James and his sisters:
This family consists of four orphaned young adults, one man and three women.
The parents were killed in late 1997 as a result of tribal clashes in the pre-election period. The family is from the Kikuyu tribe (originally from central Kenya), but owed a farm in the northwest of the country, where Pokot and Samburu tribes predominate. Warriors of these tribes have chased the Kikuyus from their land so that they would not vote. Many were killed. At that time the eldest of the children, James, was 13 years old. He became a head of the family, and was taking care of his sisters since that time.
James in 2010
We met James some 8 years ago and we have helped him to finish the teachers college. With the assistance of our friends in Denmark and Poland we could also pay for the high school of his three sisters, and subsequent vocational education of the two. One girl is presently in the UK, as a part of a formal temporary immigration program, employed as a chambermaid in a Hotel. She is helping, as much as she is able to, the other siblings. The other girl is sales person in a supermarket in Nairobi. The youngest of the girls, just after high school and short computer courses, has unfortunately developed a cancerous brain tumor. There is no health insurance in Kenya for poor people. With the help of well wishers in Switzerland she could be operated. She is now recovering. When she will fully recover, she will also look for further education, which would help her to find work.
James, a very intelligent young man (now 30 years old), after several years of work as a primary school teacher, is studying now for Bachelors in International Affairs at the USIU (United States International University, Nairobi). He is being sponsored by a group of young musicians and vocalists from Poland. From time to time they organize a concert for him in order to help him pay for this good university here in Nairobi.
First concert “Jazz 4 James”, Warsaw, Poland< may 2010: Aga Zaryan, the main vocalist, with Chair of Waty Kwa Watu explaning story of James to the public.
Poster of the second concert “Jazz for James”, October 2012, Warsaw, Poland
This young family is still living very modestly, but with the help of various well wishers it has avoided poverty, and has a chance of a good life in the future. All the contributions have been passed directly to them and their school, with facilitation of the Trustees of Watu Kwa Watu.
Two younger sisters talking with sponsor of their educations, Pawel Swianiewicz from Poland, in Nairobi, December 2012. James is standing behind.