ST. JOSPHAT’S HOUSE (KABIRIA-RIRUTA), A PLACE TO GO; SOME SHALOM-SCCRR PROJECTS IN ACTION

By: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo,

By: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo,

St. Josphat’s House functions under the umbrella of Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR) founded in 2009 by Rev. Dr. Patrick Devine to transform situations of inter-ethnic conflicts, religious ideological extremism and violence against women and children. What is found at the Center is just marvelous. Under the management of the above-mentioned organization and a highly qualified and committed well-trained staff, St Josphat House is home to two major projects, namely, Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC), and Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC).

Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC), addresses violence against women and children living in informal settlements in and around Nairobi. In this regard, the Center provides training on conflict transformation skills and peacebuilding techniques with the aim of transforming structural, inter-ethnic, inter-religious, domestic and sexual violence, just to mention a few. For illustration, since February 2022, workshops have been organised and attended by groups of women and youth from Dagoretti, Kabiria, Kawangware, Riruta, Kibera, Mathare and Kariobangi. As the country Kenya was preparing for general election last year, special emphasis was put on prevention of election violence or on how to maintain a climate of peace before, during and after elections. Today along with other peace preachers, name them, the media, churches, government bodies and many others, St. Josphat House can be proud for having offered its contribution towards the peace that is still prevailing in the country. Several testimonies show that our trainees became ambassadors of peace during this electoral period in their respective quarters and wards, especially with the use of the door-to-door people sensitisation.

Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC),
Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC),

Mrs. Nancy Mirera MA, MJLC’s Counselling Psychologist and Mental Health Worker facilitating an educational workshop on the  importance of seeking psycho-social support to a group of youths from the Informal Urban Settlements (Slums)
Mrs. Nancy Mirera MA, MJLC’s Counselling Psychologist and Mental Health Worker facilitating an educational workshop on the  importance of seeking psycho-social support to a group of youths from the Informal Urban Settlements (Slums)

Mrs. Nancy Mirera MA, MJLC’s Counselling Psychologist and Mental Health Worker facilitating an educational workshop on the  importance of seeking psycho-social support to a group of youths from the Informal Urban Settlements (Slums)
Mrs. Nancy Mirera MA, MJLC’s Counselling Psychologist and Mental Health Worker facilitating an educational workshop on the  importance of seeking psycho-social support to a group of youths from the Informal Urban Settlements (Slums)
Mrs. Nancy Mirera MA, MJLC’s Counselling Psychologist and Mental Health Worker facilitating an educational workshop on the  importance of seeking psycho-social support to a group of youths from the Informal Urban Settlements (Slums)

Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC), is a center that promotes the human rights and dignity of women and children, from the moment of conception to natural death, and also addresses all acts of violence against them. The three main purposes of the MJLC are to: (i) OFFER Pregnant women and girls, fathers responsible for the pregnancy, and families, who are considering and/or are being coerced to have abortions, other options to have their baby(ies) born; (ii) OFFER Educational workshops/seminars that are oriented to help prevent crisis pregnancies and help those already in need with supportive guidance for psychological, spiritual and economic livelihood resilience; and (iii) OFFER Counseling, medical support, guidance, and empowerment to women who have had abortions and are seeking assistance for trauma, self-esteem and healing in one form or another. A qualified team of religious sisters and lay personnel with professional qualifications; Nursing, Sonography, Counselling Psychology, Administration, Community Development and Social Work, have been assigned to this project.

Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC)
Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC)

Sr. Catherine Mutua Dipl. MJLC’s Community Development & Social Worker engaging women from Kabiria Informal Urban settlements (Slums) on the sanctity of life and family life
Sr. Catherine Mutua Dipl. MJLC’s Community Development & Social Worker engaging women from Kabiria Informal Urban settlements (Slums) on the sanctity of life and family life

Sr. Catherine Mutua Dipl. MJLC’s Community Development & Social Worker engaging women from Kabiria Informal Urban settlements (Slums) on the sanctity of life and family life
Sr. Catherine Mutua Dipl. MJLC’s Community Development & Social Worker engaging women from Kabiria Informal Urban settlements (Slums) on the sanctity of life and family life
Sr. Catherine Mutua Dipl. MJLC’s Community Development & Social Worker engaging women from Kabiria Informal Urban settlements (Slums) on the sanctity of life and family life

Our appeal: your moral, spiritual and financial support is highly needed for the development of St Josphat House. By spreading the word itself is another reward for the Center, for Nairobi, indeed for the whole country of Kenya when, as a result of your advertisement, a huge number of people will throng the Center to acquire conflict transformation skills, when more women and girls experiencing pregnancy and abortion crisis will come to seek help at the Center.

Our appeal
Our appeal

Don’t suffer alone, St Josphat House is there for you.

Don’t suffer alone, St Josphat House is there for you.

Come let us build the fame of St. Josphat, come let us build Kenya.

Come let us build the fame of St. Josphat, come let us build Kenya.

Author: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo, Shalom-SCCRR Peacebuilding Office

Author
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo, Shalom-SCCRR Peacebuilding Office


Project Team:

Project Team:

At the Center

At the Center

Mrs. Judith Akedi Otsieno MA, Shalom-SCCRR, Lead Project Officer

Sr. Sarah Ngigi KRCHN, Dimesse Sisters, Nurse and Counselling Officer

Mrs. Nancy Mirera, MA, Counselling Psychologist and Mental Health Worker

Sr. Lucy Njori B.Com, Dimesse Sisters, St. Josphat’s House Projects Administrator

Ms. Esther Njeri Kibe MA, Shalom-SCCRR, Project Officer

Sr. Catherine Mutua, Daughters of St. Anne, Dipl. Community Development & Social Worker

Ms. Ilhan Ali Salah, BA (MA Candidate), Shalom-SCCRR In-Training Capacity Program

Sr. Jovalet Ariho BA (MA Candidate), Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Shalom-SCCRR In-Training Capacity Program

Ms. Rose Anyango Owuor, Higher Dipl. Sonography (UltraSound Specialist)

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Volunteer Consultants:

Volunteer Consultants:

Dr. Wahome Ngare, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon

 Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo, Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding

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Shalom-SCCRR Management Support Team:

Shalom-SCCRR Management Support Team:

Rev. Oliver Noonan MA, Shalom-SCCRR Executive Director

Mr. Godfrey Okoth MA, Shalom-SCCRR Senior Project Officer

Rev. Dr. Patrick Devine, Shalom-SCCRR International Executive Chairman, Project Coordinator of Patrons and Promoters


Relevant Links:

Relevant Links:
Shalom-SCCRR. (2022). Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC) opens in Nairobi, Kenya
Moran, M. (2022). Kenya: Shalom Empowerment Center opens in Nairobi, Kenya.
Shalom-SCCRR. (2022). Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC) Addressing Violence against Women and Children: Concept Document.
Otsieno, J. & Kibe, E. (2022). Shalom Empowerment Center (SEC) Addressing Violence against Women and Children: A Unique Shalom-SCCRR Initiative Opened.
Shalom-SCCRR. (2022). Shalom-SCCRR Launches the ‘Shalom Empowerment Center (Sec)’ Addressing Violence against Women and Children.
Shalom-SCCRR. (2023). 2022 Shalom-SCCRR Results and Achievements.
MJLC. (2022). Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC): Concept Document
MJLC. (2022). Mary & Joseph Life Center opens in Nairob
The Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC): See our First Video
An Informal Video of the Mary and Joseph Life Center (MJLC) Team in the Informal Urban Settlements where we work
Wamae, J. (2020). Shalom-SCCRR’s Contribution to Women in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Awed, A. (2021). The Girl-Child: Shalom-SCCRR Impacting Education & the Lives of Young Girls in Marginalized and Remote Locations in Eastern Africa. 


ST. JOSPHAT HOUSE (KABIRIA-RIRUTA), MAHALI PA KWENDA; BAADHI YA MIRADI YA SHALOM-SCCRR IKIWA KATIKA VITENDO

ST. JOSPHAT HOUSE (KABIRIA-RIRUTA), MAHALI PA KWENDA; BAADHI YA MIRADI YA SHALOM-SCCRR IKIWA KATIKA VITENDO

Na: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo,

see them herelumen-naturalesite here
Na: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo,

SEC, inashughulikia unyanyasaji dhidi ya wanawake na watoto wanaoishi katika makazi duni ndani na karibu na Nairobi. Katika suala hili, Kituo kinatoa mafunzo juu ya ujuzi wa mabadiliko ya migogoro na mbinu za kujenga amani kwa lengo la kubadilisha unyanyasaji wa kimuundo, baina ya makabila, kidini, majumbani na kingono, kwa kutaja machache tu. Kwa mfano, tangu Februari 2022, warsha zimeandaliwa na kuhudhuriwa na vikundi vya wanawake na vijana kutoka Dagoretti, Kabiria, Kawangware, Riruta, Kibera, Mathare na Kariobangi. Nchi ya Kenya ilipokuwa ikijiandaa kwa uchaguzi mkuu mwaka huu, mkazo maalum uliwekwa katika kuzuia ghasia za uchaguzi au jinsi ya kudumisha hali ya amani kabla, wakati na baada ya uchaguzi. Leo pamoja na vyombo vya habari, makanisa, mashirika ya serikali na wengine wengi wanaohubiri amani, St Josphat House inaweza kujivunia kwa kutoa mchango wake katika kuleta amani ambayo bado inaendelea nchini. Shuhuda kadhaa zinaonyesha kuwa washiriki wetu walikua mabalozi wa amani msimu wa uchaguzi katika maeneo na kata zao, haswa kwa kutumia uhamasishaji wa watu wa nyumba kwa nyumba.

SEC
SEC

Fr. Emmanuel Tembo kuwezesha kikao cha mafunzo na wanawake kutoka makazi yasiyo rasmi ya Kawangware kuhusu nafasi yao katika kuleta mabadiliko ya migogoro na kujenga amani katika maeneo yao.
Fr. Emmanuel Tembo kuwezesha kikao cha mafunzo na wanawake kutoka makazi yasiyo rasmi ya Kawangware kuhusu nafasi yao katika kuleta mabadiliko ya migogoro na kujenga amani katika maeneo yao.

Fr. Emmanuel Tembo kuwezesha kikao cha mafunzo na wanawake kutoka makazi yasiyo rasmi ya Kawangware kuhusu nafasi yao katika kuleta mabadiliko ya migogoro na kujenga amani katika maeneo yao.
Fr. Emmanuel Tembo kuwezesha kikao cha mafunzo na wanawake kutoka makazi yasiyo rasmi ya Kawangware kuhusu nafasi yao katika kuleta mabadiliko ya migogoro na kujenga amani katika maeneo yao.
Fr. Emmanuel Tembo
kuwezesha kikao cha mafunzo na wanawake kutoka makazi yasiyo rasmi ya Kawangware kuhusu nafasi yao katika kuleta mabadiliko ya migogoro na kujenga amani katika maeneo yao.

MJLC, ni kituo kinachokuza haki za binadamu na heshima kwa wanawake na watoto, tangu siku hiyo ya kwanza ya ujauzito hadi kifo, na pia kushughulikia vitendo vyote vya unyanyasaji dhidi ya akina mama na watoto. MJLC inatekeleza mambo matatu: (i) KUTOA Mafunzo kwa wajawazito na wasichana, akina baba wanaohusika na ujauzito, na familia, wanaofikiria au wanaolazimishwa kutoa mimba, waweze kuchagua mbinu zingine za kupata watoto wao; (ii) KUTOA Warsha za kielimu ambazo zimelenga kusaidia kuzuia mimba na kuwasaidia wale ambao tayari wanahitaji mawaidha kwa kustahimili hali ya kisaikolojia, kiroho na kiuchumi; na (iii) KUTOA Ushauri, usaidizi wa kimatibabu, mwongozo, na uwezeshaji kwa wanawake ambao wametoa mimba na wanaotafuta usaidizi wa kiwewe, kujistahi na uponyaji kwa namna moja au nyingine. Timu iliyohitimu ya mabikira na wahudumu walei wenye sifa za kitaaluma; Uuguzi, Sonografia, Saikolojia ya ushauri, uongozi, maendeleo na kazi ya jamii, ndio imepewa mradi huu.

MJLC
MJLC

Ombi letu: msaada wako wa kimaadili, kiroho na kifedha unahitajika sana kwa maendeleo ya St Josphat House. Kueneza habari ya St Josphat House kwenyewe ni thawabu nyingine kwa kituo, kwa Nairobi, kwa kweli kwa nchi nzima ya Kenya wakati tutakapoona idadi inaongezeka ya watu wanaohudhuria warhsa kwa kupata ujuzi wa kubadilisha migogoro; wakati wanawake na wasichana zaidi wanaopata mimba na matatizo ya utoaji mimba watakuja kutafuta msaada katika Kituo hicho.

Ombi letu
Ombi letu

Usiteseke peke yako, St Josphat House iko kwa ajili yako.

Usiteseke peke yako, St Josphat House iko kwa ajili yako.

Njoo tujenge umaarufu wa St. Josphat, njoo tujenge Kenya.

Njoo tujenge umaarufu wa St. Josphat, njoo tujenge Kenya.

Mwandishi: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo

Mwandishi: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Tembo