Mama KikiThe rise of single-parent households in the Nairobi slums is primarily due to the impact of social change on marriages: Alcoholism and other drug use, HIV-AIDS, polygamy, poverty, violence, abandonment, and other factors. Patricia Ndinda, also known as Mama Kiki, was forced to leave home with her four children after it became clear that they were all suffering from her husband’s neglect.After separating from her husband, Mama Kiki started working at odd jobs to meet her family’s needs. With only a second grade education, her options were limited. She moved the children out of Jangwani to the edge of the Mathare slum, but with her previous support system so far away, she feared for her children’s well-being when they were alone. So, she returned to Jangwani and the safety net of friends.Mama Kiki started spending time with friends who worked in our school’s catering department and soon found herself hired. Since those early days when the school was still in Jangwani, Patricia has worked in catering and custodial services and is now the Preschool Custodian. She keeps the classrooms tidy, ensures that plates, cups, and class materials are clean and ready for the children's use, and carries all meals for the children from the Mawewa Primary School to the Preschool.Juggling all life’s demands as a single parent is sometimes daunting for Patricia, but she thanks God for the opportunity to provide for her children’s needs. Mama Kiki’s children attend Mawewa School in Classes 7, 4, 3 and 2, and she takes great joy in knowing that her children are receiving a life-transforming opportunity through a good education and godly mentoring.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17