Joska

Greetings from Joska!

Greetings from Joska Primary School! By God’s grace, we have come to the end of the first academic term of 2025. It has been a fruitful and eventful term, and we are excited to share some of the key highlights with you. We deeply appreciate your support and partnership as we continue working together to transform lives through Christ.

Erick Wabuti,
Head Teacher, Joska Primary School

Hope Transforms: A Success Story

The Smith* family, a household of 11, including parents, children, and extended relatives, has walked a long and difficult road. Four of their children are currently enrolled at Joska Primary and Junior High School. The family’s main source of income is through the father’s bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) business, while the mother and other relatives take on occasional day jobs to make ends meet.

Originally from a neighboring country, Burundi, the Smiths fled their home in 2012 due to war in their country. They found their way to Nairobi and their father began selling mandazis (Kenyan doughnuts) to local schools, and the children enrolled in a neighborhood school. But when COVID-19 hit, the family’s small business was forced to shut down, leaving them without an income.

A well-wisher encouraged them to move to another town in search of new opportunities. Unfortunately, the financial hardship continued, and the family could no longer afford school fees. Still determined to provide a better future for his children, the father moved to the Joska community. There, he reconnected with a neighbour working with Missions of Hope International (MOHI). They introduced him to the MOHI team, and in 2023, the father shared their story with the Joska social work office. A home visit revealed the family was living in a flood-prone, collapsing structure. Moved by their situation, MOHI stepped in and immediately enrolled the children in school.

Today, just two years later, there is so much to celebrate. The children are thriving in the classroom, showing incredible leadership, confidence in public speaking, and talent in sports. The family’s living conditions have also improved. The father has shifted to farming, ensuring his family eats at least two meals a day. He bought a motorcycle, which brings in steady income. He’s currently saving to build a permanent home for his family.

*Name changed for privacy

Term Highlights

• Our talent show was a great success. Our students from kindergarten to Grade 9 showcased their incredible talents. They performed songs, dances, drama, and poetry. The event was a true celebration of the diverse skills and creativity of our students.
  
  
• This term, we held a weekend challenge (a weekend full of special worship services) which provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to reflect on God's word and receive spiritual nourishment. It was a meaningful time of fellowship, prayer, and personal growth for all involved.
  
  
• Early this term, we hosted our Annual General Meeting, which brought together parents, teachers, and students to discuss academic progress and strategies for enhancing performance. The meeting also allowed social workers from different MOHI Centers to catch up with their children who transferred to our center for boarding. These meetings help strengthen the connection between the new social workers and the children.

Partner Connections

• We were blessed to host Mike and Jill Shuck. Jill had wonderful lessons with the MTTI catering class, while Mike visited our classes and talked to the Grade 9 students. 
  
  
• We were also blessed to host Valley Christian High School for a Sunday service with the students. The team had a wonderful worship experience and led us in worship.
  
  
• We hosted teams from Amity and Dayton Christian Churches. They attended Sunday service with the students and had a wonderful time during the school tour and the worship experience.

Prayer Requests

• Our talent show was a great success. Our students from kindergarten to Grade 9 showcased their incredible talents. They performed songs, dances, drama, and poetry. The event was a true celebration of the diverse skills and creativity of our students.
  
  
• This term, we held a weekend challenge (a weekend full of special worship services) which provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to reflect on God's word and receive spiritual nourishment. It was a meaningful time of fellowship, prayer, and personal growth for all involved.
  
  
• Early this term, we hosted our Annual General Meeting, which brought together parents, teachers, and students to discuss academic progress and strategies for enhancing performance. The meeting also allowed social workers from different MOHI Centers to catch up with their children who transferred to our center for boarding. These meetings help strengthen the connection between the new social workers and the children.

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