James127 Home Visitations

With the training programs starting next week, we longed to start building relationships with the trainees. Some of them live in an area of Nairobi called Kariobangi. These ladies are connected with ABC centre, a ministry that cares for needy street children and provides schooling for the very poor. Ladies in the program from Kariobangi are connected with ABC Centre. Either they have children at the school or have previously attended ABC. Thursday Jennifer and I went to visit a few of the trainees in their homes.

We first arrived at ABC centre in Kariobangi and their social workers took us to the homes of the women. As we walked around, it was an experience taking in every bit of the slums, the smells of the trash, latrine water, and street cooking. Amidst the stares and shouts towards me as a foreigner, and Asian foreigner at that. That is a rare sight to see in that area.

The women we went to visit were all welcoming as we crowded around their humble little homes. It was a pleasure and honor to see where they live. Below are the stories of two ladies that we visited.



Pictured on the right is Nelly Atieno. Nelly not only has young children of her own but she also has taken in orphans into her home, treating them as her own. Several years ago, her sister and brother-in-law passed away, leaving behind their young children (one of them at the time being only three months old). Nelly has deeply cared for them. Two of her children go to school at ABC centre. She hopes in the future more of her children will have the opportunity to as well.

After she welcomed us into her home and introduced us to several of her children, I can already tell she has a big heart. She will be joining the sewing training program next week. I am excited to get to know her even more.

This is Lydia Wangari. She lives in the Kariobangi area with her three children. Her youngest two kids do their schooling at ABC centre. Lydia will be in the James 127 Foundation's jewelry training program.

Upon gaining the beadwork skills, Lydia has high hopes for her future. She would like to help the needy and her family to live a better life.