Greetings from Gitathuru!
Greetings from Gitathuru Center. We bless the Lord for this far that He has brought us. We would like to share some school activities that took place in the course of the term. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we transform lives in the Gitathuru community. God bless you abundantly.
Gladys Musili
Head Teacher, Gitathuru
Hope Transforms: A Success Story
Helen, her three siblings, and her parents have lived in the Kosovo area of Nairobi, Kenya since 2003. Their house was located right behind our Kosovo Center. Helen and her sister joined our Gitathuru Center. She is currently in Grade 6, while her sister is now in Grade 11.
Helen's family came from Nyeri but migrated to Nairobi in search of better opportunities. When they first arrived, their house made of iron sheets and a mud floor in the Kosovo slums cost them $1 each month. Helen's father was the sole breadwinner at that time, working as a garbage collector in the area.
Helen's mother met one of our social workers while they were recruiting children in the community. At that time, Helen wasn't born yet, but her older sister, who was of school age, joined our Gitathuru Center. Helen later joined once she was born and old enough for school.
Helen's mother was among the first to join MOHI's microfinance and savings program. Their family social worker encouraged her to attend the classes as she was a stay-at-home mom. She agreed and was trained on business and investment skills along with other parents and her husband. After the classes, each of the students was given a small loan to start a business. The couple opted to start a small vegetable stand outside their home. Helen's mother was to run the shop while she took care of the children.
After some time, the business grew, and she started selling other goods like milk, bread, and soap. Her microfinance teachers kept in touch with the couple, giving them advice on how to keep growing. The business thrived, providing for the family's needs and generating enough profit to reinvest.
Helen's mother and father not only reinvested but also adopted a saving habit. After two years of saving, something amazing happened. Their landlord wanted to sell the piece of land that their house and shop sat on. She asked Helen's parents if they would be interested in buying it. The couple talked to their teachers at MOHI's microfinance department and were able to secure a loan. They bought the land, and now they no longer have to pay rent for their shop or the house they live in!
This wasn't the only way that MOHI impacted their family. Though they would often visit a church in the community, the family had not fully embraced their faith. While their social workers would come around to share their beliefs, this is when they experienced the love of Jesus through CHE (Community Health Evangelism). The family began to see real transformation in their lives, and soon, both Helen's parents dedicated their lives to Christ. They joined a Bible-believing church in the community and soon became involved in ministry, with Helen's mother serving in the women's ministry.
MOHI has impacted this family so much in the last few years. They have become a beacon of hope for other families showing them the endless possibilities of life.
*Name changed for privacy
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