A Surprise in Eastleigh

A letter from Nancy Collins serving as Regional Liaison for East Central Africa, based in Zambia

March 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

During my February visit to Nairobi I targeted the Eastleigh neighborhood and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA)’s Eastleigh Community Center (ECC) for one of my visits. I last visited Eastleigh Community Center in 2010, and I wanted an update on the work of the Center especially in light of press reports of violence in the Eastleigh neighborhood. I had met Rev. Jesse Munyoroku, pastor of the Eastleigh parish, at PCEA’s 2014 international partners’ conference in Nakuru, Kenya, and he had assured me then that it was possible to visit without endangering myself or others. So I contacted Rev. Jesse after I arrived in Nairobi and we arranged to meet at Eastleigh Community Center.

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58: 6

The Eastleigh neighborhood had not changed from my previous visit. Infrastructure was in a serious state of decay. For some reason pavement ceases at the outskirts of Eastleigh, and my taxi pitched and swayed as it inched forward on the pitted dirt roads that continue into the neighborhood. As before, the neighborhood bustled with activity, although clearly many of those on the streets were not native Kenyans.

Eastleigh street scene

Because of the situation of the sewage-filled roads, crowded streets, and the many informal structures, I assumed Eastleigh was basically a slum. What a surprise—a shock—when I started researching the area and learned that “Little Mogadishu” as it is called because of the large Somali population has a booming economy and is considered a place of opportunity. It is a “major East African commercial zone,” “Nairobi’s Global Somali Hub,” “reckoned to be in the top three revenue sources for Nairobi,” boasting fine hotels, great food, shopping opportunities in its 40+ shopping malls, and complete with a bustling night life. In fact, I learned that Kenyan residents of the Mathare neighborhood, directly across Juja Road from Eastleigh, view Eastleigh prosperity with envy (Christian Science Monitor, June 17, 2014, and reports by Neil Carrier). I certainly had the wrong impression!!

My visit to Eastleigh Community Center was also a revelation—but in this case because of the vision and wonderful work of its dedicated staff and volunteers. ECC Director Phares Nyaga listed ECC’s empowerment programs: education support to children, basic literacy skills for adults, psychosocial support, livelihood skills training for youth, women’s microenterprise development, and promotion of health and sanitation.

Basic English and Kiswahili language skills empower Somali and Ethiopian women to engage in business with Kenyans, and the language skills serve as a bridge to understanding with surrounding communities. Health, sanitation, human rights, child rights and life skills messages are included in the language training so women understand how to make better decisions for their children and they learn violence within the family circle is an injustice that they may choose to address.

With Rev. Jesse and youth in Eastleigh skills training program in hair styling, manicure and pedicure

ECC operates a full primary school that can accommodate 400 children. Unfortunately funds are currently available to support only 116. The program especially emphasizes attitudes of respect, harmony and co-existence between children from different religious backgrounds. Pastor Munyoroku interacts with the local sheikh to model interreligious cooperation. To ensure safety and protection of refugee children who may have experienced war, death, poverty, and separation from family members, ECC has developed a Child Protection Policy, and it has a unit that looks into the interests of the children and provides psychosocial support through debriefings, counseling sessions and referrals.

Immediately after the visit to Kenya I travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a four-day meeting with the PC(USA)’s Africa Area coordinator Rev. Debbie Braaksma and PC(USA) Africa regional personnel. Our topics of discussion included the campaigns related to the three Critical Global Initiatives (CGI’s in World Mission lingo)—campaigns that include educating out of poverty and addressing violence against women and children. Certainly the work being done at Eastleigh Community Center dovetails in very significant ways with these campaigns. I invite you to consider how God might be calling you to support the campaigns and/or the work at Eastleigh.

With young women in the Eastleigh catering skills training program

You may recall that during 2014 I was based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to reconnect with my son Charles. I am very grateful that I was able to spend blocks of time with him—even though 2014 involved much more travel for me than I had anticipated. The travel included two months of intensive speaking in congregations across the U.S.A. I was happy to have the opportunity to see many of you face-to-face. Thank you for your wonderful welcome, interest, concern and support.

I moved back to Lusaka at the beginning of January and am starting once more to feel like it is home. Whether I am in the U.S.A. or in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya or Rwanda, I am most appreciative of your prayers, for your partnership, and for your financial support. Thank you very much.

During this season of Lent may you think deeply on the outrageous gift of love of God in Jesus Christ. May your fast be one of reaching out to loose the bonds of wickedness and undo the thongs of the yoke of Christ’s beloved.

Your sister in Christ,
Nancy

The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 154