Community Profile
Mathare is the second largest slum in Nairobi. It is a densely populated community notorious for crime and gang activity. During one scout trip to this area, a community member told us that many residents raise their children in the Islam tradition because in Kenyan culture a Christian funeral is too expensive, and most children are killed or die during their teenage years because of the violence in this community. CARE for AIDS began working in Mathare in October of 2016.
Center Staff
Medical Counselor: Joan Waitherero Njihia
Joan grew up in Nairobi, Huruma location. She is the first born in a family of three. She has been employed with CFA since 2017. Joan says her favorite part of the job is home visits.
" Most of our clients do not get visitors to their homes so when I visit them they feel good and encouraged. Being part of their lives is a joy to me.”
Spiritual Counselor: Jude Muchiri Karanja
Jude was born and raised in Mathare slums. He is the first born of an artist father and homemaker mother. His mother loved the Lord and was a missionary when she was young. Jude dreams his clients will also love the Lord. He wants them to escape extreme poverty as he did and have healthier families and relationships.
center history
YEAR GRADUATES FAITH-DECISIONS ORPHANS PREVENTED
2016-2017 80 29 208
2017-2018 78 6 186
2018-2019 76 7 172
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
2020-2021 74 19 130
*The cohort in the 2019-2020 class was impacted by delays in the CARE for AIDS program caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and health precautions. To learn more about how we responded to the pandemic, visit this page.
Graduate Profiles
Vincent, 2021 Client
Two months before the graduation at Mathare Center, Vincent Onyango shared: “Our leaders take care of us as their own children. Even though all my troubles are not over, I feel encouraged to have a family walk alongside me. I feel loved.”
Vincent joined the program in 2020. Like many others who are recruited into the program, he was sickly and seemed malnourished. At 41-years-old, he looked much older. He was broken inside. He said, “I thought I was coming to the end of my life.”
Before 2015, Vincent had a good life. He was married and was a father to one child. At the time, he was working with the Kenya Forest Service as a driver for one of the leaders. Unfortunately, his health started to deteriorate around 2013 and by 2015, a test revealed that he was HIV-positive. This is when everything turned around for him.
The doctors recommended he start medication immediately, but Vincent could not accept the new life he was about to begin. Four years later, he was admitted to Mbagathi Hospital where he was fighting for his life. It was at this time that he decided to live differently. He started adhering to medication and paying attention to the doctor’s advice.
One month later, he was discharged. He was taken in by his mother because his wife had left him and he had lost his job at the Kenya Forest Service. His close friend introduced him to the program and Vincent agreed to be part of it. We gave Vincent close attention and gained his trust. He enjoyed the frequent home visits and his mother was happy to see her son get to know the Lord.
During one of the visits, he gave his life to the Lord and devoted himself to reading the Bible on a daily basis. He said, “I decided to make the Bible my friend since most of the people I knew had forsaken me. In the Bible, I found life.”
He found inner peace after the counseling and group therapy sessions, which he never missed. During the sessions, we had reconciliation talks with his wife and she agreed to come back home.
Vincent is now living an empowered life. Last year, he applied for a position with the Forest Service. He is now close to getting his job back. He says that he found the meaning of life when he lost everything. He now has Christ, a loving family, a transformed mind, a loving community, and an extra set of skills.
In the meantime, he is working on getting resources to start a t-shirt printing business. His empowerment group decided to meet every Tuesday—even after graduation—and contribute money towards the printing project. On graduation day, Vincent’s mother called to say: “Mtoto wangu amebadilika. Asanteni sana kwa usaidizi wenu,” which means, “My son is transformed. Thank you so much for your support.”
