A tribute to my friend!

Have you ever met a hero? A real, genuine, down-to-earth hero? I know I have. I see them almost every day. My heros are the small children carrying their baby brothers and sisters for kilometres on end to fetch water. They are the children who are orphaned, yet still have hope and work hard to get ahead in life. They are the selfless people who give up their lives to help children and people in need. My heros are those who live in slums, surviving each and every day. These are just a few of the many heros I see every day!

But there is another hero that I have. He has selflessly fought to achieve his goal. Against incredible struggles, threats from the lawmakers, lack of funding, bribery as well as rampant forms of corruption. He has continued his quest amongst unimaginable struggles, all whilst trying to be the best possible husband and father. He is one of my best friends. His name is Francis Muthama. I want to tell you a bit about him...and I’m sure he will be very embarrassed and a tad mad at me for writing this blog...but his story needs to be told! ;)

 I met Francis in 2009 when I was working with an orphanage in Ngong. At that stage he was single, enthusiastic, bubbly or (sometimes hypo) and very compassionate. We are the same age, had many things in common and he just seemed to be one of those people who gets along with everyone.

Fast forward a bit...and he fell in love and got engaged to Lilian, another friend I knew from Ngong! I was so excited and was very fortunate to be a part of their wedding on my return to Kenya in 2011. A little later, we found out that Lil was pregnant and 9 months down the track along came the MOST beautiful baby the world has ever seen. Princess Sarah.

During this time, Francis and his family had moved away to Thika (about 45 mins from Nairobi). In 2011 I had some drama with a place I was volunteering at and ended up moving in with Francis and Lilian for several weeks. They were more that wonderful hosts to me as I worked out my next plan. They blessed me so much!

And it was then that Francis came to me with an idea. He wanted to start a Non Government Organisation to help children learn about Dental Hygiene. The statistics in Kenya are sad (to say the least)....750 dentists for a population of 40 million. No dental education in schools, no free dentists. When he told me this idea, I knew of the importance of educating children about this, to prevent long-term dental needs. The need was huge...but I went along with his spirit of WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. In the back of my mind I doubted the scale of his incredible idea. He had researched and made proposals and funding plans and everything else...Without any concrete funding/ way to move forward.

But on he went...He gathered friends together and worked out how to set up a Non Government Organisation. He founded and created KINGA AFRICA.

As he kept going he met resistance from people who laughed and mocked his idea, as he is not a dentist or dental hygienist...he is a community development worker. “HA. Why would we support you? You’re not a dentist”. His calm response was always...I know I’m not a dentist...but I can teach children about brushing their teeth.

It took a looong time for anything to begin. He had challenges left, right and centre. Financial pressures for him and his family (with very limited income from another part time job). He asked me to ask a friend in Australia to make a website. So my friend Renee worked hard to get it together for Kinga.  

He kept going and going. He researched and wrote to many companies abroad to ask for donations, assistance, anything at all. He began slowly, going to a few schools to teach children. He was hooked. He wanted more. He decided something bigger and better had to be done. So he set up meetings and spoke with government officials, health organisations and representatives. He set up meetings with Colgate. They responded well! So slowly by slowly his dream started to take shape.

 

He began to need training for volunteers. He organised meetings where volunteers could be trained to work with Kinga Africa and go into schools, teaching the oral health message. He set up partnerships with schools all over the Yatta region (a rural area where many people have never even seen a toothbrush!)

Then they began. Over the first few months, things went more slowly (due to lack of funds!). All he needed was a few thousand shillings to transport the people and donated toothbrushes into the rural schools. Then as a few interested individuals became more involved they were able to visit more schools. So as of now they have visited dozens of schools, teaching all of the teachers and students about oral health and giving them free toothbrushes and toothpaste! They have now reached an amazing 51,000 needy children!

WOW! And it was all his wonderful plan and idea!

So last weekend Francis and his team from Kinga Africa had organised a free dental camp in Kiandutu Slums in Thika. I went with a few friends to see this amazing work...and MY, MY...it was AMAZING!

Hundreds of children and adults lined up in the blistering heat to get a dental checkup from dental students from a local university. They checked teeth and referred any very needy cases to the two dentists who had come to the clinic. Rotten teeth were pulled by them and any more significant things were referred and paid for at the local hospital!!! It was so amazing to see these people SO, SO excited to be having a dental checkup. In the west we groan all too much about having to visit the dentist. These people waited and waited and waited to be seen. They all left with a new toothbrush and toothpaste and were also given new (second hand) clothes and shoes from some university students who had come to support. For almost all of these people, it was their first ever toothbrush.

So it blows my mind. One man’s idea, his goals and his passion to change this situation in Kenya...and so he kept striving to reach what needed to be done. And he continues this day. He continues to rally people together to help him with his cause. Please consider joining him as he works to prevent dental issues in Kenya! Check out www.kingaafrica.com to see the great work!

 

Francis Muthama. YOU are my hero and my friend. Your love for the children and people of Kenya is mind-blowing. Your determination is incredible. I hope one day I can love my future husband half as much as you love your girls, Lil and Sarah! You are blessed and a blessing. Thank you. Please Keep on...Keep on.