Korogocho Grogan

Term 2, 2020

Receive greetings from Korogocho Grogan. We thank God that the school term has gone on well. We are also grateful that all our pupils and staff have remained healthy and able to participate in this term’s school activities. We pray for you too that God will continue to strengthen you as you support the Grogan community.

Blessings,
Faith Otondi,
Headteacher, Korogocho Grogan

Total Enrolled: 504 students
Total Unsponsored: 154 students

Julius* is a grade seven student at Missions of Hope International (MOHI) Korogocho Grogan center. Julius currently lives with his maternal grandmother while his mother lives in a different part of Nairobi with her husband but is very involved in her son’s life.

Julius has a bigger stature than his peers and even some teachers. At almost six feet tall, John easily dwarfs many and this had made him feel superior to others. He would not do his classwork or homework, he also started being regularly absent from school and when he came, he was very unkempt. He was rude to both teachers and pupils, he was also hostile and some teachers even started fearing him. He was openly biased in dealing with his teachers such that there are those he would listen to and others that he outrightly dismissed.

Sadly, his guardian and his mother played a huge role in encouraging Julius’ negative behavior. They listened to the child more than anyone else, they pampered him and would dismiss anyone who tried to tell them of Julius’ misdeed. This made Julius that much more arrogant and difficult to deal with.

Seeing the direction the boy was headed, as a school we attached him with the social worker he was willing to talk to. She planned for sessions and would visit him at home and have a talk with him together with his guardian and occasionally with his mother as well. They would pray together each time they met. 

At first, it was difficult since the adults and John had a negative perception of the school but the social worker persisted in creating a good rapport which led to trust and then friendship. At the time, John was not coming to school at all. In time, she was able to convince him to come back to school where the conversation continued.

The boy started changing gradually. We noticed his attitude towards all teachers was improving and he was treating his fellow pupils with respect. Cases of indiscipline became a thing of the past, he started attending school every single day, looking neat and doing all his work without having to be followed up. We also noticed a change in the guardian and his mother. They now come to school regularly to check on his performance and speak very positively of the school.

With the newly developed friendship, the social worker was able to convince Julius’ mother – who is HIV positive – to continue taking her medication. She had stopped taking them for a while and this had taken a toll on her health. We thank God that she is now improving greatly and looks so much healthier.

When Julius reported back to school this year, still a very disciplined, respectful student (despite the long break from school due to Covid) we were really happy. In Julius’ life, we see the hand of God and the value of never giving up on our students no matter how difficult they may appear.

We keep this family in our prayers as we continue to pray for them that they will experience the hope and transformation that comes only from Jesus Christ.

**Name changed

• All our learners sat for exams and we are happy to report that they are doing well academically despite having been home for so long.
• We have also been able to work with, mentor and prepare all our grade eight students to sit for their national exams. We are hopeful that we will have a 100% transition to high school.

• Pray for the protection of our staff and all the families that we serve from the Covid-19 virus.
• Pray that our grade eight students will do well in their national exams and transition to high school.
• Pray for special grace upon our staff as they prepare to serve the large number of students we expect to report from next term.