Regina Wambui is the Social Development Manager with a key role of driving the development and expansion of the Social Development programmes.
My work involves management of Social Development Programs on a day to day basis, ensuring program development, smooth running and that we remain focused to achieving our main goal which is to see all kids in the program develop to become responsible and self reliant in future.
For the last one year I have been in the organization, we have developed and expanded Miale community programs following the CSP model and have established Miale outreach program based in Kandara – Central Part of Kenya. Youth Empowerment program has just begun with the first students joining vocational training in their various localities to enable them become progressive members of the community and ensure continuity of the apprentice program in the Johari Designs.
It’s exciting to see the programs grow as well as kids especially with the excellent team players running the programs. The social development team works as a family, determined to support and empower the most vulnerable children in the society and make a difference in their lives.
What makes each day great and complete is when I get to see smiles on the faces of the children. This sends a message of hope and future. The quest to develop these programs to assist many children in the best way possible is the best and perfect satisfaction of my life.
I’m a Higher National Diploma graduate in Community Development and Social Work with an experience of over 9 years in both community and social development projects. My desire is to gain more knowledge through learning and exposure in order to create positive change to the community and develop sustainable Social projects.

The Guardian’s meeting for Miale outreach was held on 13th and 14th of May in both lower and upper zones. The meeting agenda was to discuss the role of the guardian’s in parenting as well as reminding them about the Johari Foundation policy. The Miale team gave the guardian’s feedback on the children's progress during the holiday programme which was pleasing to them .The Miale team urged the guardian’s to co-operate with the children and teachers for proper growth and development of children. After the meeting the guardians were very happy to receive the monthly food supply which includes: Rice, flour, cooking fat, paraffin, toothpaste porridge flour, shoe polish and soap.

Regina Wambui is the Social Development Manager with a key role of driving the development and expansion of the Social Development programmes.

As a Social Development Manager, I feel proud to be associated with Johari in this noble service. The challenges and experiences are very educative and of wide exposure.
When I look back from where we have come from, I can confidently say that we are changing kid’s life positively. The programs are growing day by day with increased number of children. Every time I get to share with kids in the program, I get to realize that Miale programs are doing a great job.

I have learnt with time that the more poor or vulnerable an individual is, the more hopeless one becomes. “Where there is no hope, there is no life”. I have observed a great change in kids gradually, before and after joining Miale programs. It is wonderful to note that most kids look happier, smart and confident and are able to play and fit in their different ages unlike before.
Kids know a lot of things and have a lot to share given an opportunity. That, I have learnt during my sharing with them. They love being recognized, respected and to be given space.

Due to the excessive rain, trying to access schools in Miale outreach has proved challenging.
One ought to be in gumboots if not bare footed. However, the rainfall will be good for the harvest. Most of the farms are green and guardians are busy weeding and happy at the prospect of a good harvest this year.

During our home visit we meet one of our guardian's in her small piece of land and she is very happy. Her crop looks great and promising. She has planted Maize, Beans and vegetables and wishes she could do something to ensure the success of her harvest in coming years!
Her three children work with her in the garden during the holiday which is nice that the children give their mother a helping hand.

Regular Home visits is an important part of the remit of a Miale social worker to ensure that the programme runs smoothly and to be able to understand the families and guardian’s who live with the children.
James (outreach social worker) and Charity a social worker in the making went to visit a home at Githunguri area a couple of weeks ago. The team had to walk a long distance because the area was in-accessible by car due to heavy rains. The road was muddy and slippery.
On reaching the home the team met a guardian who welcomed them whole heartedly. The team discussed many issues which included the wellbeing of the child, problems affecting the family at home and how to ensure that the child performed well at school. We also visited other homes. Charity found the visits interesting and really good experience.

The Guardian pictured above was thrown out of her marital home by her in laws upon the death of her husband. She lives in a one room house which she has rented with her three children and her late sisters two children. Miale support one child in this family.

Miale Outreach team recruited some new children on March 2010 for the programme.
First of all the children were selected by their respective class teachers as being in need of our help. After the selection home visits were carried out by the Miale team to ascertain whether the child is needy and whether the home situation deserves some assistance.
Following our selection criteria and policy the Miale team analysed case by case and 8 children qualified. They are now in the program and although a bit naïve have adapted very.

The girl on the left and the boy at the back are in the Miale programme.

After a long April holiday, children in Miale outreach returned to school a couple of weeks ago. Most of them struggled with getting up early on their first day back because they were used to waking up later during the holiday. During the rainy season the children don't enjoy waking up early!
During our discussions with the teachers from the schools we visited we found out that the teachers are more strict with the children who come to school late as they miss classes. Children in the programme enjoy going to school but like all children need to be encouraged.

Photograph of class two in Githunguri Primary school teacher Mrs. Maina at the back.

Charity thought being in the field would be fun until I decided to go out with her! We woke up early and travelled for about 2 hours before we reached our first stop - Githunguri secondary. We heard from teachers that Mercy a form one pupil who is in Miale was doing very well at school. After that we visited Githuguri primary school where we paid the fees for the pupils at the school and asked about the progress of the children. The head teacher Mr. James Kariuki informed us that all the children were doing well in school and he had not noted any problem with them. Home visits followed and we had to walk long distances from one home to the other. Charity was very tired after all the visits and walkingthrough the mud and rain.

How does it feel to be in a new environment and with new people?
Perhaps this is what is in these children’s mind.
Miale Child Support Programme increased the number of children in April 2010 by 23 children. There was a large number of children shortlisted but only 23 qualified for the programme.
Its amazing to see them try to fit in the program, so naïve yet strong to cope. We are growing, one of the Community workers commented. The families are happy to be part of the Johari family.
It was very funny to see the older children on the programme volunteer to work the first week followed by the new students the second week. A Swahili saying sprang to mind - “Mgeni siku kwanza mpe chai, Mgeni siku ya pilli mpe ugali, Mgeni siku ya tatu mpe Jembe.” In English when a visitor comes to your place the first day give him/her tea, the second day lunch and the third day give the visitor Jembe to dig. So the new children got involved in helping after their first week on the programme.

Comments from the 2 new children
Khadija said “I enjoyed myself during the training and I learnt how to maintain myself, Thank you!”
Faustine Kayosa said “During the holiday programme I enjoyed reading story books.”

Miale child support programme is looking forward to increasing the number in primary education.

The journey of a child in Miale social programs is long just like for any other growing child.. This is from the time a child is recruited in the program and the time a child becomes self reliant. Self reliance for every child in the program is the key objective for Miale social programs.

Charles Kuria a standard two boy in Karembu – ini primary school in Kandara central Kenya is the youngest in Miale outreach program. Charles is born in a family of 11 children and the mother is single. Living in a one roomed house, Charles appreciates his humble home and vows to work hard in school. He wants to be a teacher.

Charles will be in Miale program for the next 12 years and the program will provide for all his needs to ensure he finishes primary school, joins secondary school depending with his performance. He will then join university or college for four years before getting a job or starting his own business. The journey is long. This means that the program must ensure that the child is given the best support in terms of basic needs, proper education and more so social psycho- support to ensure that the child is successful.
Charles represents all the 186 children in the Miale social programs. The journey for each child depends with the time the child joins the program and at what point the child becomes self reliant and exits.

From my experience, it is important to ensure proper structures and strategies have been put in place to enhance growth and success of each child in the program. Given that each child will take ample time in the program, we have put in policies that have enabled the organization role out Miale programs with ease. The growth and success of each child depends solely on the efforts that child will put and the provision that the programs will offer. Doing our best to ensure positive change in every child is our joy.