What does a go-getter look like?

Elvis has big dreams of running a hospital in his home area in Western Kenya and planting a church there as well. But getting started on that dream was a big challenge because of the income level of his family. He did it! Elvis was a part of the Daystar U.S. scholarship program that helped him finish his nursing degree! He graduated last November and took the certification exam. He passed with flying colors. But to finish the certification process in Kenya, one must wait to be placed in a nursing internship by the government.

Instead of sitting around idle while he waits, Elvis is keeping busy. To continue honing his skills Elvis has been volunteering since last December at the birthing clinic of Daystar alumna, Mary Mambo. Mary has a thriving ministry in the Mukuru slum. Years ago she was trained as a nurse, then she and her husband started working with AIDS/HIV orphans. Today she has a girls’ home, maternity clinic, and a church in Mukuru. Elvis became aware of this ministry right around the time he graduated, and started volunteering just a few weeks later. Through this work of volunteering Elvis helps pregnant women and new mothers at the CANA Family clinic while giving him valuable experience. At first he would go on his own just to help however he could. Soon Mary and the staff saw how committed he was to this volunteer work. Now he has a regular nursing schedule with 6 days on and 3 days off rotation. He’s given a small monthly stipend to help cover transportation, house rent and a little for food – about $75 USD per month.

Since the stipend is very little and he wants to save for the future, he’s also started a little side hustle. He’s rented a small secure room in a shopping area, near where he currently lives. Here he’s set up a sort of game room with a few televisions and some video games. He’s only been open for a few weeks and is gauging the popularity, trying to promote the place. Elvis’ brother has joined him and is helping run the game room while Elvis is at the clinic. He’d tested this type of business out when he was still at Daystar and found the other students were interested in a little recreational video game playing. He charges a nominal fee for each game, but we all know how attractive it is to continue playing video games.

Students like Elvis are an inspiration. He’s doing all he can to help himself in whatever way he can. Volunteering for experience will put him ahead of others with the same internship that the government has placed him in. And therefore better poised to get a job once he finishes. The side hustle helps create a little more income for very little output. We are proud to have helped Elvis with this education. 

Would you like to learn more about Mary Mambo and her ministry? Click the button below. If you want to support scholarship students who are go-getters like Elvis, you can give towards scholarships by clicking the scholarship button below.