ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN AFRICA

This article was written by Dr. Grace Kinuthia. Dr. Grace is the President of Hope 631, an initiative set in motion to help the children living in the Nakuru slums of Nairobi Kenya. This articles tells us about some of the focus of Hope 631. Dr. Grace is also involved in the leadership of IChange Nations™ First Lady’s Club. Setting forth to honor and promote First Ladies around the world. Helping them leave a legacy of hope and advancement for the people of their countries. Dr. Grace resides in Houston, Texas. She holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities through United Graduate College and Seminary International; having been awarded this honor because of her heart and care for humanity around the world. Dr. Grace resides in Houston, Texas with her husband Dr. Charles Kinuthia.

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Hope 631 a Global nonprofit starts a new initiative of building primary schools at the dumpsite in Nakuru Kenya. The African slums have been neglected for many years. The poor are abandoned and left to fate and the dumpsite has become a home for many. Though a violation of human rights, local governments have done little to nothing in helping these families change their way of life. 

Africa region has experienced an impressive increase in the number of students enrolled in primary school. Between 1990 and 2012, the number of children enrolled in primary schools more than doubled, from 62 million to 149 million children. In sub-Saharan Africa, 15 countries have abolished school fees since 2000, enabling more children to attend primary school. Despite tremendous gains in primary school enrollment, no African country has achieved universal primary education. For a country to achieve universal primary education, all children must have completed a full course of primary schooling. Globally, 58 million children of primary school age were out of school in 2012. Of that number, 38 million children were in Africa. About half of all out-of-school African children will never step foot in a school in their lifetime. Source: UNESCO, United Nations.

 

At the dumpsite in Nakuru, very few children attend primary school because they can’t afford to pay for tuition and uniforms and in many cases the schools are so far away and it’s not safe for them as there have been a number of reported rape cases. School environment and learning conditions are unbearable Seeing the need for these disenfranchised families, Hope 631 has stepped up to help by providing clean water, food, the basic necessities of life and most important building primary schools. Starting with the most immediate need which is also the most basic: clean water, Hope 631, has started working on building wells so these families can also have access to clean water.

   

In a recent interview, Vice president Dr. Charles Kinuthia stated that the current education system provides neither the financial literacy students will need to manage the meager resources under their control, nor the guidance needed to create opportunities for securing a livelihood or building wealth. In addition, schooling provides little assistance to promote the physical health needed for economic stability and quality of life. Life expectancy is low in impoverished regions, and not just because of lack of quality medical care. The devastation of preventable disease wreaks havoc on the well-being and financial stability in poor regions; which can be dramatically mitigated through instruction on basic health behaviors, such as hand washing.





Primary education lays the foundation for the success or failure of future learning. Hope 631 President, Dr. Grace Kinuthia, in collaboration with IChange Nation™ President Dr. Clyde Rivers hope to change the current trend which is epidemic and are calling on other world leaders to support the new education initiatives around the world that will make the world a better place.