It was good to be together for our annual conference at Rosa Mystica Spiritual Center. Early on Friday morning before the conference began, we had the opportunity to participate in a tree planting climate change activity in Juja in Kiambu County sponsored by current scholar, Moses Nyambura (see photo at right). Juja is an area where droughts, flooding and extreme temperatures affect the population. Several other current scholars (Nora Okombo, Dennis Murimi, Robert Maina Baaru, James Opiyo) as well as Student Coordinator Dr. Catherine Kaimenyi, Auxillia Omwanda and President Deb Gust joined in the activities. We planted endemic species at the Precious Blood Primary School, Star of Hope Children’s Home and Woodland Academy. Moses is President of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Equity Leader’s Club. Many Equity Club members were in attendance supporting Moses and the climate change project. On the same day we visited with the teachers from schools where Moses is mentoring students, among them his former primary school, Thiririka Primary School. They were quick to tell us about the large impact Moses and his club members are having on their primary school students, from higher attendance, better grades, fewer drop-outs to less drug use.
The conference started Friday evening with Dr. Patrick Nyagah, who heads the Transformative Thinking Center. He met with the current scholars together and one on one. He has taught and mentored them since they joined the program.
On Saturday morning, after an opening prayer, James Opiyo and Moses Nyambura each read a poem about PATHWAYS that they had composed themselves. It was a gift hearing their talents as writers and thoughts about PATHWAYS. Next, each of the scholars took one of the following key core values of PATHWAYS (Integrity, Leadership, Mentorship, Community service, Communication, Accountability, Selflessness, and Excellence) and gave a presentation with examples from their 
lives. Thereafter, Dr. Kaimenyi presented on the importance of deliverables from each community project, Dr. Gust offered information on how to have a happy life, Monicah Nyambura offered feedback on project visits and encouraged scholars to rate their own progress, Dr. Otieno presented on finances and the manner in which scholars are evaluated (academics, community project, and communication), and Auxilla Omwanda presented on the Girl Project and showed engaging videos of the participants in the various communities.
Towards the end of the day, the alumni present came forward to offer an update on their lives and careers as well as directed some insights and wisdom to the scholars. Alumni present were Jackline Okello, Sharon Langi, Dr. Shelly Okumu, Levis Maina, and Dr. Brian Maluki. Apologies were offered from Ken Otieno, Hussein Abdhallah, Lily Chepkorir and Michael Murigi. Importantly, Dr. Maluki, Lily Chepkorir, and Michael Murigi contributed funds to sponsor a new scholar in the PATHWAYS program. Many thanks to them! Finally, certificates were awarded to scholars who completed the PATHWAYS on-line critical thinking and climate change course in 2021.
Sunday morning began with a presentation by the scholars in the form of an African song called “Bwana ni mwokozi/Christ is my salvation”. They sounded terrific! After some closing thoughts from everyone, we adjourned. Special thanks to Robert Maina Baaru for volunteering to be Master of Ceremonies.
The energy level at the 2021 PW conference was even higher and the tone even sweeter than usual given that the 2020 annual conference was cancelled due to the pandemic. We were happy to be together and realized we have much to be grateful for this year. To name a few things, we are grateful for our health, the vibrant and dedicated leadership from Dr. Catherine Kaimenyi, Monicah Nyambura, and Dr. Fred Otieno, the enthusiastic current scholars, and last but not least, our loyal alumni.
After breakfast on Sunday morning, our entire group hit the streets of Nairobi to walk to the Girl Effect Study Kibera site. There we heard from the mothers regarding how they thought the study was going. What they were the most happy with were the transformative thinking skills given them by Dr. Nyagah, the National Insurance card given as part of the study, and their improved relationship with their daughters (this was echoed at other Girl Effect study sites). A very good conference weekend. This quote from Wangari Mathai seems fitting with PATHWAYS current focus on community development and the environment, “Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own – indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.”
Ken is one of 3 children being raised by a single mother. He is grateful for the support his mother has given him despite the extreme poverty he and others in his community experienced. He says, “Going through these challenges taught me resilience and hard work. I learned that absolutely nothing comes freely. I also appreciated the value of paving my own way instead of following the crowd. This really took part in helping me to overcome. Later, I started seeing the value and sweetness of education, which is lacking in our society. Accordingly, I set myself to give back to my society. This is through offering mentorship and showing pupils that great life awaits them if they work hard, and helping the needy according to my means. Giving back to society is one of my missions in life.”