Shelly Okumu

Shelly Okumu1

  • Medical School, University of Nairobi, graduated 2012
  • Girl Project: Empowerment through girl-centered activities, education and mentoring
  • Kisumu
  • Mentor:Catherine Kaimenyi

 

Shelly Okumu’s mother and father died before she was 10 years old. Her maternal grandmother raised her in a Nairobi slum, Dandora, where she has memories of violence, girl child drop outs due to early marriages, and teenage pregnancies. Shelly reflects, “Coming up in Dandora has made me hardworking, determined, strong- willed and I am ready to lend a hand to a brother/sister who needs it. I want to see Kenya progress. I want youths to achieve this and I am ready to be among those who make this dream come true.”

 

Three New Scholars Receive Orientation

Three new scholars– Nafisa Ayuka, Sara Simei and Kennedy Otieno– recently participated in an introductory program. The orientation was organized by first year scholars ,Monicah Wairimu and Isaac Ngere, with help from other scholars. Isaac presented on how to write a good proposal, highlighting contents such as background, rationale, methods, evaluation plan and conclusion.

Kaimenyi Visits Scholar’s Kabete Rehabilitation School Project

Catherine Kaimenyi, PATHWAYS student coordinator, visited Levis Maina’s Hand’s on Kenya volunteer project based at Kabete Rehabilitation School in Nairobi. This volunteer project was identified because the school is understaffed and these at-risk youth need mentoring and skill building to be able to go on to a productive adult life. Levis and his volunteers are filling a need by providing tutoring and study skill development as well as modeling volunteerism.

Kaimenyi Visits Scholar’s Youth Tutoring Project

Catherine Kaimenyi, PATHWAYS student coordinator and mentor, visited David Mundia’s project in the Karagocho slum area in Nairobi. David is from this area and encountered difficulties with finding a place to study when he was in school. Almost no houses have electricity so there is no light to study by and there is little privacy for concentration. Now as his PATHWAYS project, David has rented a nearby hall with electricity and provided tutoring to help children learn their school work in an environment conducive to studying.