Kambi Teso mentoring program

12th March, 2010 - Posted by Kim Krebs -

One of the requirements for children to be admitted into our feeding program at the Kambi Teso slums is that their mothers have to participate in a mentoring program through Open Arms. We teach these mothers simple skills such as how to save their money and to start small businesses in order to provide for their families. We currently have several in the program who have made great progress and are now able to feed their children. In fact, they’ve made such great progress that most of the families can now afford to send their children to school. Initially only 60% of the children in the program were able to attend, and now 80% do!

Rhoda is one of the mothers in our program. She says, “Nashukuru Mungu sana kwa Open Arms mahali wamenitoa sina hata la kusema, naomba tu Mungu awabariki. Kama si hao sijui hata ningekuwa wapi. Woyi!” This means, “I thank God for Open Arms, where it picked me from is very far. I have no words that can tell it all. It’s my prayer that God blesses them so much. If it were not for them I don’t know where I would be. Woyi!”

Another woman, Ruth, says, “Sahi naweza kulipa nyumba yangu bila shida. Mungu abariki hao watu tu sana”. This means, “I am able to pay my rent without problems. Thank God for these people.”