Giving Back to The Society-Fred Juma's Story

By Aquinas Nyakundi. (Guest writer)

Fred at the Kenyatta National Hospital Pediatric Cancer Wards.

As Fred Juma sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, he faced a tougher challenge than most students who merely suffer from exam-anxiety. But despite his cancer diagnosis, Juma has been able to score exceptionally well. 
Fred Juma was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer during preparations for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
He underwent a lot of challenges to complete his exams which included doing some of the papers halfway or under a tree due to the side effects from the drugs he was using that could not allow him to stay indoors for long.
When results were announced on 1st March 2013, he was proud to have scored a B plain which qualifies him for a course in a higher institution of learning. In an interview, Juma said he wishes to take a course in Mechanical Engineering or Fine Arts and thanked God for enabling him achieve the grade.
“I am good at artwork and sometimes I can do fantastic graffiti. Once I complete consultations with my sponsors, I will be certain which course I will be in a position to enroll for and in which institution,” he said. Juma hails from Kibera and has three brothers and a father who takes care of them but his education has entirely been supported by Children of Kibera Foundation.
He has tutored cancer kids at the hospital since he completed his KCSE examination in December 2012. For the time being, Juma continues volunteering with Hope for Cancer Kids by offering lessons to kids with cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Juma says eight kids are under his care and their enthusiasm to learn new concepts each day gives him the motivation to attend to their academic needs. “Being a cancer survivor, I understand how it feels to know that you colleagues are studying while you are within hospital walls,” he said.
He said the kids have a challenge with text books as the few that they have are not enough to offer comprehensive study material to the kids. “The few books that were donated by a supporter from Children of Kibera Foundation are shared among the kids,” he said. Though Juma does not follow a laid down syllabus for the studies, he is optimistic that the knowledge they are gaining is relevant and as time progresses, the kids will also progress academically like their colleagues in formal schools.
Other than reading stories for the kids and giving them a chance to seek clarification through questions, Juma has occasionally tested the kids’ drawing ability in an effort to develop their creativity. He appeals for well wishers to donate more books to facilitate easy learning among the kids with cancer who he said are more than willing to learn new academic concepts.
The HCK director Wanja Mwangi said Juma is a bright boy whose willingness to help the cancer kids would go a long way in helping the kids advance their knowledge.
“His drawings are superb and I believe if he gets publicity, most people could have interest in them and he can make a good return from his artwork,” said Wanja.
Wanja stated that she was amazed at Juma’s performance given the challenges he underwent when preparing and during the actual exam period.