From our June 2012 Newsletter Back in 1999, when I was a newly minted graduate and embarking on my first international job, I had the privilege of having Farah Stockman, the founder of Jitegemee, as my boss. We were journalists, reporting on the international tribunal for the Rwandan genocide. But I recall that, even then, she spoke constantly about her street kids education project in Machakos. Farah and I would eventually move on to other jobs, but we kept in touch and every once in … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2012
A Jitegemee Internship
A letter from our first intern, Calum Bowden recapping his Jitegemee experience From our July 2011 Newsletter There is no way to envisage what life is like in rural Kenya and much of the developing world until you experience it firsthand. Coming from white, middle class America, no matter how many generalizations about Africa you’ve heard, there is no way to understand the overwhelming lack of opportunity that plagues places like Kenya. As I discovered, Jitegemee exists to provide … [Read more...]
Concentrate on Building the Future
From our June 2012 Newsletter My name is Mirriam Mutindi Mativo. I was born in a family of two. My mother was crippled and a single parent who was the only bread winner. She worked as a newspaper vendor and thus earned just enough to provide for food. My sister and I faced a lot of challenges in school because my mother could not afford all the expenses. I had tattered clothes and was sent home regularly due to lack of school fees and other requirements. As young as seven years of age I could … [Read more...]
When the Pathway Seems Long
From our July 2011 Newsletter My parents did their best to bring me up in their most affordable way. When I was in class three, things fell apart following the passing away of my dad. Life was unappealing to the poor family since the bread winner was not there and coincidentally my mother was jobless. To save the boat from sinking my mother started doing odd jobs such as washing clothes, digging other people’s shambas, (farms) and other manual jobs. At that time I wanted to give up … [Read more...]
June 2012 Building Progress Update
Dear friends of Jitegemee, It has been a long process, but this spring, we finally were issued our title deed to our land. We are currently in the process of seeking competitive bids for contractors and we intend to break ground on the building this summer. Here is a recap of how far we have come, as well as the blue prints for the master plan, which we intend to build in phases. July, 2009: Signed a contract to purchase an acre of land after securing seed grant from the Kaplan … [Read more...]