Strathmore’s Community Service Center (CSC) aims to provide a continuous platform for the Strathmore fraternity to positively impact the lives of the less fortunate in our society. As a result, occasional outreach visits to identified centers are often organized, with purpose of engaging the various communities into finding and seeing hope, feeling loved and ‘making hearts smile’.

 

In partnership with 3^rd year students from the Center of Tourism and Hospitality (CTH), CSC paid a visit to Wings of Compassion (WOC) in Marurui, Kasarani; a rescue home for teenage mothers, majority of whom are below 15 years of age. Outreach visits to WOC are normally slightly different because in the small gated compound, with about five mabati rooms, a tiny kitchen place, laundry area and a small open ‘dining’ area, you’ll find a number of babies happily playing games, while their teenage mothers are either watching over them, preparing their food, or sitting beside them trying to complete their school work or preparing for an exam! CTH students planned on using the skills they have gained in class to equip these teenage mothers with skills which they can use to start small businesses and be more sustainable. 

 

WOC was founded in 2011 by a Kenyan couple (Rev. Danshire and Dorcus Danshire) borne out of deep desire and commitment to alleviate the dire situation of Kenyan teenage mothers, who are typically products of either broken family units, experiencing absolute poverty, sexual abuse and exploitation, early sexual relationships, drug abuse and prostitution – experiences that have served to erode their self-confidence and left them with a feeling of hopelessness. This initiative, initially started as a daily feeding programme, aimed to bring back hope into the lives of these girls. Rev. Danshire says that together with six members of staff, they try to achieve this goal through offering counseling and parental skills as they avail a home, food, medical care and education until the girls become self-reliant and in a position to fully provide for their children.

 

One main problem, as communicated by the director of the home, is lack of enough support from the local community and also from the government. This, he said, was due to minimal publicity; it’s not known to many that this kind of rescue home actually exists. He therefore urged CSC team to share information about WOC widely and invite more friends to visit and motivate the young girls. The experiences that they have had, one would not wish to go through. However, life has to move forward and it’s up to us to empower and help them proceed to greatness.

 

The home accepts volunteers, well-wishers, donors as well as students on Community attachments.  Visitors are welcome to visit as often as they feel led to and it’s in this regard that CSC encourages not only students but also staff members to join them in helping improve WOC and the society at large.

For more information on Wings of Support Rescue Home, please contact Michael Babu on mbabu@strathmore.edu.

 

Written by: Mercy Kangwato (BCOM 4^th year student & CSC Member)