Should we call Korogocho a slum? It’s complicated. The residents in this sector of Nairobi are extremely poor. There is no running water or sewer. People often skip meals and may work full time to earn only $1/day.
But calling it a slum brings up images of desperation, despair, and depravity. And from what I saw yesterday, that is not the mentality of everyone in Korogocho (called Koch for short).
Using the term “informal settlement” as an alternative to slum is perhaps more descriptive. The houses are made of corrugated iron and are built without permits or foundations. They have no address and the whole area could be bulldozed down by the government at any time.
Last weekend, we met with about 15 Small Business Fund grant recipients in a classroom in Koch (pictured above). The group greeted us with a celebratory song. They thanks us for the $150 grant which had sparked such change in their life. They clapped and cheered for each other as, one-by-one, they told us their stories of moving from desperation and hopelessness to pride, hope, and self-sufficiency.
Sarah Owendi (pictured below), who sells grains along the roadside, proudly told us that, after starting her business, “now I stand on my own two feet.” She used to wash clothes for $2/week, now she is making enough money from her business to pay the $15/month rent. She also can pay for school fees and has enough to eat.
We heard similar stories over and over. Whereas before people were barely making ends meet day to day, now they are expanding their businesses, reinvesting, and planning for the future.
They are also Sharing the Gift, by passing on the blessing to others. They are encouraging others, training them how to select the shoes that people want to buy, how to run a roadside cafe, and how to sew and tailor clothes.
At our Small Business Fund conference in Malawi last month, we trained another coordinator who will also be working in Koch. Dorcas Okoti lives in Koch (which she calls a slum) and she is well positioned to work with the most desperate families to help them chart a better future for themselves. Dorcas knows the reality of Koch, and also the great potential for entrepreneurship, hope, and change.
Thank you again for all your prayers! We have another week here in Kenya and we’ll be visiting more grant recipeients all over the country!
With faith and gratitude,
Tanya
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