An Afternoon With Ambani

 Former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani giving young
boys a word of advice

Last Sunday, the Children of Kibera Foundation hosted a couple of other teams and organizations in a soccer tournament for young boys. The event, which attracted teams from various parts of Nairobi was aimed at promoting young talents that exist in the community. It was also aimed at helping the boys work on their self esteem, build their confidence, improve on their self discipline and acquire some sense of teamwork.

Some of the teams that featured in the tournament include Kangemi Football Club, Cycad Football Club and the Red Rose Football team. The Kangemi Youth football Club was accompanied by Boniface Ambani, a Kenyan international who had close to 30 caps for the national team. He shared with the young boys his experience as a professional football. ‘All the professional footballers in Kenya who have gained fame in the European clubs all emerged from the slums, you mention Dennis Oliech (Ajaccio, France), Mariga (Inter Milan, Italy) and Mugabe (Celtic, Scotland) they all started just like you people,’ he said.  ‘All you need is self-discipline, and respect for others and never keep your eye off your goals,’ he further added.

At the end of the tournament all the participating teams were awarded training kits and uniforms.

Cycad F.C.

Kangemi F.C.

Kibera Team cordiantor, Jeff (Centre) receiving the training kits on behalf of the team

Kibera Team

‘It was a good experience especially meeting someone like Ambani. It shows us that we can make it to Mugabe’s level or even better.’ – Oscar, Kibera Team goalkeeper.

Life After High School

After high school, many school leavers really find it hard to make the right choices about how to apply for colleges, choosing/selecting courses and finding part time jobs. They have too many decisions to make and very little time to do so. This is the situation that our high school scholarship beneficiaries who graduated last year have found themselves in.  However, CoKF as an organization has come up with means to help the scholars. One of them is inviting resource personnel to help them with particular problems.

Fredrick, one of our scholarship beneficiaries had the following to say about one of the sessions with Anthony Murray, a Director of Higher Education at the Weston College in the UK.

“On the 9^th January 2013, we-the 12^th grade graduates-had a very resourceful talk with Antony Murray. We have adequate information on how join European universities. Antony’s talk gave us a chance to diversify our knowledge of universities since he introduced us to British universities with special focus on Weston College. Most of us have always thought only about America and it was as good a revelation as any to get to know that there are opportunities elsewhere.

I personally enjoyed the session since Murray went ahead and narrowed down on individuals. He suggested universities that would be good for the different courses we wanted to pursue. He also told us a lot about the entry procedures to various universities. All this was done for free and I would like to thank Murray for his generosity. He promised to come back with more information for us and I am looking forward to seeing him again.”

Anthony taking our scholars through the steps of joining UK universities

Karen sharing some knowledge with the scholars

One of our scholars showing showing our visitors around Kibera.

We highly appreciate all the individuals and groups who have come to help our high school scholars define for their own path to prosperity in life.

Zainab Joins Stanstead College (Quebec, Canada)

By Zainab-Children of Kibera Foundation's Pioneer Scholar.

My name is Zainab Abdallah Hussein, the pioneer beneficiary of Children of Kibera Foundation. Last Year November 9, 2011 my four year journey of high school reached its destination; as I completed my final Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam paper.

  A flashback to January 2008. This journey was more of a fantasy than reality.  This was around the time the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams results were out and calling letters from high schools were in. I thank God that I aced the exams, but there was a dull factor that darkened this bright moment for me: school fees.

   Most Students in Kibera- one of Africa’s largest slums do not get to realize their dreams and potential because of this limiting factor despite their good exam results. My fear at that time was that I might  be one of them. That really troubled me because being the first one in my family to qualify to go to a top performing high school, in future, the burden of my family would squarely lie on my shoulders. I just could not stomach the thought of having my peers’ fate!

   My quest in search of a scholarship to pursue my studies landed me to the Children of Kibera Foundation, a charitable non-governmental organization that gave me a full 4 year scholarship! I was ecstatic and the darkness that initially surrounded me gradually disappeared. This was an opportunity for me to quench my thirst for knowledge and at the same time, have an avenue to realize my dreams of making a difference in my Kibera, a place I call home.

   February 11, 2008 I was at the State House Girls High School in Nairobi. With the first step I took in this great school, it dawned on me that this was no longer a fantasy but  rather a tangible reality! Tears of joy cascaded down my visage as the joy I felt was indescribable! So I made a vow to do my best there as my vision was not only to finish high school but to go further to university.

  Today, December 27^th 2012, I am filled with mixed emotions of joy, anxiousness, curiosity and gratitude. I am leaving for Quebec, Canada on a quest of adventure and knowledge! I am joining Stanstead College. I am going to take full advantage of this opportunity presented to me so that I may also come and give back to this very society that has uplifted me to greater heights.

 A big “thank you” to all who have been with me in this journey; giving me either emotional, Psychological and financial support. I truly do appreciate it a lot, from the bottom of my heart.

Regards,

Zainab Abdallah Hussein.

Zainab and CoKF scholars who came to bid her farewell

Zainab and her mom arrive at JKIA

Zainab arrives safely in Canada.