Now rural week was an excellent “Spring Break,” transition period of sorts before moving to the internship portion of the program. After a quick change in placement, I was super excited to begin working at RHYCO: Real Hope Youth Community Organization.
I had gone to check RHYCO out and speak with one of the founders prior to committing to the organization. Let’s just say I fell in love with the place instantly. Now what does RHYCO do? Before I outline what they do, I need to talk about what community RHYCO is in.
My internship is based in Kawangware, one of the informal settlements in Nairobi (I’m sure you’ve heard of Kibera?). It’s estimated that about 80,000 people live within Kawangware, many in makeshift homes that lack proper access to safe drinking water, drainage/sanitation systems, and electricity. Before I had visited Kawangware for the first time, I had no idea how close it was to my school. I had a very privileged Nairobi experience, living and attending school in rather posh, high-income areas. Who would have thought that within a 10 minute car ride, I would reach an informal settlement. I don’t know, something in me just assumed that these areas were further away, perhaps secluded from the rest of Nairobi.
Wrong.
My history professor made a really interesting point one day in class about the proximity of slums to wealthier areas. Due to the economic/labor system in Kenya, a lot of people work within the informal sector as necessary entrepreneurs, domestic workers, etc. In regards to domestic work, it is a very common occurrence in Kenya (and most countries in Africa), unfortunately. Human resources are plentiful, and many are looking for any sort of work to put food on the table. A lot of the individuals (mostly women), who work these jobs live in low-income areas like Kawangware, Kibera, etc.
Lavington, the area where I attended school, is a high-income area which means that there is likely an abundance of job opportunities for individuals living in these slums. To oversimplify things, the poor folks live close to the rich folks because they likely work or can find work from rich folk.
Back to Kawangware.
Africa seems to be a very fertile continent, having the highest percentage of young people in the world. Kawangware is a microcosm of what is happening demographically on the continent. And what is most concerning to me are the public health implications of living in slums for youth. They are petri dishes for waterborne diseases, respiratory illnesses, HIV/AIDs, and others. To live in such conditions is honestly a crime against humanity.
These health related issues only scratch the surface of what it means to live in an informal settlement, however. In Kawangware, parents struggle to find and keep work, which can be detrimental for their children. A lack of work means uncertainty around your next meal and providing for your family, whether you can afford to see a doctor, or whether your children can even attend school.
The subject of education in Kenya is complex, warranting a whole other blog post. In short, low-income status and burdensome school fees makes primary education a privilege for youth in Kawangware. And for those children whose parents can’t afford food and school fees, this has the potential to send them to the streets, looking for food and trying to support themselves in any way possible. These children are at risk of abuse and exploitation, alcohol/substance abuse, neglect, financial hardship, and lack of learning opportunities.
This is where RHYCO steps in.
RHYCO focuses their efforts on street children aged 4-11 years old. To quote their information brochure “RHYCO was founded by four individuals who each spent their own childhoods on the streets. RHYCO was born out of their experiences, inspiration, and desire to reach out to others like themselves who could lead a better life if given the right help and encouragement.”
The organization aims to empower street children and their families in hopes of improving their livelihoods. There is an “intake” period that occurs where a social worker will walk the streets of Kawangware identifying any at risk children. These children can be found roaming during school hours, sorting through trash, etc. The social worker will then ask the child why they aren’t in school and try to invite them to the center to discuss further. After further discussion with a child and a home visit, the executive team will determine the child’s level of vulnerability and whether they should be absorbed into RHYCO’s programming.
For the children deemed most at risk of the threats mentioned above, RHYCO will sponsor them. The organization offers these services:
- School sponsorship (paying school fees)
- Counseling services
- Play therapy, a library, and informal schooling education/homework assistance.
- Feeding program and provision of clothing and wash/shower facilities
- Education for parents via the home visits, empowerment sessions, etc.
- Government advocacy
In short, there’s a lot going on at Real Hope Youth Community Organization.
During my short three days working at RHYCO (before I was politely told to evacuate Kenya ASAP), I had the privilege of accompanying the social worker to conduct in-home visits.
This was a somber experience.
I encourage you to perhaps watch a video on what it is like to live in an informal settlement because the housing conditions are unbelievable. Families of five or more are cramped into 10 x 10 shacks with poor ventilation, lighting, and sanitation access. I’ve read countless articles on slum living. However, to see it with your own eyes….indescribable.
And although I was an outsider coming into these people’s homes, I was welcomed. During my first home visit, the mother of the family thanked me for my visit and witnessing her reality. Although I’d say I kept my composure quite well, it was an emotional experience.
During my short time at RHYCO I befriended many of the children who are sponsored by the organization. Can I just say these children are adorable. I’ll never forget my first day there when I was helping the children with their homework. Cramped in a small classroom with 15+ students, I did my best to assist with the alphabet and writing. I’d say I did pretty well considering the long line that eventually formed of kids waiting to be helped by me.
I met two little boys who would walk me to catch my matatu, serving as my little guardians. We discussed living in America, foods and subjects we liked and disliked, and what we wanted to be when we were older. One of the boys discussed how he loved science and wanted to be an astronaut. This truly warmed my heart. I mean, these are very young children, who were unfairly disadvantaged and born into a heartbreaking reality. Regardless, they smiled and laughed, played with no inhibitions, and still dreamed for something better. And I think that’s what blew me away the most. As you age, I feel a lot of us lose that ambition and optimism. At least, that’s been the case for me. As I learn more and more about the vast inequities that plague this world, I have grown quite cynical. And despite my short time at my internship, being around innocent children reminded me of the benevolence in this world and the power of simply having a good attitude.
When I found out that I’d have to cut my study abroad experience six weeks short, the pain of not being able to work with this wonderful organization really hit me. As someone who has had very unfulfilling internships in the past, I was so excited to work somewhere where the effects of one’s actions were instant. Simply watching these children go home to their congested homes after having a shower and with food in their belly was all the validation I needed to know that I chose the right career field. International development often times feels so bureaucratic and distant from changing people’s livelihoods. Real Hope Youth Community Organization challenged this perception for me.
In only three days, I gained another family. I created connections that will last way beyond the current state of the world, and will hopefully allow me to return to Kenya quite soon.
Here are a few pictures from my last day!
the final sixteen 