EDWIN NZOMO/HERO'S SONG/Y254 | y254.co.ke

I left college I was a top scorer and I went to the street and I got dirty life is a [ __ ] and no matter what it is, it's good for her but it's not about stealing motherfiger is me it's about the community roicompare was yours we know I'm the teacher they list I speak heart of why love can be challenging and opportunities are often Limited Edwin Amani is working to give children and families a reason to hope. I was born and raised here in Kibra and life here in Kibra was not easy. Sa hii at least uh when you walk around Kibra you'll see we have roads we have sewa lines but during that particular time we did not have such things because it was a challenge to find such things . The houses were only mud or tin ones by 10 that's how life was inside and I was raised by a single mother ah this area of ​​the machine here in Kibra and life was not easy because it was very challenging because getting food getting education and things was very difficult and at that time you also didn't get them so life was not easy because if you wanted to shower you had to wait until night so you can shower outside at this time at least there are showers there is water there are roads that are here so that's how I was raised and I studied at Kibra primary school of which it was the only school we have here and we were proud of it at that time because in Kibra Kibra primary school was the school we had and most of us studied there so I studied at Kibra primary school then from there now days you had a lot of challenges because most of my ah also my time it was a challenge to go because high school was very expensive people go but when i was growing up i was raised in a Christian family because my mother is a very devoted Catholic and she made sure she raised me that way and most of the time I used to spend my time uh in a parish the parish that we have around here our lady of Godupe parish because that's where I went most of the time so I became anter boy there so I was serving there in Mars so that's what helped me because when I finished school and I was at home So the priest that was there was concerned because Edwin why are you not in school? You see I told him I'm not able to go to school and I remember he told me come to my office tomorrow at 11 so this helped me in high school that is how I managed to go to school. I went to high school, finished high school, and just came back here to Kibra. But life was challenging because some of my friends got involved in drugs, others got involved in crime, were killed, others went down different paths, but I can be grateful because I was arrested, I was supported, and then I was able to finish there. Born and raised inebra, Edwin understands faster and the struggles facing the community. His own experiences growing up in the informal settlement inspired him to establish Undugu family, an organization focused on bringing people together and creating opportunities of positive change. Where I grew up, we were mostly with our Muslim community, especially the Nubians, because the Nubians were the first ones to come here to Kibra. Oh, and they are the ones who live here, most of them here in Kibra. So we were raised by them together and then you find that there was that most of them are Muslims and when we were growing up we were told very bad things about Muslims you were getting that we did n't fit in well there were a lot of stereotypes a lot of what about the Muslim community so sometimes there were things we were told by our parents or by our elders that were scary eh you were told oh that adhan is going to make you crazy I don't know what many things were said so sometimes when you grow up you are scared but the community was very good people because these harp mothers they raised us very well they used to prepare food for everyone. We used to eat together, we used to sit together, so one time we had a very big challenge here in Kibra because at school on Fridays, Muslims were giving us the opportunity to go to the mosque and then Christians and their PPI or Bible study classes were sitting there, so one Friday there was a challenge that happened because a Muslim pupil and a Christian were arguing about Jesus, you see who Jesus is, Jesus is the son of God died on the cross. No, Jesus didn't die, whoever killed him was an apostle. And then uh, in that process there was a fight and you know, the Muslim was holding the Quran. So the Christian there took the Quran and threw the Quran away. That is a very bad thing for the Muslims. So this guy ran to the mosque to accuse him and then we had a very bad incident because Muslims and Christians started clashing here in Kibra, they started clashing and it became a very bad thing. So when we were young and we were staying with our B's at Makina, we are trying to see what we can do together. everyone is trying to find life. So I started thinking, why are we fighting? Why are people fighting? Why are people hugging about Jesus? See? So I started thinking about why people are fighting this Jesus. I started doing my research. This Jesus is this Jesus in the Quran. I found Jesus because of the Quran. Isa. Oh. Isa is there, the son of Mariam. Oh, and his father Yusuf and he has very good values ​​and also in the Christian world, you know Jesus is also there and he is taken very seriously and he has his values. So I started telling my friends that uh why don't we come and work together as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God because we all believe in God and we work together as brothers and sisters of this Jesus. Let's not care if he is a prophet, if he is the son of God, who he is, but since he has good values ​​and we all recognize him, let us become brothers and sisters of this Jesus. So that is how I came up with undugu undugu family that means familyhood brotherhood the fraternity that let us come together work together to support to work on the challenges that we have in our community through peace building trainings community activities and ofing program Undugu family has become a place where members of the community can come together learn and support one another brother family now started as a peace building organization. So we started talking about peace issues and how people can work together without having those conflicts and those violences that are around. So that 's how we started. Then later we learned that I learned that peace means a lot of thing because being brought up in this community maybe we are not raised in a peaceful community or in a peaceful environment. So if you don't have food you don't have peace. If you or your parents cannot get school fees, there is no peace. Eh so uh we saw now how can we come and start addressing the uh uh issues and the challenges that we have. We start in a small way because Kibra is very big and we have so many organizations of which if each organization plays a little part at least it brings some impact. So I said let me also play my own part in a small way. And uh we started with the feeding program because that was a challenge. Even when we were growing up, sometimes getting food was a challenge. You would sit and listen to the church, there's a wedding, what's going on, at least those are there, you'll be able to get something. Also, everyone knows the missionary of charity brothers here in Kibra. Mother Teresa uh they really because they were baking bread that time so you were going with a sack there brothers they can give you so many bread and if you drink water with them life is moving the impact of the organization can be seen in the lives of the people itself has embassed the center with children among its most important beneficiaries since uh we started uh I have seen there is there is there is there is an impact at least even if it is small because I am someone who likes to celebrate small things eh because you can do something and not everyone can make you happy maybe not everyone will get where you want but I like to celebrate small things at least if you start something and see at least one or two people benefit from it or have achieved something that is what I celebrate it does not have to be big things or what? Ah, but I see you see now, like this hour, we have this center. We did n't have a center when we were starting. This place was like a dumping site. You see, at the time I wanted to put that center here because there were people who saw this guy going to the trash, maybe his head is not good, what do you want to do there? You see things like that, but the vision I had, I knew at least this place will be able to impact and support so many people, so I saw an impact because now as a community we can relate very well with other people from different religions, we can really work together, celebrate, get the celebrations together, sit on the same table and discuss issues. So all religious leaders can come and support me because religious leaders have a platform. Oh, I'm sorry, I told you that you have a platform, you have people coming to you. So this message if we have any challenge in the community it's easy for you to pass that message. And that's where we also started supporting the golden rule that says treat others the way you like to be treated. So this is available in all the books, the religious books. If you see there, we have applied that golden rule and all books from all the religion the verse is there treat others the way you like to be treated. So that also helps us, oh it helps us and helps people do good to their fellow humans. So we started that our feeding program has also been very supportive because the children here even we were growing up that's why we have that the first program food first program because we saw that if we provide food eh first it will keep children in school it will keep them active it will keep them healthy. So we have started programs here, there are mentorship programs that are here for those who are doing different talents. We have an acrobat crew here. We have the choir for the boys. You see, there are these sessions for girls and teenage mothers. Uh, these programs run well on that program on that program because the child knows I've gone there, my family, I'm sure it's a safe space for them. I will eat, I will learn. When I go home, I don't have all the stress. But now you see that it has helped them because a lot of them have attended the program just because of that. See? At least through that you get something. What? If you look at the Bible, Jesus also placed bread and fish, right? And many people, not all people, followed Jesus; they wanted to listen to the word. Others followed him, thinking he would change even more bread. Oh, so they keep eating. They are following Jesus so that they keep eating. But you see, through that process, they also get a say. See? So we have seen an impact there. We have been able to connect so many uh children, even those who were lost in the streets, with their families through the programs here because we have been beefend. That's what we do first. We befriend them, they become our friends, then we learn their stories and then we put them in our programs and then we are able to connect them back with their families. See? So we are done that we helped them also go to school because we ensure that the children who are here, the people who are here, go to school. For Edwin the children have become more than beneficiaries. They are his motivation to keep going. We have so many organizations doing this work, and every organization is doing a good job. There are those that do good work, although there are also those that don't, which is also okay, they know what their region is, but eh eh for our community because mostly people who are in this community get a lot of support from these organizations because if you get most of them they are attached to an organization at least these organizations help them and impact their lives. Well, the challenge at times is that sometimes you get those who don't want to do it together because I would pray that if these organizations had a push agenda together, at least we would reach many people because you can get a brotherhood that is doing sanitary pads, who is doing sanitary pads, who is doing sanitary pads, so sometimes it will be a challenge because you will also get maybe the resources we have but we are not using them properly because a child can get it here again, he is with that organization again, he is with that again, he is with that but referral and the story of the pads would be okay, let's feed, let's support these ones are things of mentorship for the girls, these ones are taking care of the ball, these ones are taking care of the young mother, it would be good. So, the challenge is sometimes there, but the community has supported these organizations because most of the support most of the people you will get are attached to an organization and the support they are getting is from an organization. Children with whom I am with them I always say they are my strength and my stress. James Oembo and Godwin Octoth beneficiaries at the center are among the young people whose lives have been touched by its programs. I come from a very humble background so food was an issue to me as a normal to the children living in Kibera. So through the feeding program if we come here we are able to get food each and every time mostly when we are not in school on Saturdays and Sundays and when schools are closed I volunteered in the IT department where I was able to learn from the people who work here I was able to learn one and two skills and from there I I found an interest in in in dance because there was a dance group here which was being supported by ndugu family of VOP so I got an interest there. He is a great man known in the community and I'm so happy because he's impacting your lives and what I can say uh right now we have an activity that I'm part of it. I'm happy to be part of it for the dancers and for the youths. The activity is called Undugu Dance Competition which is about dance for peace and dance to educate through the work the good work that is done in our community. Uh we have successful testimonies from people who grew up here and have already now also opened their organizations running their own business. Those are success stories. Uh I can say it's inspirational and also me seeing myself into this uh because I'm on a way I can also impact the community to give back to the community. Uh I went to the fashion school fashion and design also I want to start and bring it back to the community as a way of also equipping other young people with the skill that I have. Uh we continue to continue with the good work that you're doing. It's not just impacting a life but it is impacting many lives. My dream is to see the organizations thrive and go beyond borders. Barbara Chloe, a youth mentor at the center also plays a role in guiding and supporting the young people. There was a competition that was environment conservation and I emerged as the third runners up and the only female artist who qualified to get there and from there I've been doing it here I just loved it up again I had that spirit of keeping moving until I found myself now I can be a mentor I can be a community advocate after the after the award people wanted to know okay what does brotherhood do what brotherhood is and who it is so from there I even got some uh I also got a gig through the the the recognition of the third runners up for that um conservation contest so from there I got gigs for these events that are held in our neighborhood only eh so I've been getting calls we have an event where you can come so it also gave me that recognition from different people and it also made me get invited by other people too Mr. Edwin thank you so much for always um taking care of the kids in brotherhood family and all the beneficiaries who are here big shoutout to you because you started with us until we got to this place we say thank you buse you gave us that confidence you see through you and through what you do and even as we grow also We want to be like you, to do other big things, you see, to follow your steps, yeah, so I'm so grateful, I'm so grateful, because through this brotherhood organization, I got to know Edin. It was a struggle for a child to go to school. It was a struggle for a child to go to school. There was a problem with the school fees. The child had already finished grade nine and was going to grade 10. So I was there with the parents who were downstairs. The children had already started school, but my child had not yet started. Now through it was the grace of God. By God's grace, I was able to reach an agreement with Director Edwin through people because I had talked to many people and had lost the will to send my child to school. I met with Director Edwin, he took my child to school, did everything he needed, paid all the school fees, and I thanked him. I pray that this organization will continue to be that and that spirit of serving others and that God will be able to increase it despite the progress. One of the center's biggest challenges is that limited resources have made it difficult to expand its programs and reach more members of the community in our community because most people in this community get a lot of support from these organizations because if you get most of them, they are attached to an organization. At least these organizations help them and impact their lives. The challenge at other times is that sometimes you get people who don't want to do it together. I would pray that if these organizations were to push an agenda together, at least we would reach many people because you can find a brotherhood. Who is doing sanitary pads? Who is doing sanitary pads? Who is doing sanitary pads? So sometimes it will be a challenge because you will also find resources that we have but we don't use them well because a child can get here again. the organization again being the same again being the same butals maybe lethal and the story of the pads would be okay let us support these ones are things of mentorship for the girls this ones are taking care of the ball this ones are taking care of the young mother would be good so the challenge is going on for a while but the community community has held these organizations because most of the support most of the people you will get they are attached an organization and the support they are getting from an organization. Me I've had challenges some are easy where you ask God to help you but some are also very heavy eh but also but also God is ours we all because I've had an experience because when doing this work not everybody uh will be happy with whatever you're doing uh not everybody will be on your side Eh so sometimes you you people see you in a different way for ah in society there are those whose motives are different. Maybe someone will see that Edwin is already rich. He has a lot of money. Maybe let me find a way to get something for him. Oh, or oh. So I've had those challenges here and there because just from the people sometimes from the people that you support, you can support someone in a process to get to a place. Don't get involved with other people, also try to bring up other things that you find. It won't be good. Either he's trying to put you down or he's trying to get money from you. I'm not because I've had a challenge. Once you find out, you have supported someone. Because I've had some very bad cases that you find that the people that you have supported are trying to plot or maybe they're trying to get you in the others. I have told you they are those ones who will support you genuinely but they are those ones who are not maybe up you with something that you're doing. So this one has been a challenge to me because you find others are holding each other, they can say oh for instant you find we have had a case that started before someone says maybe because we are working on children a lot of children here so you find someone coming to say maybe ah this director maybe is sodomizing children or maybe he is doing this to children so I have had a case like that where somebody just took some of the children uh like four of them then he tells them we give you money I'll give you you have to say this you have to do this you have to you have to say one two three f so he's coaching children to uh to say something and so this is a story and he went there he is going to coach children to say some things and then later you hear Ehe what is happening? But I'm one kind of a person, I thank God for giving me because I always don't react to things. Uh I just like following the procedure that is there. So what I did I hear something I report and then I relax eh and then I wait because so they keep going then later I came to find that the person used them hizo record na different places to get money to fundraise money with them and then later he left them and also he did not support them but Edwin remains determined his vision is to establish a training and vocational center where young people with practical skills improve their livelihoods and become self-reliant. I would like to see the Undugu Family, or my vision and Undugu Family, be a place where children and young people will experience. You see, when they come out of here, they will be great leaders in the community and someone will have the skills to help them because the plan is to have to make sure that we have a vocational center for the Undugu family of hope, a training center and vocational training where someone can go through, be given good values, be well mentored, and come out with skills. Yeah.