AMAZING AGNES
Agnes, a 2016 graduate of St. Clare Centre, is currently back in her home in Mathare slum where she volunteers at a home for poor children in Nairobi. Agnes’ goal is to become part of FOKO’s higher education program so she can study journalism. Agnes wrote the piece that follows because she wants people to understand “life in the slums.” Over the past ten years she and many of her sisters have come to St. Clare for safety, an education and a peaceful life.
“My name is Agnes Njoki and I was born on 7th July 1997. I am the first born in a family of four girls. Mathare slum is my home space since I first took a breath on earth. If I were to define slum, I would say it is a place where stars are born but where dreams shatter sooner than you can imagine. It can sound ironic to anybody who has never spent a day or two here. Being brought up in Mathare has made my life strong because in order for to live here it is survival for the fittest". My business studies teacher once said that for one to be termed as poor, he or she must be living below the dollar… and yes we do live below it. Challenges are felt on daily basis like some of these:
1. GUNSHOTS...due to high rate of theft conducted by young boys and girls...they use guns to survive and end up in early graves.
2. FIRE...mostly caused by illicit brewers who make their famous “beer” (chang’aa) in order for them to earn a living.
3. DRUNKARDS...this is most dangerous because they end up causing rapes and spread deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS.
4. POOR SANITATION...there are no toilets or bathrooms and people end up using “flying toilets” where they use a nylon paper and after finishing throw it away without watching who it hits.
5. DRUG ABUSE...most of my people are dead due to addiction to drugs...they make or steal bhang, shiisha, cocaine, heroine from other drug zones and consume it on empty stomachs.
6. POOR HOUSING...the houses in the slums are in a poor state...there is one small room that is almost falling down but holds a family of seven.
One person I met asked me how a lady like me escapes such difficulties. I told him that one has to make as many friends as fast as possible without being selective. This friendly attitude made me loved by many hence my security became tight. If I encountered an attacker, a good friend would show up and rescue me.”
