The Value of Sponsorship

One of our parents, whose daughter was sponsored through Uweza and recently completed Class 8 in primary school wrote to thank us for the support. We were so touched by it that we wanted to share:

"I am glad to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to you in person for the good support and achievements that you have made me experience since you stepped into our lives as a family. The face of our lives has greatly changed and the hopes of my daughter that she had, had been according to how you supported her fully. She was very low when she joined Standard 8 but because of your support, she managed to score to the standard of a provincial school. It was not easy and exams were not friendly to them [Class 8 students] and even the government was very keen on their results since they are the first class for the free primary education.

Thank you so, so much and may God bless you abundantly, I must congratulate you because my daughter's hopes have rested in you. Sometimes parents let their kids down, not because they want to but because they can't makes ends meet. It could have been very difficult for me since what they [my children] want, joining Form One [high school] is like an dream for me, which might have lead my daughter to just go and ask a neighbor to teach her how to mend dresses. But because you are there, she now has great hopes for joining Form One."

Due to the educational costs that he has saved through the sponsorship, this parent who runs a business repairing shoes, has been able to repair his home, purchase a bed for his children, provide regular meals, and support the education of his five other children, who all excel in school.

We have recently added many new students to our sponsorship program. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please visit www.uweza.org/sponsorship for more information and to get started.

Cyrus Update

We have written in the past about Cyrus, an 18 year old from Kibera who went blind after consuming methylated spirit in 2008 when he was 16. Cyrus has made tremendous strides in his recovery in the past two years. Although he will permanently remain unable to see, he has adapted well to every day life and has high hopes of attending university and becoming a lawyer.

He is currently sponsored through Uweza and attending the Thika School for the Blind (pictured below), located about 45 minutes outside of Nairobi. He will finish Class 8 this year, graduate primary school and move on to a high school. He will be able to continue on to high school if his grades are high enough and can complete his studies in braille.

We went to visit Cyrus at his boarding school last Saturday and found him in good spirits and doing well. The school contains a computer learning center with over 30 computers where children are taught how to use computers with a visual impairment. All of the teachers were very complimentary of Cyrus, his performance in school, and his good nature. He is able to navigate the curved pathways of the school without his walking cane and has memorized every curve in the path and knows exactly where each building is at at all times.

Although it is extremely tragic for Cyrus to have lost his sight at such a young age, we are proud of him for making the best of the situation and grateful to everyone who has supported him.






Related posts:
Taking Cyrus to School - September 2009
Request for Assistance - October 2008

Kenya and Kibera Current Issues Series: A New Year Begins

Happy 2011, everyone! I’m looking forward to another year of blogging, and, more importantly, of supporting Uweza.

When in Kenya, I always admire the traditional emphasis on family and treating elders with respect. In this brief radio clip from the BBC, two children and their grandparents are interviewed about who cares for the elderly in Kenya. The avowed devotion of the children is heartwarming, but their grandfather’s remark about the contemporary “disintegration” of the traditional family structure is worth noting.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a major challenge to public health in Kenya. The recent arrest and detention of two tuberculosis-stricken men, for the crime of not taking their medication, has sparked a debate about the intersection of public health and human rights. Does the greater national imperative of eliminating TB in Kenya take precedence over the individual rights of certain citizens? Read more here.

In a previous blog, I wrote about the announcement by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the six main suspects in the post-election violence of 2007. One Kenyan activist has written an impassioned plea that following the ICC announcements, Kenya “needs a mirror,” in order to move forward and avoid future violence. His is a perspective worth reading more about here.

In the aftermath of the post-election violence, some Kenyans are turning to a seemingly unlikely activity—yoga—to recover from the trauma they have experienced. This video clip shows how yoga can be a powerful tool for peace-building among the tribes of Kenya.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently called for the arrest of those engaging in homosexuality in Kenya. In this video, the director of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya discusses the impact of this statement on the gay and lesbian community.

And, finally, on a more uplifting note: Kenya’s own Daddy Owen was the Winner of MTV Africa Award 2010 for Best Anglophone Artist. Enjoy the video for his song “Tobina” here:

2010 Thank You Video!

At the end of every year, we create a summary video to thank our supporters and give a better idea of how funds were spent over the course of the year.

Watch the new 2010 video here and thank you so much for your continued support!!



(2009 video)
(2008 video)

Final Current Issues Links Round-Up of the Year

Happy Holidays to all Uweza supporters! The end of the year is frequently a time of reflection, and I know that contributing to Uweza is one of the most worthwhile things I’ve done in 2010. I’m looking forward to supporting Uweza’s continued good work in 2011!

And now, a few links for my final blog of 2010:

Equity Bank provides microloans to poor people throughout Kenya. As Equity’s CEO explains, investing in the poor isn’t about charity—it’s about good business. The default rates on Equity’s microloans are the lowest in the banking industry, around 6%. Watch this video to learn more about Kenya’s new “mini-moguls:"


Once every 10 or 15 years, the Masai people hold an initiation ceremony for men to become wazee, or tribal elders. Like much of indigenous culture, this ritual is endangered by encroaching urbanization. This audio slideshow includes narration from two of the new wazee, explaining this crucial rite of passage for the Masai.

The vulnerability of Kenyan schoolgirls to rape, sexual coercion, beatings, and bullying—often by their teachers—has made headlines recently. In this editorial, a Kenyan former schoolteacher decries the everyday abuse of girls and calls for greater attention to the problem. For more information, this report by Plan UK is a comprehensive study of school violence around the world, with recommendations on how to ensure that children “learn without fear.”

In a previous blog, I wrote about the rise of outsourcing in Kenya. This article gives more details about the building of the outsourcing industry, which analysts hope will someday rival tourism as Kenya’s biggest money maker.

Earlier this week the Kenyan Parliament voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is currently investigating the post-election violence of 2008. This vote comes one week after six suspects, all powerful politicians, were named by the ICC as alleged organizers of the violence. Critics say that Kenya’s withdrawal from the ICC signals its continuing refusal to end impunity in the government. Read more here, in Kenya’s main daily newspaper.

November Counselors Report

Sorry for the delay on this one! Click here to read the report from our counselors about their work during the month of November.

How you can help Uweza for the holidays!

Happy Holidays from Uweza! We are excited to tell you about some new projects and opportunities to support our work. Check them out:

Kicks for Christmas

Our Soccer League Program (http://uweza.org/soccer) has greatly expanded to include over 180 children from throughout the Kibera slum. Our players are currently all on break from school and have been meeting with their coaches to train seven days a week. Participating in the league keeps them off of the streets and builds valuable skills and funds are always needed for field rent, supplies, and coaches salaries. Through the Kicks for Christmas project, you can sponsor one or more of our players for $10. You will receive a printable Christmas card and ornament-magnet about one of our players to give as a present or keep for yourself! [note: the ornament will arrive after Christmas but we will e-mail you the printable card in time].

Kibera Connection

Do you know a teacher, principal or parent that might be interested in connecting with children in Kibera? Please consider Uweza's Kibera Connection Project. Kibera Connection is a brand new initiative that offers students in the United States a unique opportunity to engage with and learn about children living in Kenya. We have created a website filled with learning resources and connections opportunities. Check it out and fill out the registration form or send us an email if you are interested in getting started or learning more! http://www.uweza.org/kiberaconnection.

Sponsor A Child

Our sponsorship program supports 25 children in Kibera with all the costs for gaining a quality education and provides for their health care for $20/month. Sponsors receive letters, pictures and updates from their sponsored children on a regular basis. We have four girls in need of sponsors, learn more at http://uweza.org/sponsorship.

Uweza Community Center

We are excited to announce the construction of an Uweza Community Center in early 2011! The Uweza Community Center will provide an office, meeting and storage space for our current programs and will be a launching point for new community-run initiatives, including an after-school program for children from Kibera. Funds are greatly needed for construction costs and supplies for the new programs: http://www.uweza.org/communitycenter.

Uweza Shop

Shop for jewelry made by HIV positive women living in Kibera. Funds will be used to provide sustainable financial opportunities for the women in early 2011. http://uweza.org/shop.

Soccer Program Update and New Team Photos

Our Soccer Program has been growing rapidly and we now have 160 boys who have signed Uweza contracts of commitment to the team as well as 25 girls. Because the players are currently on break from school, the teams have been holding practice every day. The Points Program is still ongoing and prizes will be awarded in January. We have invested a lot of resources and funding into the program in recent weeks, purchasing new uniforms, goal posts for all of the teams, shoes and socks, and renting the field on Sundays (in addition to Friday and Saturdays). We have also hired three new coaches. The players have noticed and are having a great time being able to come and play every week.

Here are some pictures of the teams in their new Uweza uniforms:

Uweza Girls Team
Uweza Under 14 Team
Uweza Under 12 Team
Uweza Under 10 Team

Here is a video of the Uweza Under-12 team cheering on the Uweza Under-10 team as they play in a match against another team from Kibera. Uweza won the match 3-0.

Focus on World AIDS Day

As most of you already know, today is World AIDS Day. Should December 1st be a somber occasion, marked by remembrance for the millions already lost and mindfulness of the challenges still ahead? Or should it be a day to commend and promote the progress made by extraordinary individuals and initiatives around the world? I agree with both approaches, and I hope I’ve reflected that in this week’s blog.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic was transformed by the development of PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission) of HIV. However, more than half of the world’s pregnant HIV-positive women are still not receiving the treatment they need to ensure that their babies are born negative. UNICEF is stepping up its efforts to ensure an “AIDS-free generation” in Kenya by distributing packs of AIDS drugs to every HIV-positive pregnant woman. Read more about the struggle to provide PMTCT in the developing world here, and watch a video of the launch of a PMTCT program in Kisumu, Kenya here:



How do you tell a child that he or she is HIV-positive? And what are the consequences of not telling them, or disclosing their status in an insensitive way? Human Rights Watch has conducted research in Kenya about the importance of disclosing age-appropriate information to children about their HIV status. Their observations and recommendations can be found here.

A few days ago, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called for the arrest of homosexuals, raising alarm among many, including HIV/AIDS activists. Will Raila’s remarks drive the Kenyan gay community even further underground, and thus jeopardize crucial efforts to prevent HIV transmission among homosexuals? Read more here.

Since 1989, Professor Elizabeth Ngugi has conducted outreach to young female sex workers in the slums of Nairobi. Thanks to her efforts, more than six hundred sex workers have received the assistance and training needed to launch new careers and lead healthier lives. Watch a profile of Professor Ngugi, in an installment of IRIN’s “Heroes of HIV” series.

HIV-positive youth in the Mathare slum of Nairobi have written and produced their own newsletter, which aims to “inform, share their life experiences, create awareness, and help reduce stigma related to HIV/AIDS.” Read “Eneza Ujumbe: The Voices of Mathare Youth” here.

Urban Sprawl, M-Pesa, A Life-Saving Vaccine, and More!

I apologize for the delay in this latest blog. So much is always happening in Kenya and beyond, so here’s a list of interesting links.

Earlier this week UN-Habitat released its report "State of African Cities 2010," and once again sounded the alarm regarding the rapid growth of the continent’s urban areas. In particular, the population of Nairobi is projected to grow nearly 50 percent over the coming decade. Will the newly urbanized Africa be comprised of "oceans of poverty [and] islands of wealth," as the UN warns?

"Hidden Cities – Unmasking and Overcoming Health Inequities in Urban Settings," another newly released report by UN-Habitat and WHO, outlines the "feminization" of poverty in cities and urban areas. For example, women living in cities are nearly twice as likely to contract HIV than rural women are, and women in densely populated areas have a 1.5 times higher rate of HIV than men. Read the report here, and take their mini-quiz about Urbanization and Health—I know that I learned a lot!

While I’ve previously paid tribute to Kenyan matatus, there is no doubt that they are often poorly driven and maintained. Road accidents in Africa and the developing world as a whole are at unacceptably high levels, but inconsistent efforts and lack of prioritization by national governments have hampered efforts to reduce the death toll. A BBC reporter visited some of the most dangerous roads in Kenya to learn more in this radio documentary.

Also earlier this week, the world was stunned by Pope Benedict’s statement that the use of condoms is acceptable in certain circumstances. Africa is home to more than 150 million Catholics, and is also the center of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Read more about reactions on the continent to the Pope’s momentous declaration here.

In a previous blog, I linked to a photo gallery of daily life in Dadaab, northern Kenya, in the world’s largest refugee camp. While the refugee camp has become a familiar concept to many Westerners, more than half of the world’s refugees currently live in urban areas, such as Nairobi. This blog post by the Women’s Refugee Commission spotlights the ingenuity needed by female refugees in the Nairobi slums to make ends meet, in the face of possible exploitation, abuse, and arrest.

Since 2007, Kenya has been a global leader in mobile phone-based banking. Why is “M-Pesa” such a resounding success in Kenya, and why is the so-called developed world so slow to catch on? Read more and watch a short video here:



A vaccine for meningitis, which kills thousands every year in Africa, will be offered in several countries, including Kenya, starting on Dec. 6. Learn more about why people are lining up for this life-saving jab here.