Exploring Hope: Home Visits in Kawangware Slum with RHYCO

Real Hope (part 2) – Home Visits

Posted on September 12, 2023 by minkefamily

This is a continuation of our previous blog where we spoke about the amazing ministry of Real Hope Youth Community Organization (RHYCO). After our visit at the Real Hope drop-in centre and safe house Martha, their Program Manager, suggested we return another day so we could do some home visits. She said ideally, we would need 2 more days, one to visit the schools and another for the homes. When we mad ethers plans we only had a few days left in country and schools were closed for a break so it was an easy decision- home visits in nearby Kawangware slum.

In preparation for meeting the families we first met the social worker at a store to pick up gift packs that would be given to each family during our visit. We started at the grocery store that was most convenient (the large national chain Carrefour) and then thanks to the wisdom of the staff decided to go to a smaller and more local store in Kawangware where the prices were much better, allowing us to get more food for the families for the same price.

The gift packs are a simple but meaningful way to thank them for taking time to host us for the visit and also a way to bless them by giving them a little push forward. Included in the food packet was flour, maize meal (to make ugali the staple food), sugar, rice, tea, milk, bread, cooking oil and soap. This covers the main essentials a family would need apart from the necessary fresh vegetables. Once our gift packets were ready we were ready to go to our first home.

All the families we met have a child in the program at Real Hope. Our first visit was with a single father and his son. They lived in a small room, made of tin. The walls had been covered on the inside with bags which both help keep the heat in when cold outside (it is winter in Kenya currently) and then when it was hot it was to help keep the heat out.

Visiting with this hard working single dad & son

Their house was difficult to enter as the space was so tight and the door couldn’t open all the way. Inside was a single bed with piles of clothes and items on it and then a bookshelf that housed various kitchen and other items on in instead of books and then a bench which is where we sat. It was dark and cramped with all of us but our family was warmly welcomed into their home. We sat across from each other and started to listen.

Martha did the introductions and gave us some of the background. We heard about their family, the situation that led his son to be brought into the centre and what it means for him to have his son there. We wanted to also hear what life is like for him.

Adam and I have been on many such home visits in Kenya and Uganda but for Makena this was a first. We wanted her to experience the humble homes people had and to see what life was like for so many. To have a visual for what it means to live with less. I think because she had met and played with these kids just the other day, being at their home on this day was much more impactful.

This father was notable because even though he struggled to make enough to support his son, he tried his best to find honest work. He was part of a team that spent the day near the river washing cars. Martha said that something she has always noted about this family is the boy was always clean when he came to the centre and she gave full credit to the dad.

The day we were there was interesting as the next day was going to be moving day for them. Sadly, the house (room) they were renting was being demolished so they were being forced to leave. The place they were in they were paying approximately 1800/- Shillings ($20 CAD) per month for rent and would need to be paying around 2500/- Shillings or $27.50 (CAD) for the new place. The main difference he said is that they would then be having electricity which of course will be beneficial for the son as he gets older and wants to do his schoolwork.

We sat respectfully listening as the dad told stories and we learned what we could about their life in the little time we had together. I couldn’t help but notice, on the wall was one poster that said, ‘Thank you Jesus.’ I pointed this out and asked to take a picture of it. It was striking to me because I knew in a material sense he didn’t have a lot and yet he was able to (or wanted to be reminded to) be thankful to Jesus every day.

We always tried to be an encouragement, to act respectful and to be a blessing for those we visited. When our time was nearly done we offered our gifts and then spent some time in prayer with the family before taking a few pictures and saying goodbye. In each home we were sad to hear they had little food in the house but it was and encouragement to know after our visit they would have food for the coming days.

Our next visit was extra special as it was to our new sponsored child’s home! We had met her mom briefly at the centre but this time we also got to meet her dad and see where they live. It was humbling as usual to see their simple home and I feel this visit in particular had a bigger impact on Makena as she knew this girl now and had a special bond with her.

As we drove up and got out of the car our girl ran right up to Makena and leapt into her arms- so sweet!!! She wasn’t acting shy today!

We walked up to their house, through a muddy and narrow road to their area where they had a room that was also made of tin and wood. This home was a bit more spacious and had much more light and even had a little electricity. It was much more organized as well.

We sat on their couch and again listened as Martha introduced everyone and shared the context of the family.

We spent more time here as it was a family we were invested in. We learned more about them and were very intentional in speaking words of encouragement to them as we wanted to set a good foundation for the future relationship we will have with them through the sponsorship program. We want the best for them and their beautiful 6 year old daughter.

While in their home the topic came up about how they cook their meals. Every family is different. This family was able to explain a new program they were part of from Safaricom, the Kenyan cell phone giant. They have started a program in the slums where families are given a gas canister filled with 2000/- worth of cooking gas (not paraffin like many others use). The canister has a smart reader mechanism on the top that allows for a card that looks like a credit card to be read.

New cooking gas program with amazing benefits!

When the family wants to cook they just ‘top up’ the card by adding money through their M-Pesa account on their phone (digital money). They can add as little as 1 shilling or as much as they want, making it very flexible. The money they put on the card is then the amount of gas that is released to be used for that meal or until they add more money. It sounds complicated but as it was being shared we could see how many pieces about it make it more suitable for the poor.

The gas they are using for this program is a cleaner gas. Many Kenyan’s cook with wood or charcoal or paraffin which leads to many respiratory issues. This gas is cleaner and will not only be healthier for the families but for the nation’s environment as well. The canister and burner is given to them from the program, saving them around 6000/- ($65 CAD) market price for a full canister and 2 burners. When the canister is beginning to get low on gas, the smart meter sends an alert with a GPS of the address and a full canister is sent out to the owners home, saving the owner from the hassle of going to get a refill. And because it is a pay-as-you-go, they don’t have to have a large lump sum of money to get the refill, something most of these families never have. Because the canister is registered to one cell phone account it can’t be stolen or it simply won’t work. It was a fascinating program which gave us additional hope for the families there. As industries like Safaricom and organization like RHYCO work together with governments and the people themselves, there will be better solutions for those in need.

While we were learning about this program Makena made her way outside with one of the Real Hope staff and our sponsored child. Together with the neighbouring kids were out playing games and enjoying one another. I am sure that was the first time a Canadian blondie like Makena had every played in their neighborhood. I am sure there were stories of excitement shared that evening in many of the homes about the visitor that they played with. Makena says that while they were outside our little sponsored girl held her hand and introduced her to all her friends.

As our visit was wrapping up we called Makena back in and gave the family their gifts and then spent some time in prayer with them before heading out.

As we walked back to our cars, Martha pulled the mom aside and gave her a solid pep talk filled with love and wisdom.

Our third and final visit was shorter as the day was getting along and our Samara was nearing the end of her patience with us and needed a nap. This time we visited a single mom with many kids. I recognized her one daughter as someone we played with at the centre.

Her home was made of wood and had a tin roof. She had sheets hanging up to divide up the main room into a living area/kitchen and the sleeping areas. There was one mattress for the whole family so some slept on blankets on the floor. There was no where to sit.

We stood in her home as she shared about her life a bit and we listened to her and made notice of our surroundings. I enjoyed the curiosity and joy that the youngest kids showed when they saw the food packet we had brought.

They knew some good food was going to be made from this! Our visit was shorter but sweet none the less. This mom had a joy about her. No doubt she had not had an easy life but yet she was able to smile and exude a sincere joy to those around here and I knew this woman knew Jesus. After we prayed for her and we were walking out of her house she pointed out to the neighbors and said that is a church and that is a church. She was surrounded by people of God.

On our way out of their neighborhood the RHYCO staff showed us one of the water projects they had started in this community and others like it. They purchased water tanks (thanks to the donations of International Needs Canada) and they buy clean drinking water and sell it at the kiosk to make money while also providing a service to the local residents. It is a win-win for them and the community.

Our day of visits had come to an end. It was intense. It was humbling. It was so special. These three families we have met with and sat with in their homes are etched in our minds and hearts. It is our prayer that we will not soon forget them and that they will be better off from the time with us.