Mathare North

Term 1, 2022

Receive greetings from the entire Missions of Hope Mathare North family. It is always a privilege and an honor to partner with you dear friends in this work of transforming lives through the hope of Christ in the Mathare Valley. The Lord has carried us through another whole term and as it is our norm, we would love to share our successes and highlights for this term.

Blessings,
Selina Gathura,
Headteacher, Mathare North

Total Enrolled: 993 students
Total Unsponsored: 395 students

*Hazel lives with her mother and three younger siblings in Mathare. Her mother is jobless and has been ailing for a long time. She is weak, unable to work and provide for her family. They depend entirely on their maternal uncle who does casual jobs and also has his own family. 

With the mother unable to do much, Hazel had to take up a lot of household chores. She rarely did her homework and she would come to school looking tired and sleepy. This and the fact that her grades dropped dramatically was a cause of concern for all of us. The social worker also learned that Hazel and her mother do not have a good relationship and she often bears the brunt of her mother’s insults. Things came to a head when Hazel’s uncle was arrested and put into custody for almost two months. 

Life became very hard for Hazel’s family since there was no one to provide for their basic needs and the tension at home became unbearable. As a result, Hazel ran away from home to get away from her mother’s insults and also to try and look for a way out. We thank God because a caring stranger noticed the young girl roaming around the neighborhood and she engaged her in conversation. Hazel gave the social worker’s phone number and that is how she was rescued – all alone and far from home.

The social worker held several sessions with both Hazel and her mother in an attempt to address the escalating conflict between them. The mother promised to change her behavior towards her daughter and to ensure they had a cordial relationship. Two weeks later the family social worker recommended that Hazel be moved to MOHI’s boarding school in Joska so that she can concentrate on her studies and achieve her future goals.

We thank God that Hazel was enrolled in the school and she is now well settled as a grade seven student. She is doing well in her studies, her self-esteem is also greatly improved and we can see the evidence of change in her life.

We thank God for what we know He has in store for Hazel even as we continue to pray for the rest of her family.

*Name changed

• Our upper classes students went for an educational tour to the scenic fourteen falls located in the outskirts of Nairobi. The experience was so dear to them that they could not stop talking about it for a whole week.
• Our grade six, seven and eight students participated in the first Ignite program held post the Covid-19 pandemic. All the activities conducted were educational and beneficial in their spiritual formation. Our students really enjoyed showcasing their talents before their peers and we are grateful to MOHI for setting up such a program for our teenagers.
• We held a colorful graduation ceremony for our 98 kindergarten students who are set to join grade one in April. It has been exciting watching these young ones learn how to read and write.
• We also thank God for our 71 grade eight students who successfully completed the national primary school exit exam. The exam was held from March 7th-9th. We are trusting God for a 100 percent transition to high school for all our students.

• We are grateful to Amity Christian Church who sent greeting cards to our grade eight students. This was encouraging to them and motivated them as they prepared to sit for their national exams.

• Pray that the 395 unsponsored children will receive sponsorship.
• Please continue praying for Ramuel Daniel Kimanthi who is our grade one pupil. He was diagnosed with Leukemia and has been in hospital since July 2021.
• Pray for our students as they break for the long holiday, that they will stay safe and be in good health.