Life-changing impact: three stories
Shirleen’s story
“When my grandmother brought me to Kijiji, my life changed. I no longer sleep hungry, and I go to school every day. I want to become a teacher so that I can help children like me and make my grandmother proud.”
- Shirleen Nangira, in Grade 6
Shirleen is a bright and ambitious Grade 6 pupil* at Calvary Education Centre—Kibera. At the time this story was produced, she was looking forward to joining Junior Secondary. Read on to see how the journey of Shirleen’s young life has been marked by deep struggle and remarkable resilience.
When Shirleen was still very young, her mother left home and disappeared without a trace. Shirleen grew up under the care of her father, whose life was soon overtaken by alcohol abuse. His instability meant that he could no longer provide for her basic needs—food, school fees, or the emotional care every child deserves.
Shirleen often went without meals and missed school because there was no money for fees or a uniform. Eventually, she was forced to repeat a class after missing exams, a painful setback for a child who loved learning.
With no stable home and an uncertain future, Shirleen fled to live with her grandmother, Wilmina, in Kibera. Life began to change from that moment. Wilmina, a dedicated member of Kijiji Cha Upendo, brought Shirleen into the program, where she received support for her education. Since then, Shirleen has not missed a single school day.
Today, Shirleen dreams of becoming a teacher so that she can support her aging grandmother and help children in Kibera who face struggles like hers. Her story is a testament to the power of care, education, and community support to transform lives.
* Shirleen is now in Grade 10 and doing well! Watch for an upcoming blog post featuring Shirleen in a video.
Waziri’s story
Waziri is a bright and determined 14-year-old boy living in the heart of Kibera. After losing his father to HIV/AIDS, Waziri was left in the care of his mother, Amina Chuma, who had a hard time providing for him and his siblings without a job.
For a long time, Waziri struggled to stay in school. His mother couldn’t afford school fees, and he lacked essentials like a proper uniform, books and even food. He often missed class, not because he didn’t want to learn, but because he was too hungry, too tired, or simply too embarrassed to show up in worn-out clothes. At home, meals were irregular, and the grief of losing his father weighed heavily on him.
“Before Kijiji came into our lives, I worried every day: Will I go to school tomorrow? Will I eat? But now I wake up excited. My uniform is ready, I can do my homework, my stomach is not empty, and I feel that I have people who believe in me. I want to be a doctor, to help other children like me.”
- Waziri, 14 years old
Kijiji Cha Upendo supported Waziri’s mother, Amina, with training and a microloan to start a small business. This new source of income brought more stability to their household, helping to improve their diet. In addition, by learning to grow vegetables in containers, Amina’s family now has access to nutritious food.
Staff and community health volunteers visit regularly to check on Waziri’s progress, both academically and emotionally, ensuring he stays on track.
Today, Waziri is flourishing. He smiles more often and speaks with greater confidence. Waziri attends school regularly and is one of the most active students in his class. His ambition of becoming a doctor now feels within his reach—not just a distant dream.
Everlyn’s story
Everlyn Mwende cares for four children, including two who were orphaned. For several years, she was looked down upon by the community around her. That’s because Everlyn provided for her family the only way she knew how—by brewing and selling alcohol in her home.
Bootleg alcohol sellers are seen as contributing to the problems of alcohol addiction and the often-related problem of gender-based violence. Everlyn was in constant trouble with the police and despised by her neighbours, particularly other women.
From bootlegger to role model!
Everlyn wanted to get out of the bootleg business, but needed to support her four children. She tried to earn money by knitting Rastafarian hats; however, the income was small. It was at this stage that she was invited to join a Kijiji Cha Updendo savings and loan circle and given a small loan.
Everlyn invested the loan in tuck shop supplies to resell. She repaid the first loan quickly and has borrowed and repaid larger loans since. An excellent entrepreneur, Everlyn now runs a thriving tuck shop business. She no longer sells alcohol.
A regular attendee of Kijiji-sponsored women’s meetings, Everlyn is no longer a pariah in the neighbourhood. She has become a community spokesperson, representing community needs to government officials.
Younger women look up to Everlyn as a role model. She has kept her children cared for and in school. Everlyn’s eldest boy scored well enough in his final exams to qualify for university.
Community spokesperson