Background of the project "Would You Skip Lunch For Boniface?"
A while ago, I met Boniface (on the left, in light blue shirt) through a certain community-based organization that is supporting him through school because his mom is not able to. He has grown up in one of the most dilapidated neighbourhoods around Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. Despite this, he is a straight-A student with so much going for him ... he just needs "that" break. [ Read: 'Talent is universal; Opportunity is not.' ]
Sometimes, things are so tough on his mom, that when Boniface gets home after school, there’s nothing for him to eat.
Boniface (on the left, with light blue shirt) and I.
So … I’m planning two events this weekend.
1) A food-drive football match on Friday [ 01 June ]. I won’t be collecting *funds … I’ll be collecting *food* .
In partnership with the community-based organization that is paying for Boniface's education, I’m getting my friends to play a soccer match with Boniface & his friends this Friday afternoon [ 01 June 2012 ], from 3pm – 5pm. (PS: these teens are VERY good at soccer! They have one of the strongest football teams in Kibera.)
To participate, my friends will have to sign up with food! … Dry food : rice, tomatoes, onions, sugar, salt, beans, ugali flour, chapati flour … name it! Any contribution given will be most sincerely appreciated.
2) Skip lunch on Thursday [ 31 May ] for Boniface
I’m requesting my friends who may not be able to make it for the soccer tournament but would still like to participate in the food drive to skip lunch on Thursday [ 31 May 2012 ] and instead use that money to buy dry food.
Dry food : rice, tomatoes, onions, sugar, salt, beans, ugali flour, chapati flour … name it! Any contribution given will be most sincerely appreciated.
The question of sustainability:
In addition to the 2 events mentioned above, I have decided to make a long-term sustainable commitment to the family. I have discussed this with some of my friends, and we have formed a small committee that has dedicated itself to ensuring that we will stand by Boniface’s side until his mother is able to financially support the three of them (Boniface, his mum, and a sister who is staying with a Pastor & his wife in Western Kenya).
Boniface's mum (on the left, with brown slacks) and I.
These are the 4 principles that guided our decision:
1. We have decided to go long-term, rather than short-term;
2. We have decided to do deep, rather than wide;
3. We have decided to go time, not just money;
4. We have decided to be crazy enough to believe God for it.
We would like to help her start a small self-sustaining business in Kibera. We are yet to decide what exactly this will be, and how we will do it in a way that she does not rely on us, but is actually able to work her way out of financial dependence on other people.
We will have a discussion with her to find out what she would wish to do, and what would be practical within her environment. We are mindful that no matter how good our intentions are, if we are to impose this on her, it may never see the light of day.
I am very grateful to God for the set of friends He has blessed me with!
... #SoLittleDone; #SoMuchToDo ! [ Gakyaali mabaga ! ]
