David & his Mission in Kenya.

It was on a cool moonlit night in the early hours of the morning when they came; a band of cowards, unwashed soldiers of terror slinking through the darkness down the footpaths and through the rusty barbwire fences. They carried an assortment of hand weapons; clubs and big knives called pangas. The group stopped and lit cigarettes and mumbled in hushed tones. Some of them reeked of cheap beer, their liquid courage for the night.

In the small stone farmhouse, the six children huddled in sleep. Their parents in another room, heard the dogs barking. They were always barking, sometimes at other animals looking for scraps of food and sometimes because of people passing by and sometimes they were thieves, trespassing for whatever they could lay their hands on and the dogs usually chased them away. This night would be somewhat different.

These miscreants were sent by unknowns like errand boys to deliver a message of fear.

They chased the dogs with stones, then hammered on the front door with the butts of their weapons and broke the glass panes on the windows and shouted to open the door.

The oldest of the six children, 17-year-old David, rallied the others and they barricaded the steel door with furniture. Minutes went by as the door pounding continued with the shouts of “open the door or we’ll kill all of you”.

On the road near the farmhouse, passing police, on their way to collect a body for burial, heard the noises and barking dogs and the sentry heard their vehicle, as in most of these gang attacks, a sentry is posted, to alert the others. The police used the rickety gate as the thugs broke into a run. They fired warning shots and yelled to stop. The brave boys ran even faster, splitting up, for they knew that in stopping, they might catch a bullet. Before bolting, they shouted to the occupants in the farmhouse that they would be back.

The attack occurred in September 1997. Two weeks later, David’s family received a handwritten note. It ordered them to leave or they would all be killed. It was only luck, that the police were there earlier but what of the next time—would they be as lucky?

They must leave, they agreed, and they packed what they could carry and came to the house of a relative in the dusty and meagrely developed town of Ongata Rongai about 15 miles southwest of Nairobi and moved into a small storage room. They would never return to Subukia and their farmhouse home.

But more troubles were on the way for this family as they struggled to find a means to survive. David’s father fell short in his ability to provide for them as he looked for work. With no particular skills, the jobs he took fell far short of what they needed. David and his brothers and sisters needed to attend school and there was no money for school fees. David took on various jobs at construction sites and hauling jerry cans of water to sell at a mere 10 shillings each.

His father also drank more and more, leaving less and less for food. He became an alcoholic, leaving the breadwinning to his wife. The other kids pitched in and did what they could. His sister did laundry for potatoes.

A teacher from an orphanage in the area heard about him and decided to help. Christ Cares Centre gave them what they could now and then and eventually raised enough money for David to return to school, thus demonstrating they were committed to assisting.

The long and tortuous days dragged by as the school fees were finally paid and he could finish his last year and amazingly attained a B average in his final exams. During these days after school, David found work, albeit short term as a tout or conductor with a matatu or public service vehicle, even entered the army as an athlete at Kibiko training camp. Even this was short term for without him, his 5 siblings were going hungry.

After the exams in 2001, and the good news of his high score, he found his ailing mother diagnosed with diabetes and now a new problem; raising money for her medication, for she was insulin dependant. This sad situation went on as she gradually became worse with episodes of seizures that drained her energy and damaged her organs. Between trying to feed the family, and purchase the expensive insulin and keep himself healthy, he would fall asleep before his head hit the pillow. David fought hard to keep her in daily doses but there were too many gaps in between; it was hopeless, and she finally succumbed. He was now the head of a dwindling family, (the youngest was still a toddler) in their one room home in Rongai, because his father took up with another woman and abandoned the family.

Christ Cares Centre, although falling short of funds to help David’s mother, was able to raise money to help his family now. They tried to get funds to send him to a college or trade school and he was actually able to do a year in Kenya Polytechnic in Nairobi in a gruelling class and work schedule. The public transport fees to and from the city sapped his meagre wages.

A promising break came when he was able to e-mail a cousin living in London who pointed him to a man in Nairobi who ran an NGO that helped bright and needy young people get an education. David knew he needed to set a base for his life so he could help his family and help others, so he found this man.

His name was Ngarari Mwaura. David had prayed hard for help, for hope and for a small miracle; and here it was, he was going to university in the United States.

Now for someone having never left the general area of Central Province of Kenya, the United States was like Dorothy finding Oz. It was confusing, mesmerising, and so full of white people. For David, going so far away for the first time, was an adventure and a half. He now had to make his way to Utah State University and make the deadline to register: another adventure! He did it but soon found he just could not afford to pay the stiff fees of $7000 per semester and so, with some difficulty, he transferred to Wayne County Community College in Michigan where he finally settled down for four years. He volunteered to help other students, primarily Kenyans who were fortunate enough to come to this school. And between this job and working in a campus restaurant, his classes and burying himself in the books, the time passed quicker than ever before. Amazingly, he maintained his B average.

From the outset, David had built a vision that he fervently wanted to give back to the community, to the poor and marginalised young who had no future. He was fortunate; there were millions at home without a chance who would die in miserable poverty. They were not even a number there. He talked about it constantly and in his third year, determined now more than ever, he talked with local church priest who agreed to help him raise funds to buy computers and ship them to Kenya. He would start a computer school that offered free courses to those unable to pay. To give them this chance to get better jobs and perhaps finish or continue their education.

In early 2008, despite the political furore, the fighting, deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans, David Chege Njoroge returned, diploma in hand and with some fifty new and used computers, clothing and shoes, opened his computer college in Ongata Rongai. He’d beaten Goliath, the system that suppresses millions of Kenyans every day.

But David still faces the difficult task of maintaining this school. Of paying the rent, electricity and the fine teachers working there.

I met him there, at his computer college. one morning after reading an article about him in an African publication called Parents Magazine. I am a writer and my wife, who is Maasai, showed me the piece thinking I might be able to assist him somehow. After two hours, I was thoroughly impressed with this young man and decided to hitch my horse to his wagon. This computer school, I learned, was just the tip of the berg. David intends to build a school or institute that will house 300 students per full term of 9 months, who are impoverished and marginalised and teach them skills and a trade with which they can make a living with and all of it is completely free of any fees. A micro-finance system would be set up for those wanting to start their own businesses and a business course is provided. Counselling courses on HIV/AIDS, proper nutrition, family planning, gender equity and a host of others along with a curriculum such as automotive mechanics, welding and metal fabrication, carpentry, masonry, electrician/electronics, photography and beautician and cosmetology, for a total of 17 courses. This school will be called Careers for Life Institute. David is hoping to put this together this year and it’s a good bet he will he will.

We have registered NGO (non government organisation) to manage these operations. We have an office along Mombasa Road, Near Nairobi. We plan to come to the U.S. sometime this summer to fundraise and register the NGO as a tax exempt charity. This marvellous plan will not break this horrendous cycle of poverty but it will put a sizeable dent in it. Instead of facing the bleak and very dismal future in poverty, these young people can build their own future and give the next generation a chance. This will not by any means, be the only school. Plans for other areas in Kenya and Rwanda, Sudan, Burundi are being discussed.

But for now, David must keep this computer school open. As of this writing, the school is teaching nearly 70 students and a long list of others are waiting. The school should be expanded, with more instructors. All of this can be done for $2000 a month.

It is for this reason I am telling you his story. Perhaps, when you read it; David’s story and his mission of hope may touch you. It is unusual because it is so rare for a Kenyan, fortunate enough to receive an education in the West, to return to actually give back something of value. If you feel you would like to contribute something to help David keep this school alive; to enable these young Kenyans now in the school to finish their courses, and the many others waiting to enter. Here’s how: you can go to your bank and purchase an American Express travellers cheque, for any denomination and send it, if you wish, with a little note to David or after the end of March. You may address it to Careers for Life International. It is a safe way to send your donation. Please don’t send personal checks, as in Kenya, it is nearly impossible to deposit.

In turn we will send you a packet of information on the college, including photos and a list of students you might just want to correspond with . This can also be easily done through our e-mail if you prefer.

The packet will give you current information on what Careers for Life International (CLI) is doing with your donations and detailed plans for the future. We are now completely re-doing our website, which will be online at months end. Below is a list of our contacts and addresses. While David was at college in Michigan, Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church assisted him with some fundraising. David has asked Rev. Charles Morris to assist in the collection of any donations. You may send the travellers cheques in care of the church.

David and I and the many young Kenyans thank you in advance, from the bottom of our hearts.

Please address your donations to David Chege Njoroge in care of:

Saint Elizabeth Church Rectory Phone: (1) 734-552 0104 •••••9Am to 4Pm.

138 Goodell

Wyandotte, MI. 48192

David Chege Njoroge/Jerry Ross

P.O.Box 15593 P.O.Box 12988

Mbagathi 00503 00100 GPO

Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, Kenya

Tele: +254 722-802 400 (Cell)

Tele: + 254 724-733 380 (Cell)

E-Mail: xchege@yahoo,com E-mail: jerrmaa@yahoo.com

This entry was posted on November 27, 2008 at 7:56 am and is filed under Poverty, African Orphanages, Orphanages. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.