Maureen is the Programme Coordinator/ Social worker of Miale Child Support Programme. I love to work with children and the community. I have been in Miale for the last 2 years. My work entails: making sure the feeding programme runs smoothly, follow up on the children both in school and at home, and ensuring the children get their requirements like uniform, shoes, and monthly supply, offering psychosocial support to both the children and the guardians, making sure the children are in good health, guidance and counselling to the adolescents, managing both the community workers and the suppliers.
Working and supporting the Orphans and Vulnerable children (OVCs) in Kibera community gives me satisfaction, and at the end of the day putting a smile on a child’s face makes me feel complete and happy. My best moment is when we have talks with the children, whereby they get to express themselves, and i get to learn so much from them. We also talk about life, their experiences and what they want to become when they are young adults. I am a good listener and try to help the children come up with solutions to their daily problems and challenges. The children are also taught to respect themselves and others and we try to mould them to become better people in the society.
Life in the Kibera slums is challenging but with positive thinking, and good relations with the people I work with as well as the children, everything runs smoothly. I care so much about children’s education and so I advocate for them, encourage them to work hard and have good grades. I value happiness, health and education of a child and encourage them to work hard so that they can become independent in future.
I have a social education background with over five years experience in social work. I am currently pursuing a BA in sociology and communication at the University of Nairobi. My goal is to gain more experience, exposure and to use the skills that I have to bring a positive social change in my community.