The Esther’s are girls currently in high school girls that we are working with to develop as leaders that will reach the highest levels of influence and play a key role in transforming Mathare. We have begun investing in their lives strategically by praying for them, educating them, exposing them to a new way of thinking and tapping and developing their capacities.
The short time we have been with them (from beginning 2006) we have seen a glimpse of what we dream of. They all begun without much hope, having undergone too much too early in life. Some came to the brink of ending their lives but somehow they held on and now they have begun seeing life in a whole new way. The challenges are still there, even more so, but their hope, faith and belief has also increased. It has been an incredible few months, with most of them rejoining secondary schools, discovering a new sense of purpose, seeing things they had never seen before and experiencing things they had only dreamed of. This only increases our determination and against seemingly insurmountable challenges we have the confidence we will overcome and Mathare will change.
The Esther’s include:
Name: Beth Wambui
Date of Birth: 1990
Situation:
Beth lives in the Mathare slums with her mother, brother and stepfather. She lives in a very hard situation at home. Her mother sells vegetables and fruits in Mathare and her father works as a casual labourer whenever he can. The infamous “mungiki” men, who are feared by many in Mathare for their violence, have often threatened Beth that she must marry one of them.
Education:
Beth finished her first secondary school year in a day school but then her father was unable to continue paying for her school fees. Things at home and in Mathare became worse and she approached Lepta for assistance and we managed to get her into a boarding school to join form 2. Through a partner, we assisted her buy the things she needed and pay her fees for the first term, 2006. Since then she has changed a lot and once again has hope.
Beth needs 4,000 Kshs per month or (12,000) per term that includes her school fees, transport to school and shopping.
Name: Mary Wairimu
Date of Birth: 1990
Situation:
Mary is the last born in a family of twelve children. None of her siblings has a secondary school education with most of them dropping out in primary school. She lives with some of her siblings and mother. Other than the eldest no one else in the house is employed. Some of her siblings are street boys while others are drug addicts just look for casual labour where they can. They cannot even afford to pay the rent, and the landlord had to waive their rent. She has often been threatened by the “mungiki” who want her to marry one of them.
Education:
Mary successfully completed her primary school education in 2005 but no one in their family can afford to take her to school. She has been at home for the whole of first term but she still believes that she will go back to school and she has even started copying form one notes from her friends who are in school.
Mary approached Lepta and together with a lot of her own personal effort and incredible faith managed to join a boarding school to be able to get an education in an environment away from Mathare and the threats she has received.
Like Beth, Mary needs 4,000 per Kshs month or (12,000) per term that includes her school fees, transport to school and shopping.
Name: Mercy Wanjiku
Date of Birth: 1990
Situation:
Mercy is the second born in a family of three children. The first born in the family dropped out of secondary school her second year. Mercy went through some very hard times at home and she has lived a pretty rough life. When we got to know her we had planned to take her to school right away but we later learnt that she was pregnant. We continued working with her and she is due to give birth towards the end of this year (2006). She is still determined to continue with her schooling as soon as she can.
Name: Irene Waithera
Date of Birth: 1990
Situation:
Irene lives in the Mathare slums with her single mother. Her mother lost her job recently . She used to sell vegetables and fruits in at City Market. Her mother has managed to get Irene into a boarding school but she will need some assistance to keep her there.
Education:
Irene finished her primary school in 2005. She went on to form I in a boarding school. Without assistance she will most likely not be able to continue in school.
Irene needs 4,000 Kshs per month or (12,000) per month that includes her school fees, transport to school and shopping.
Name: Naomi
Date of Birth: 1990
Situation:
Naomi has seen a lot in her short life. She has seen drugs destroy some of her family members and she has even been on the streets to beg. Despite all this she is determined to get an education and she has enrolled in an adult education programme through the help of Lepta which is a bit affordable. She would love to undertake a course in catering.
Education:
Naomi was previously enrolled in a boarding school in form one but dropped out soon after. Her mother cannot afford to pay her school fees. She joined an adult education programme offering her a chance to continue with her secondary education.
Naomi needs just 700 Kshs per month for her current schooling.
Name: Evelyne Muthoni
Date of Birth: 1984
Situation:
Evelyne got a child soon after her primary education. Two years later she was determined to continue with her education and she went back to school. Her mother sells second hands clothes and her father works as a casual labourer. She comes from a family of six siblings.
Education:
Evelyne is currently in form two in a boarding school.
She needs about 3,000 Kshs per month or (9,000) per term that includes her school fees, transport to school and shopping.
Name: Grace
Date of Birth: 1991
Situation:
Grace is part of the leadership of Lepta and represents the Esther’s on the Epicenter. She lives with her mother and sister. She had dropped out of school but we worked together with her and she managed to get back.
Education:
She is currently in form two in a nearby day school.
Grace needs about 2,000 Kshs per month or (6,000) per term that includes her school fees and meals.
In all this the philosophy of Lepta has held true – just give your all no matter how little. With some support from partner friends some lives of people in Mathare have changed. And that is what matters most to us.
