In August 1992, I joined the Pre-University class at Daystar University. We were a lively bunch of young adults and we met in the current computer lab at the Valley Road Campus. In 1993 we moved to Athi River Campus as sophomores and the second pioneer class there. However, my life at Daystar started back in 1979 when my father joined Daystar Communications. I had the opportunity to watch Daystar grow in diversity of cultures, enrollment and staff numbers, locations.
Daystar was the place to be; students came from across Africa and our home soon became a home for many of the foreign students. Not everyone could go home for the holidays; dad invited them home for meals or to stay. We became their family. As a family, we already had an open home so cross cultural communication began at home before I did INS 111 in class as a first year. It is a lesson I have carried within me and I continue to learn new sides of it even now, some two decades later.
In 2012 on assignment at Kingdom Business Network (the outreach arm of AG Group) I managed the scholarship fund and visited inmates. Two children who benefited from the scholarship program stand out; we had to move them from their step mother who was unkind. The children came to Nairobi where their older siblings cared for them as we paid school fees. Today M and M are in high school, their relationship with the step mum is better. M and M’s aunt who is now my good friend, keeps me updated on their progress.
As for prison, we had the opportunity to help the inmates prepare for life after release by talking about purpose and how that wires us for business. We trained inmates and after I left KBN, my friends and I continued the visits and trained ex-inmates. One lady has a thriving catering business. Another recently bought two dairy cows and is selling milk. A third authored a book last year about her life in prison. One gentleman makes beautiful hats and is looking to relocating his business to his home county to create jobs. My last season in prison saw me sit with the women on death row. There was such heaviness the first time we walked into their cell block. You could taste despair and heartache. And yet, not everyone in prison is guilty of crime, but each one just needs someone who will listen to them and believe in them. We gave them our time; we listened and did it patiently.
Prison prepared me for my current assignment at Wigs & Turbans Salon. Although our wigs and turbans can be worn by all women, our main focus is the women who have experienced hair loss because of chemotherapy of any other reason. Instead of worrying about their hair, they can put on a beautiful head piece and have time to focus on other aspects of their life. Last year we had our first gala dinner to celebrate life; we raised money to specifically cover the cost of treating cancer in children from economically challenged families.
I find that more than selling wigs and turbans, listening is my first responsibility on this assignment. I listen to the women buying our hair wear. It is amazing that after the women have made a purchase, they are more grateful for the time we have given them to talk. I listen to concerned parents and their young children who are going through radiation. When our cancer warriors are in Nairobi for treatment, we provide food, books to read and colour. At the end of their time here, it is the time spent with them that they most appreciate. These children are so excited to finish treatment so they can go back to school and have dreams. Their parents are delighted to have someone journey alongside them.
The reward of seeing hope rekindled or strengthened is priceless. I pray that like Paul, my life would be like a drink offering poured out on the altar of service for their faith.
Tibaga Talitwala Gacheru
Living on purpose,
Wonderful Tbagz…