A Boy in Kibera
Kibera is the largest slum in Kenya and the 2nd largest in all of Africa just after the slum in South Africa. I was able to hire a guide that was born and grew up in the slum here. Joshua was afforded the opportunity to attend school through a British charity that reached out to him after his father died when he was 5. He, like 90% of the people that live in Kenya is a Christian and has devoted his life to God and helping the people of Kibera achieve a better life and standard of living.
It was so totally different than any other village or place I have visited in my life. Here the people have a difficult life, it is hard to get work or bare necessities such as water and food. Some residents actually make a choice between food or water for each day. While there I saw a government agency cleaning the small and filthy river that ran through the slum, garbage lined the banks on both sides. This slum founded in 1918 is home to 1.3 million people. The government has no way to help them past the efforts they have already tried and failed. I inquired about the charities that I see constantly on television back in the states, Joshua explained that most of these charities come for photo opportunities and then they do not follow up. His opinion was that most of the time people get greedy and the money if any that is given to the communities like his is very little. His hope was that people would follow up with charity efforts and even donate things that were tangible like medical equipment, recycling equipment for charities like his, or even clothing. But he stressed, without follow-up no charity effort would benefit.
What an eye-opening day I spent walking through this slum, the commercials I have seen on tv at home had come to life in front of my eyes. The state of these peoples health and life was a hard thing to wrap my mind around. Through my guides faith, hope, and love I saw that even though these people have lived in this way for a long time that there is a new day on the horizon here in Kibera.