She speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.She watches over the affairs of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also…

Proverbs 31:26-28

In Mathare, women play an integral role in the support of their families. A woman’s pursuit of economic opportunity involves a daily struggle to survive and take care of her family. eduKenya provides opportunities for women to break the cycle of poverty in their homes and community.Gladys Kwamboka, also known as Mama Naomi, is a wife and mother of four children, three who currently attend Kwa Watoto School: Naomi – 7th grade, Lydia – 4th grade, and Esther – 2nd grade. Her husband works as a driver, but struggles to make a steady income to support his family. Gladys provides for her family by selling tomatoes from a kiosk in her neighborhood and supplies Kwa Watoto School with tomatoes and vegetables.Gladys actively pursues opportunities through eduKenya to make a better life for her family in the midst of extreme poverty. She is a member of the Community Support Ministry (CSM) and is a recipient of a Kiva loan. Through her participation in these opportunities, her business is flourishing, enabling her to improve life for her family and make loan payments promptly. Gladys has qualified to receive another loan at the end of May.Gladys says, “With the help of the [eduKenya] program, I am now able to sustain my business and to save some money. I can also support my daughters and provide for their basic needs because my husband doesn’t have a reliable job” Kennedy Odede, an internationally recognized community organizer, was once a resident of a Nairobi slum. He had an industrious mother who was also given opportunity to make a difference in the lives of her children. In 2012, Kennedy made an appeal to those celebrating their mothers on Mother’s Day: “Skip the flowers. Instead, buy hope.”The impact of eduKenya on the life of Gladys and her family is unmistakable. God’s mercy and grace move in the lives of children and families in the slum through the generous supporters of this vital ministry. Please consider “buying hope” in honor of a woman in your life who you call blessed. Visit eduKenya.org/donate to partner with us as we offer hope through opportunity in Mathare.