Proverbs 31:8-9
[8]Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
[9]Speak up and judge fairly; 
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

“I have interacted with the minorities around the Kibera slums. They include the deaf and people with disabilities. I have seen their struggles. This impacted me to choose this course (bachelor's degree in International Relations & Security Studies) to fight for them and help change the situation around Kibera through advocating for the inclusion of these minority groups.”

After his father passed away his mother moved their small family from western Kenya to Kibera slum in Nairobi. This was an eye-opening experience for young John. He noticed and befriended many who were marginalized in his immediate area. John saw what others often missed, or worse, purposefully ignored. John noticed those with mobility limitations and he observed the deaf in his community. Not being satisfied to only see them, John took action. He got to know those on the edges of society. John picked up Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) so he could not only speak to his friends, but also begin to advocate for them. 

When he was a bit older, John took a nine month certification course in KSL. His vision to help his friends and acquaintances in Kibera slum has grown. John wants to help bridge the gap between the rich and poor by integrating more of those marginalized people into the mainstream of society. He no longer just helps friends. John has joined a volunteer organization of well over a hundred people in Nairobi that go to Sunday church services, community events and even television programs to interpret for the deaf. “My dream is to create a real impact on society.” He wants to see all people as equal; elevate the social, educational, and economical impact to empower these poorer handicapped people in Kenya over the long term.

John has an interest in writing. One way that passion has been expressed is through script-writing for plays. He has adapted several books into plays and at least one has been used at the Kenya National Theatre! It’s not required for a class but John is already working on writing an action plan for a potential NGO (non-profit) that he has a vision to start. His commitment to helping this sector of society has not weakened over the time at Daystar, but only increased. John was assigned to the Project Management office for his work study hours as part of his scholarship requirements. “I like helping in the office raising money for projects and scholarships at Daystar because it helps others. I know what it was like to struggle with finances for university.”

Kenyan National Association of the Deaf seeks to build both awareness and rights for the deaf community. Using the sign for “I love you” in photos (above) is seen an an expression of support for the community. We can honestly say we love having John as a scholarship student at Daystar! We need more servant leaders like John.