ROCK (Reaching Out with Compassion in Kibera) is a not-for-profit organization which empowers young people through education in the slums of Kibera. The organization was started almost ten years ago by Dan with the help of Jason and Ghoncheh with aim of helping young people within the Kibera slums not to engage themselves in criminal activities. According to Dan, one of the most important activities which can rescue young people from getting involved in criminal activities is the provision of education to the young people. Up-to-date we have sponsored more than a hundred young people in different high schools in Kenya. We can’t forget to mention those who help us achieve this, by sponsoring the students.
Since its formation, ROCK has expanded from providing education to mentoring, coaching, and fun space which paves way for the success of individuals within the organization. Melkizedec Owuor (me) and Brian Mwevi are our former graduates and they are currently working at Tunapanda Institute, our partner organization which trains young people in practical tech, design, and business for three months and probably place the graduates into jobs.
The fun day is an important activity within our organization. Each year we usually organize fun days, which act to bring our students together, celebrating their successes in different areas of interactions. This is an opportunity for the students to forget for awhile their family and personal problems and focus on being happy. Also, students get to know each other better during this period.
Our students are hardworking and dedicated to their activities, more so their education. When it comes to education, we (ROCK family) are serious and never joke about it. The students know that this is a golden opportunity for them since most of the youths within Kibera are not educated because of lack of school fees and other resources such as electricity, space, and broken family issues. And ROCK offers to provide them with the necessary space and equipment to make sure that they get educated and happy, at the same time.
We lead a group of volunteers to tutor the ROCK kids each weekend. We typically meet on weekend afternoons for 2 hours. During these sessions, tutors lead a group of 3–6 ROCK members through homework or practice problems in a range of subjects with a specific emphasis on mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. This is a very important component of our program and we are always looking for tutors to join our weekly tutoring sessions. Anyone is welcomed to spend time with our students.
ROCK provides a conducive environment for the general growth of young people within Kibera slums. Clean and silent, unlike most of the places in Kibera where music, quarrel, and congestion are the main activities. Thanks to those who usually help us make sure that the place is paid for.
To support the kids more broadly, ROCK has a workshop component to it. Where speakers from a range of backgrounds and professions come in to speak to the students. We’ve had engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, to professional Hollywood videographers, scriptwriters, and a local reporter/author/journalist speak to the students about their work, how they got into the field and how to learn more about the specific profession or role. Everyone is invited to spend time with our students.