, this dream would never have become a reality."
Sammy's University programme director, Dr Pete Mann said: "I found it humbling to teach Sammy - it really is a remarkable achievement. In class, he was reflective, thoughtful and creative - a very successful student. A development project or agency can only benefit from one who has witnessed so much adversity yet brings such intense spirit of endeavour on behalf of others. We have only begun to hear from Sammy Gitau."
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