Humanities
Dream-seeking youth in Kenya's slums
Seetao 2022-05-05 09:54
  • The dream-making public welfare organization carried out public welfare activities in 6 African countries including Kenya, TanzaniUganda
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Masar, located in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, is the second largest slum in Kenya. "Poverty", "dirty" and "high crime rate" are the labels put on by the outside world.

27-year-old Chinese youth Liu Yimenghan has been engaged in public welfare activities in Marsal for eight years. Over the years, thanks to the efforts of him and his friends, three local schools have been built, and the enrollment rate has increased year by year. Children from poor families can eat free breakfast and lunch. The reporter recently came to one of the primary schools to interview. When get out of class was over at noon, the children ran to the kitchen door to line up, expecting to receive a free lunch. Each plate is filled with Kenyan traditional food Ugari (usually corn meal cooked into dough shape) and served with vegetable leaves, beef and soup.

In slums, most families can only eat one meal a day. Kevin, the deputy principal of the primary school, told reporters that since the launch of the free breakfast and lunch program in 2017, more and more parents have taken the initiative to send their children to school. After lunch, the children walked out of the classroom and interacted enthusiastically with reporters. They expressed their warm welcome to their Chinese friends in their own way in front of the camera.

"The classroom is a tin room, and the dark space is almost airtight..." Liu Yimenghan still clearly remembers the scene he witnessed when he first visited the school eight years ago. At that time, facing the hungry eyes of the children, he secretly made up his mind to "hope to help them".

As a result, Liu Yimenghan, who was still in college at the time, and a group of like-minded young people co-founded the "Dream for Public Welfare" organization, which launched charitable fundraising through online crowdfunding. After raising funds, they demolished the iron house and built brick classrooms. This is their first school in Massare, and it has a Chinese name - "Changqing Hope Primary School". "Now, whenever I see children studying in better classrooms and watching their bright smiles, I feel a special sense of accomplishment," Liu Yimeng told Han.

Today, with donations from some Chinese foundations and individuals, Dream Charity Organization has carried out charitable activities in 6 African countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In addition to repairing schools and providing free meals, they have also successively carried out talent shows, football games, dream shows, youth training and other projects to help poor children pursue their dreams. Keywords: One Belt One Road, One Belt One Road News, One Belt One Road Project

Liu Yimenghan followed his parents to live in Kenya when he was 13 years old, where he finished middle school and university, so he has special feelings for Kenya. "I have always disliked calling Marsal a slum, but it is actually a community with poor living conditions." In his view, doing public welfare has become a habit. "I don't have any big dreams, I just want to help the community where I can."Editor/XuNing

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