Everywhere we go people are asking him “hey bring the visitors to us”, but Vitalis replies ok am showing them something then I will bring them back. There is so much poverty in the area and you can think you are from a very different country. Yes that’s life I believe. We get to Vitalis office, a small clay room and that’s where he reports every day. He shows us the beautiful shoes he makes and also introduces us to the team that works with him.
Wow! They make beautiful shoes using their own hands I actually make an arrangement see if I can get a pair and it works, the sandals go for 1200 or even more but am getting them at a discount so it’s a good deal I believe the ladies at the office will be making their bookings soon they also make sealing covers and wall covers made from waste pieces of clothing’s that they get from the airport for the people at the slum. They join the pieces of clothing and out come something very beautiful and out of that he makes money.
We get to interview him and he actually get to know that he transformed from drugs and a very dangerous gang in that hood. He started small but he is growing, he knows what he want at the same time he also knows that it’s not easy but regardless of all that he also knows that’s its possible.
Vitalis would love to get a shop somewhere in the city, a place where he will be able to make great sales, he said currently he is not in a position to afford that kind of rent but that with time he knows he will. I love the spirit
So we finish with him and he guides us to our last two interviews of the day and I get to meet Mercy. Wow! This girl is just amazing, she makes wigs and poaches and is really positive about life. She has lived in korogocho for now 20yrs and apart from making wigs and poaches with her IT skills she volunteers at the community cyber, she also loves to encourage the young people at Korogocho.
Mercy is just special;
I love the strength and hope that she has in the midst of all. Am actually humbled by the stories
Esther is the founder of a youth project that Vitalis and Mercy benefited and acquired some of the skills from. It’s a pleasure interviewing her and getting her side of the story also. We are done with the interviews, the rains are coming, we get a group photo and off we head to the office.
The day was productive I can say without shame, I learnt a lot from the SMEs and one thing that stood out was the power of gratitude, its not always good to complain and that we should always be grateful for what we have. At times you think your lacking, but until you go out there and see REAL lack you actually realize you’re in plenty.
