The “Kubadilishi Project” originated during my six week stay in Nairobi Kenya, September 2015. Myself and two other volunteers were given the opportunity to volunteer in the world’s second largest slum known collectively as “Kibera”. During our time there, we noticed a select group of children who lived in extensive trash piles along a rural soccer field deep within the slum. Each morning, these c
hildren would rise from these piles (where they found comfort in sleeping the night before), start a small fire to keep warm, and would religiously search the piles of rubbish for signs of food or other useful utensils. In Kibera, these children are referred to as “Street Boys” as they have no home, no parents, no direction, and for reasons unclear, have chosen a path of drugs, violence, and unhealthy lifestyles. Seeing these children in such harsh conditions, myself and fellow volunteers knew something had to be done. As a result, we teamed up with a local of Kibera who has a heart of gold and the ambition and motivation to make a change. We started holding monthly soccer (Football) events; provided with a counselling session after each game and an all you can eat lunch for each street boy who participated. Our first event alone had a fantastic turnout, tallying 56 street boys in total. From there, we decided to continue moving forward with the idea in hopes to in time, teach these children how to find and hold faith, live clean lifestyles, find their motivations in life, and most of all show them that there is more to life than the paths they have chosen. In Swahili (The primary language of Nairobi), “Kubadilishi” translates to “transform”. As so, the project itself was established in hopes to touch the lives of those who are willing to change. Essentially, to transform them into functional and successful pupils of society and ultimately, to pull them from the unsanitary lifestyles in which they presently reside. The Kubadilishi Project is a brand new non-profit cause where all donations and proceeds go directly to assisting these children in severe poverty. In time, our goal as team is to continue these monthly (and possibly weekly) events, counselling sessions, and lunches. We hope to someday expand our horizons and invest in a possible home for select children who are prepared to make the life transformations needed for a content, safe, and optimistic future.
