I thought it would cool to share some more stories about the awesome staff that we are honored to work alongside here in Kenya. Today, I’d like to share the story of Elias Nyaitange, our program leader. I asked him how Nuru has changed his life, and here was his answer.
I was born in a poor family, the third child out of 11. I never dreamed that one day I would have the opportunities that Nuru has given me.
My life was full of problems, and my father died before I completed my education. People laughed that I would not be able to continue with my education. However, my mother struggled in difficulties so that I could finish school at a secondary level. Unfortunately, I did not stay with my mother for long after that, as she died of lung cancer. At that time, I had gotten married and my wife Mary had a child, Venant, who was one month old. I saw that the world was bigger and that I had no future in my life.
One day I was walking into town and I passed through Nyameteburo when I saw good shambas (farms) of maize. I wanted to know who had brought this good method of planting maize. I was told that there was a muzungu (westerner) called Nuru who had brought this method. I was also told that the muzungu was employing people to work in his organization. From that day what I went home, I dreamed that I would be employed by the muzungu so that my work would be to help my people live a better life.
Then one day, I heard that Nuru was hiring in my area. So, I rushed to the chief’s office to see if it was true. In fact, it was true, so I submitted an application. I was called for an interview, and three days later, on September 8, 2009 at 10 pm, I received a message to come to the Nuru offices the next day. When I arrived, Chairman Philip Mohochi told me that I was to start working for the Water and Sanitation Program. Since then, Nuru has positively changed my life by equipping me with skills and knowledge. It is through Nuru that I, my family, and community now have enough food for our families. We have also learned behaviors that keep our families healthy such as using a mosquito net and boiling water, while the CED program has taught us to save our money in order to spend it wisely.
However, I am not fully happy with our progress because my community still has not all accepted to change. I will be happy when Nuru’s goal of ending extreme poverty will be achieved!