Five years ago, Eric left his home in Eastern Kenya for greener pastures. He had just completed high school, and though he had performed very well, his parents could not afford to send him to university or college.
“I just couldn’t stay at home and wait for fate to take its course. I am a strong believer that we can make fate work in our favor. Passing my secondary exit exams despite being in a low-quality school and constantly being sent home for school fees is a testament to my belief in molding my own path and making the stars align in my favor. Simply put, I am a go-getter,” asserts Eric.
And so it was that Eric packed his bags, bid his parents and siblings goodbye, and headed to Ngong area in the outskirts of Nairobi in search of a better future. Knowing he had no job and no place to put up, he immediately started job hunting for any work. He finally got a position as a security guard.
“During my free time, I used to volunteer at Dream Children’s Home as a tutor. While here, I met Kathy and the Moja Tu team, and when they heard my story, they were moved. They asked me what I wanted to do, and I told them I wanted to go to university, and that’s how my wish was granted. So the following day, I ran to Kenyatta University, filled out the application forms, and a few months later, I was seated in class,” Eric narrates.
Eric will be graduating this year with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and in retrospect, he is glad that he took the first step of leaving his home for the unknown. While he left his nuclear family behind, through Moja Tu, he has found a whole new family made up of hundreds of students. At Dream Children’s Home, the children fondly refer to him as Teacher Eric – a title he wears with pride.
“The title also comes with some sense of responsibility, which the program has nurtured in me over the years. I am someone who goes out of his way to make things happen. When Moja Tu management saw my initiative, they were intentional about involving me more in the program activities. As a result, I am now more confident,” he says.
At Dream Children’s Home, Eric has been entrusted with responsibilities such as tutoring the students in primary and secondary school. A local church also entrusted Eric to lead one of its chapters in Ngong. Eric says mentoring the youth and guiding them in faith has been very fulfilling.
Eric is considered an elder brother to the students, and many of them look up to him. What makes him tick? “I believe in the power of hard work, resilience, and being principled. I have also come to learn that humility and to be eager to learn opens so many doors. I try to maintain a good relationship with everyone I come across,” he says as we conclude.
TAKE FIVE WITH ERIC
- What is your current read?
21 Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
- What is your dream country?
The United States
- What is one thing you can’t wait to do finally?
Become a professor.
- Who is your biggest inspiration?
Nelson Mandela
- What is your motto?
Working smart and keeping time produces super results.