David Mundia
David is from a one parent family (mother). However, his mother has been sick so he was taken in by his aunt who lives in a small house in Korogocho, one of the slum areas in Nairobi. David says he owes a lot to his aunt and acknowledges that were it not for her, he could be a street child in the slum, involved in drugs, just like some of his age-mates. David’s experiences have motivated him to help street children. His project focuses on helping the street children in the slum area to improve their education and provide them with life skills. When he completes his dentistry course, he hopes to work with others to focus on helping street children. “I am a humble self-disciplined and a development conscious individual who would like to help others in their needs and welfare…I want to give back to the community.”
2008 Update
David is a dentistry student. His project focuses on tutoring vulnerable youth in his neighborhood of Korogocho, a Nairobi slum. The motivation for the project came from David’s experience as a youth in having no suitable place to study in his home, also in Korogocho, and no light to study by. As part of his PATHWAYS project, David rents a hall in Korogocho to carry out the tutoring activities and enlists the help and support of other university students and local teachers. The objectives of his project are to provide the children with mentoring and guide them to a life of purpose, improve the academic performance of the children from the slums, and promote HIV/AIDS awareness amongst the youth and the community.
David’s project initially had three tutoring programs in different areas in the slum. However, two of the three had to close last year due to the post-election violence. To fund the project at the outset David says, “.. we each gave whatever amount of little money per month to pay rent and the three volunteer teachers. The schools are set in such a way that we don’t spend too much but with the little input we can afford to sustain the project.” David received PATHWAYS funds for his project in 2008. He says, “With enough funding we are planning to get study reference books for the children and at least offer them prizes when we can to motivate them in their academic performance.” Tutoring is held on weekdays after school until 8.30pm and during the weekends 4-6pm.
2009 Update
‘Korogocho’ is a Kikuyu term (one of the local ethnic groups) used to mean a ‘Shack’. David reflects, “Nothing good is associated with the slums almost everywhere in the world, but it’s from the slums that I have grown up. I believe that there is a lot that happens in the slums and there is a lot more potential from these youths who I happen to share a background with.”
David reports, “The tutoring project has made an impact to the community members in that they now appreciate that their children are being supported through their studies and schoolwork which may eventually turn out to good grades and bright futures.” A positive outcome of David’s project is that in 2007 four of the children who benefited from the program sat for their KCPE and two of proceeded on to secondary school. The proportion going on to secondary school increased in 2008,8 students sat for their KCPE and 7 of proceeded to join secondary school. That is a good measure of the success of David’s program. This year with PATHWAYS funds, David provided tables and benches as well as special study guides for the children. This helped improve studying efficiency. [Pictured above David addressing community group and children in the tutoring building- note new tables and benches]
To help make the project sustainable, David is working with a local women’s group, some of whom are parents of children benefiting from the tutoring project, to organize a self help group. The group will work together to help one another start small businesses with a portion of their profits being used to support the tutoring project. [See photo of women above]
In addition to David and his volunteers, Joseph Maina and Kevin Mwang, two new volunteers joined the project this year, Bernard Kihumba who is in charge of the Library Services and Anne Macharia who oversees the running of the homeschool. Members of the committee that oversee the running of the tutoring project are listed below.
1. Chairman-David Mundia
2. Secretary-Anne Macharia
3. Treasurer-Martha Mumbi (Parent)
4. Project Coordinator-Kevin Mwangi
5. Women Self Help group chairperson-Joyce Mutinda
2010 Update
▪Moved study facility to a new more secure location within the Korogocho slum because security was a challenge for girls in the previous area. [Pictured at left are students studying at the facility in the new location.]
▪Purchased revision materials on KCPE and KCSE examinations.[Pictured left]
▪Purchased 2 bookshelves to house the study materials and books. [Pictured left]
▪Completed the registration process of the women’s self help group formed to support the tutoring project.
▪Women’s group started a voluntary savings and loan program.
▪Women’s group began making crafts to sell. As noted, a portion of the profits will support the tutoring project. [Pictured below left. Pictured at far right is Catherine Kaimenyi, Student Coordinator and mentor, talking to the women's group about their business]
Plans for 2010-2011
Improve the library.
Expand the women’s group project
2011 Update
Registered group [see group leader holding certificate in photo].
Opened a bank account with the chairman, treasurer and one of the members as signatories.
Bought training equipment
Visited 2 schools to introduce the idea of planting trees
Plans for 2011-2012
Renovate a space to house the women’s group craft-making activities.
Train the women’s group on sandal making.
Expand sale of craft work.
Connect with other groups and individuals to promote the group activities.
Support the tuition/tutoring project from a portion of the craft making proceeds.
