“I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13b

In 2007, Miriam Waithira was maneuvering daily life in a state of sorrow and devastation. Her husband’s recent death made her sole provider for their four children, and post-election violence forced her to close the doors of her daycare business. As she struggled to keep her family going, she met Pastor Isaiah Kamau, pastor of Believers Centre Mathare Church. Pastor Isaiah introduced Miriam to eduKenya’s Home-Based Care (HBC), an event Miriam ascribes to the love and tender mercy of God.Through her participation in HBC, Miriam began to make and sell beaded jewelry, which helped provide food for her family. Nevertheless, financial worries continued to plague her. It was suggested that Miriam put her knitting skills to use to create hand-knit clothing. Her products were unique and the quality exceptional, which led to orders by Kwa Watoto staff and community members. Miriam, feeling blessed and determined to pay-it-forward, taught knitting to other women in the HBC program. For several years, knitting allowed her to support and educate her children with less financial stress; although she was still unable to afford high school fees for her eldest daughter.In early 2014, the HBC program was absorbed into the new Community Support Ministry under the able direction of HBC Coordinator, Joseph Njenga. At that time, Joseph shared with eduKenya staff his concern about the lack of daycare to provide a safe place for children during the workday. He informed them that Miriam was a qualified tutor trained in early childhood development. She had first-hand experience, love for children, passion for the work and a deep desire to, once again, own and operate a daycare.eduKenya assisted Miriam to find a space for Toto Bora Daycare and paid the rent for the first two months. In addition, eduKenya helped her purchase a few items needed for start-up and provided a small financial cushion for several months. The first three months were a challenge, but Miriam courageously held on and now cares for 10 infants and toddlers. The income she earns is enough to make Toro Bora self-sustainable and provide for Miriam’s family needs, including high school fees!

Toto Bora Day Care is an emotional and financial blessing to the parents who leave their children with Miriam each day. Without the daycare, parents may not be able to work, or be forced to leave their children in less safe and capable hands.Miriam Waithira’s story is one of mourning transformed to joy, and despair-to-purpose, in a life surrendered to the Sovereign Lord. We thank God for her and the Toto Bora Daycare Center! Our continued prayer is that through Miriam and the daycare, the future of children and families in Mathare will be forever transformed.