Bulldozing 800,000 homes..
Donation protected
Bulldozing 800,000 homes..
And we can save one of them for only $3500.00! I first met Mama Jemima(Ge-me-ma) Anyanga while volunteering in Kenya. She was the Chairlady of the St. John’s Escape Community Group in Kibera, one of the largest slums (800,00 people) located in the heart of Nairobi. During uncontrolled post-election violence, Jemima single-handedly save the group’s community school from being torched by a group of 20 + men armed with pangas, machetes and knives. The enraged mob targeted the school believing that Kikuyus (a minority tribe) were among the members of the women’s group running the school. The school watchman alerted Mama Jemima to the imminent threat. She tried to explain that this was a place for old mamas, their children and orphans to learn. She rushed to the school, shouting and pleading with the men to stop their destruction. Ultimately, Jemima had to prove her “loyalty” by speaking in the Luhya tribal language, an act that saved the school. However, the threatened that if they found a Kikuyu among the women’s group, they would return to burn the school.
Mama Jemima, with her four children, moved to the school to help the watchman stand guard. Two days later, while protecting the school, her own house was looted and burned to the ground. Despite her life- threatening experience and loss of livelihood, Mama Jemima survived and held her family together for the next several years until the city of Nairobi recognized that the land being occupied by 800,00 people was very valuable real estate and ripe for development. So, a few weeks ago, bulldozers were brought in to begin the demolition of the slum known as Kibera. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of a few days until the dozers reach Mama Jemima’s home. The good news is that Mama Jemima had been saving money for years and was able to purchase a small plot of undeveloped land near her Mother outside of Nairobi. Her immediate need is to raise enough money to move her family our of Kibera and build a small mud brick house for them on her land. Mama Jemima has estimated her costs would be around $3500.00 which is the goal we are setting for her. I realize that we often get over-whelmed with the number of people in crisis who are needing our help but this good woman has proven herself to be a brave, resourceful community worker and loving Mother, who continues everyday to find ways to feed, clothe, and educate her children. I am so proud she is my friend and hope that you can help her before the dozers come for her home. Can you send just $25.00 today so we can save Mama Jemima’s home.
And we can save one of them for only $3500.00! I first met Mama Jemima(Ge-me-ma) Anyanga while volunteering in Kenya. She was the Chairlady of the St. John’s Escape Community Group in Kibera, one of the largest slums (800,00 people) located in the heart of Nairobi. During uncontrolled post-election violence, Jemima single-handedly save the group’s community school from being torched by a group of 20 + men armed with pangas, machetes and knives. The enraged mob targeted the school believing that Kikuyus (a minority tribe) were among the members of the women’s group running the school. The school watchman alerted Mama Jemima to the imminent threat. She tried to explain that this was a place for old mamas, their children and orphans to learn. She rushed to the school, shouting and pleading with the men to stop their destruction. Ultimately, Jemima had to prove her “loyalty” by speaking in the Luhya tribal language, an act that saved the school. However, the threatened that if they found a Kikuyu among the women’s group, they would return to burn the school.
Mama Jemima, with her four children, moved to the school to help the watchman stand guard. Two days later, while protecting the school, her own house was looted and burned to the ground. Despite her life- threatening experience and loss of livelihood, Mama Jemima survived and held her family together for the next several years until the city of Nairobi recognized that the land being occupied by 800,00 people was very valuable real estate and ripe for development. So, a few weeks ago, bulldozers were brought in to begin the demolition of the slum known as Kibera. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of a few days until the dozers reach Mama Jemima’s home. The good news is that Mama Jemima had been saving money for years and was able to purchase a small plot of undeveloped land near her Mother outside of Nairobi. Her immediate need is to raise enough money to move her family our of Kibera and build a small mud brick house for them on her land. Mama Jemima has estimated her costs would be around $3500.00 which is the goal we are setting for her. I realize that we often get over-whelmed with the number of people in crisis who are needing our help but this good woman has proven herself to be a brave, resourceful community worker and loving Mother, who continues everyday to find ways to feed, clothe, and educate her children. I am so proud she is my friend and hope that you can help her before the dozers come for her home. Can you send just $25.00 today so we can save Mama Jemima’s home.
Organizer
Berdell Moffett-Chaney
Organizer
Portland, OR
