The Albas in Mathare Slum, Nairobi Kenya

Posted by Ivan Alba 
on Feb 21, 2016
 
 
For wildlife enthusiasts, Kenya’s Maasai Mara is Africa’s epicenter for adventure.  But for philanthropists, Kenya’s Mathare slum in Nairobi is in itself an epicenter for service.  Families from around the country crowd into the packed communities without access to electricity and proper sanitation.  The average earnings are less than $1 per day.  Homes are so densely packed that emergency services find it almost impossible to enter.  Drinking water is hard to come by, and food is not easily accessible for all of the children among the 500,000 people living there.  Education is a luxury that few can afford.  Life would be bleak for the children of this area but for the help of caring Rotarians, Rotary Community Corps (RCC), and other caring individuals.

 
 
On their year-long world tour, the Alba family of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club visited this slum where the RCC set up a Christmas program with food, entertainment and gifts, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nairobi.  PDG Mohammad Abdula guided the Albas through the labyrinth of homes and open sewers to where the RCC had gathered over 800 children to enjoy a beautiful program, receive gifts, and eat a healthy meal.  The whole Alba family (Ivan, Elena, Lily and Isabel) participated in feeding all the children and entertaining them as much as possible.
 
One of the Mathare RCC members, Barack Ouno, built a school in the slum because the government would not.  He charges about 20 cents per day, but most of the children cannot afford this, so they don’t pay.  He is always looking for volunteers and partners who can help lift the children of the slums, so contact him at hopecompa@rocketmail.com if you are looking to support students. 
 
Continue to track the Alba family as they travel around the world and help Rotary projects everywhere they land by following their blog at www.albaworldtour.wordpress.com and enjoy the ride as they live their Year of Rotary Service.