.....Letters to my son

15-08-11

When blessing come your way Taji my son,never ever forget to give thanks to God your creator. He gave you the power to make wealth.I pray for you daily and I will for as long as I live. I love you. Dad.

.....Letters to my son

12-08-11

Son, May grace follow you for the rest of your life.May goodness and mercy flow through your hands.

From today my son taji,you shall bless and increase in whatever is good and pleasing to God.May your crown shine and may God's grace be sufficient to you my prince Tiger Taji. Daddy loves you.

.....Letters to my son

11-08-11

Taji my son,today I speak life and prosperity and health because as yourDad,God has favored me to be priest.

I don't know what is running through your mind but I need you to know that God's favor will be in your life forever. In your Trials;in your tests;in your hard times my son,God's favor is on you. I pray for you and I know very soon knowledge and insight will be tot to you,you shall pray for me.By all means heed to what your elders say because,God's favor is on you my Tiger.I love you.I cant wait to be with you. Love Dad.

.....Letters to my son

10-08-11

Son,always in your life endeavor to seek understanding and insight.These two principals will get you to where no other will.

Every morning after you pray and do your morning devotion,LOVE life and LOVE everybody you meet everyday;as each person has a hidden treasure within them and they will get you to the next level of your life.
Keep your million dollar smile on always my Tiger.I love you Taji my son.

Me,myself & I..... This is my life story: .....Letters to my son

Me,myself & I..... This is my life story: .....Letters to my son: 09-08-11 You teach me to have faith Taji. Dad is going through some tough moments.AsI remember your smile and your pose as you were sucklin...

.....Letters to my son

09-08-11

You teach me to have faith Taji. Dad is going through some tough moments.AsI remember your smile and your pose as you were suckling at just four months and twenty three days,you give dad a reason to smile in the midst of so much turmoil.
I love you my Tiger.

Me,myself & I..... This is my life story: ......Letters To my Son ( As from 05-08-11

Me,myself & I..... This is my life story: ......Letters To my Son ( As from 05-08-11):
05-08-11
Taji my son,today you turn five. Yes five months! I am excited because you are growing fast. Taji Nathaniel Ngunjiri Where my money use...

......Letters To my Son ( As from 05-08-11

Taji my son,today you turn five. Yes five months! I am excited because you are growing fast.

Taji Nathaniel Ngunjiri

Where my money used to be son,is where I store your photo.Its been long since I saw you and I am working hard to be with you my tiger.

Letters To my Son Taji.

Its been for ever since I blogged!! Alot has transpired and all for good I must praise God for that. I gave birth to an extremely handsome man called Taji Nathaniel Ngunjiri Njuki-Imwe on the 5th March 2011. Yeah I know you must have noticed I mentioned him as a man at only five months. When my son was five days old, his Kidneys and liver shut down on him and it devastated us deeply!! within five days in hospital,he pulled through and by the help of God and the Holy Spirit who was ever present,he got better. That is the main reason I mention him as man because his faith moves mountains.

I have been writing letters to him since he was five months exact. Today he is five months and twenty four days old. I have decided to publish this letters to my son because soon he will start blogging and he needs to know that I am always there for him no matter what happens. This Letters are for you Taji. My crown. MY TIGER!! Daddy loves you!

The Budget as I see I.T

During the budget speech that Honorable Uhuru Kenyatta, I was not at a position to take notes as I used to do for the last two years. I knew this year it would have great direct positive effect within the jurisdiction of my interests on ICT for development (ICT4D) issues. As I put pen to paper I am being prompted by my thoughts to write a disclaimer before I would go on with this conversation. Here goes “It is important to note that the information written herewith is my own opinion and is not intended to attack any person or institution directly or indirectly”. Phew! I am safe now.


People perish because of lack of information but more so, because of lack of knowledge. I was excited when the C.E.O of Telkom Orange the other day presented laptops to the paliamenterians.This was a wave to entail that its high time our leaders would show by example and became computer literate and use the Internet to source for information at a click of a button. At this age and time, we are having all sorts of social networks that include Facebook, Google groups and twitter just to mention a few. It’s encouraging to see the government setting up opportunities like the 1 million laptop computers campaign countrywide to tap emerging ICT opportunites.This will raise up a generation of individuals who shall use this social networks to make money through this very interactive and informative sites.


I cannot stop to think how the ICT4D practitioners may place ourselves strategically to benefit from what our P.S Dr.Ndemo has worked hard to see equipments like the taxable goods and services to film producers, Items used in film production such as photographic film roll, video recording or reproducing apparatus get Zero rated. To my own understanding, if a Digital Village can get someone to bring in such equipment from the States, Britain or Afghanistan wherever outside the country, they can get it at cost price!! No Tax! No nothing! This shall bring sustainability to the programs we run. We shall now diversify into better broadcasting on institutions with community radio; we shall be able to meet the market demand if we are using mobile phones. Though it’s important to note that money isn’t on the mobile phone but on the airtime spent. So it’s like the government wants everyone to own a mobile phone so that all will call.


Its high time for the ICT4D practitioners approached the ICT Board with one voice to know on how best we can acquire money either as a group or individuals to carry out the community development sustainable projects that will be used to add value to inhabitants of certain clusters by using computers as a tool to foster development. Will the Fiber optic cable be of any use to those who are in ICT4D practice? Hmmmm……….I am not sure about that. At this point, my comments are with held till further notice. Allow me to mention that the physically challenged persons have not been forgotten. For once I wish I was disabled for me to benefit from the tax free income of up to 150,000 Kenya shillings per month!!Gosh! Isn’t that breath taking or what!! Take home of 150K TAX free!! YAY!!It doesn’t end there! 200 Million Interest free revolving fund established and it awaits implementation. I see about 30 Kimathi Information Centre’s planted across the country with this money (that’s what good use of government money is all about).


For a short while, it rung in my mind on how the Kenya Red Cross has gained favor with the government. Everything supplied to the organization will be Zero rated. This includes services rendered from Auditing, etc etc.My thoughts on this, We ICT4D practitioners should continually lobby for such provisions and in the next budget we should hear something like this “goods and services supplied to the ICT4D practitioners should be Zero rated”. Gosh!! I am just visualizing our 28 story skyscraper community centre changing lives in this continent. This year’s budget in my own opinion has truly favored us not forgetting the increase of the CDF kitty.

Me and My Muffin

I hear the grass is always greener on the other side the only barrier
its the two feet picket fence.

As am biting this muffin that I have just bought at Nakumatt
supermarket,my mind gets lost and flashbacks of the great days I spent
with my baby boo.I see her bite that muffin at Java juices at
Tuskies in buruburu.I cant resist taking a glimpse or two at her
glamorous lips.She sighs after swallowing the muffin.Looks at
me,places her glittering lips on the straw as she sips the strawberry
shake.Her eyes are so sexy that they take me away!

She was a jewel that I would trade places to have her.Her demise
from my life puts me at a vulnerable position not to mingle.Its now a
year.My thoughts try not to think about her.I surely try and the more
I try not to think about her is the more I think about her.

Damn!Am back to myself.My muffin is finished.You know what?I have
cleared all six muffins just seeing her in my thoughts eating that one
muffin.Will I ever get a hot lady like her who has super boobs?Super intelligence like hers?I tell you her lips on mine feels
like heaven.Her company is worth a six Jazz band playing.I love you
baby boo.

Here I stand....

"The only way to start at the top is when you are digging a hole"
Anonymous

As the month gets to enter its second leap,I am yet to put myself together towards either deciding to make my year resolutions or just to go with the flow.I am firm believer of walking my talk and I work towards achieving what I had earlier visualised.

For the last few months,the organisation that I ran has been going through tremendous leaps and bounds.First our Internet service provider runs us out of business by giving us a raw deal and we go into a one year contract that we are trying to get out.The electricity bills seem to be doubling every month and of course that means no money to pay the workers.Well if you have mastered the art of reading between the lines you may tell what position I stand.

Yesterday was a day that I dedicated to think about if its really worth it to run the community centre that provides convenience to inhabitants living around it by using computers as a tool.I have come to realise that if you love something or someone,you can actually "trade places" to meet their need.My centre within the two years has been standing alone without help from its networks.Its been sidelined by several institutions but it has stood its ground by advocating and providing opportunities for the youth through training them on how to run their small businesses.

Imagine this,you are training or mentoring people on a certain issue but then the issue becomes the big problem you have to deal with."Physician,heal thyself" I couldn't stop from holding tears that flowed through my cheeks as if the floodgates had been open deep within me.My life had come to a stand still.The vibrant and confident Jose' that people knew became so vulnerable and couldn't find a way out.Within the two years that the centre has existed,we have been able to train more than 200 individuals on how to access funding and making their business plans attract investors and partners.here goes,we cannot bail ourselves out.The centre hasn't opened its doors since the year started.The computers are dead,bills are being incurred.way out?To be or not to be that is the question.

In search for me.....

What is your Quest?

I am in pursuit of my purpose. And what is my purpose? You may be asking. Walk with me by the time you are through reading, we’ll be in sync. I just came to discover the other day who exactly José Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri is. By the way, I am always fascinated with my name just like you are right now. I found it. It wasn’t me who gave myself the name. My sweet Mum who didn’t give up on me named me after the Catholic saint called José Maria Escriva.

http://www.josemariaescriva.info/index.php?id_cat=35&id_scat=34

JoséNjuki-Imwe Ngunjiri was born On Monday, February 25th 1980 and is an outgoing person who keeps an open mind to life, situations and likes to make friends. I find myself always in the feet of the people who straighten the paths of others to walk through. That’s why it is very important to name your children wisely.

I love putting smiles on people’s faces. I mostly do not work for money though it is important to note that money answers everything and it’s a means to an end or a situation you are facing (don’t quote me). I am a vision radiator. I pursue issues that focus in my purpose. I believe that I was created to let individuals see that you can have what you want when you want. It doesn’t matter who you know in this earth. Just know one person-Jesus-and you are through.

In me I have energy that attracts anything I want either positive or negative. With that said, I always have to think positive things that will be attracted towards me because that is who I am.

Coming and Goings

i) Accomplishment…

Of course I am grateful to God to have given me life. Without no doubt!! I mean it. Even before I was created, God knew me. That blows my head off my neck!! Really. That is an accomplishment. That is the point I go like do I really know my self? Who am I?-Lets not go back to that because it might be the Chicken and the egg scenario.

Imagine having to sit in a corporate company with the biggest brand names in the communication industry called Nokia Mobile phones. I had just completed a one-year course on Mobile Phone technician in a ….. –Please don’t push me to name my collage its not like USIU OR AGUSTANA or something close to that. -At least we were sharing the same wall with Rift Valley railways…. Next to me are these 5 guys smartly dressed, nice colognes don’t even mention the shoes! I mean the works!! José Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri my mouth full name is called. I walk in the interview room and as the usual routine I remove the original certificates from my “prestigious collage” and immediately questions start to be thrown at me. To be honest, it was like the who smatter now television show at KTN.I was like they pause a question…I go like pass, pass, pass. I decided to up the game because, I noticed out there I had 5 master students from a local telecommunication University called KCCT in Mbagathi who needed the job just like me with a certificate from the collage that has some thing in common with RVR. I told my boss give me 10 phones to repair and if I don’t get to repair one phone, I will not get the job BUT! If I repaired all, I would get the job Deal Boss! Deal! So I was given the workshop and in one and a half hours, I got to repair the phones and got the job!!! And all the master students who had it all had to go home living me as the winner.

2) Challenge….

“Baba Michelle, where did all your fingers go to? Which among the ones I can see is your Big toe?” The 5-year old friend to my niece asks me with a very innocent face. First of all, I ask myself if toes grew on hands where will fingers grow on? I will tell you tomorrow…I say in a half smiling face and walked away.

When will I ever get over it? I only notice that I have no fingers when someone really stares at me. Then I think wow! He loves my watch not until it hits me that I aint complete just like everybody else out there. Oh God!! I need my fingers back……………………….

3) Hopes

God knows how badly I need a beautiful woman. I need guys to see that despite this complication I have; I will get the most beautiful lady that He will choose for me. Christopher (1980-2006), always knows my type of girls I want. He got me one but it didn’t work out. By the way Chris, as you watch down on me, my hopes are that I won’t let you down, as you walk in the gardens of heaven, let God know that I am waiting for Him to send me someone from heaven. Then I will dedicate that song to her………..”Sent from heaven”. I am counting on you…

Aftermath

Having to change your environment is important for the continuation of life. Key values that need to be taken along with everyone are; learn to tithe 10% of every dollar you earn. It doesn’t belong to you. FOR SHOUTING OUT LOUD!! Learn to share skill with your fellow earthlings it will change their destiny. Dance like no one is watching.

What is your Check List?

Human potential can happen any time! I can give you my experience and I hope they will be something you will hook up to,Knowing who you are will help you get to know what your real purpose is. Success is defined to as progressive realization of a worthy Ideal.-Any person who knows what he is doing or going, is a success.

The very common game called “following the leader” should constantly be scrutinized. Constantly check your references “leader” frequently to see if they are going wherever you want to go. That will bring you to the realization that you need to equip yourself with a check list!

A check list will lead you to places that your mind has always focused it wants to be. You need tools to get you to the point of calling yours self a success. To be in motion to a worthy principle (belief)

By the time I will be through with the steps I need to share with you, I am sure you will be on the first lane in becoming a success in your area of interest. Repeat with me this statement I CHOOSE-WITHIN MYSELF-TO HAVE A GOAL-TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE-TO PUT MY MIND TO THOUGHT-TO BE TRUTHFUL AND HONEST WITH MY PEERS-TO CONTSANTLY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP MYSELF-THUS REALIZING A WORTHY IDEAL

The Ingredients needed to achieve a successful living is when:
1) Set a GOAL-"The ultimate goal should be doing your best and enjoying it." A man without a goal is like a ship without a rador.It has no purpose in the sea. It’s like a star fish in the sea or an amoeba that attacks us when we drink untreated water.
-When I finished school I didn’t perform very well to get to University and all my peers went to hot universities that were intimidating UON, USIU, AGUSTANA, METHODIST etc.I didn’t loose focus. I set a goal that no matter what! We shall meet at the top and I started selling Milk and Bread and Newspapers door to door.
2) Have an –ATTITUDE (mind-set) –People will react to us because of our attitude. Be it positive attitude or negative attitude. Attitude is the greatest gift that every human being was God given as compared to any other animal.
-When I decided that I will approach my situation positively, and I will carefully align myself to the mindset of my target people, the atmosphere being now the people reacted to how I needed them to behave.

-My neighbors therefore gave me more options as to how I will be in constantly in motion towards my worthy ideal. They showed me opportunities on what I may implement to make my ideal a reality.
3) constantly-THINK the bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “as a man thinketh, so is he”. The highest function of a human being is to think. If you think on positive issues you will attract positive to you. Learn to always put your mind to think mode. Dreaming is a level of thinking in the realm of the subconscious. Thinking puts you a notch higher than your competitors in business and will make you progress to the level of starting off your business, school and relationship whatever your mind takes you to be it conscious or subconscious.
-The life you are living right now is the proportion to what your thoughts took you to. if you think big and have a realistic approach to it, you will walk in it.
-When I was starting off my Kimathi Information Centre, I really thought on what I wanted to see there in and most definite if not 99%, what I have there in, I put thought in it.

4) Be TRUTHFUL-First to yourself then to others.-“The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think." Setting your foundation on truth keeps you ten steps ahead of your competition.
5) Purpose to continually -Research and Develop Your future depends on constantly looking for new ideas, concepts, opportunities and mending ribbons.
-How much resource you pump back in yourself will sustain your future.
Never conform to the big group. Love them serve them. This will help you to never loose individuality thus creating a sense of purpose and focusing towards your ideal course.
Get skilled aligned to your life. Having more knowledge in you will make you more stable and also above the rest by not following the leader without constantly checking on them. Get with the flow.Learn how ICT can change your cource, increase revenue, reduce workload, link you up with networks far from your rich, save you a lot of resources etc.The list is endless….
If it’s a product you are selling, what best ways can you increase more knowledge with what you have? Attend trade shows, seminars, workshops have mentors to guide you through
Setting Goals

Choosing to set goals is placing yourself towards realizing your true potential.

Follow the below steps;

1) Put a date on it-This shows commitment to a worthy ideal.
2) List Down Obstacles to Overcome-I call it the S.W.O.T analysis. S-trengths,W-eaknesses,O-pportunities an T-hreats.In my line, I listed most of them down and that made me to be constantly aware of where I am headed to. It gave me a clear direction. Like having radar on a ship.
3) Identify Networks- This is a survival mechanism as you are either a start-up business or a scale-up business; Getting to talk well with your suppliers, future customers, and also potential funders is very important. This will help you in your good and bad times.
-I remember one month ago, I was infected by a bad virus. I did not have any money; Internet at my business was bad! I had paid but I wasn’t being supplied. All my computers Crashed and it needed me to have 65,000Kenya shillings and I had only 150 Kenya Shillings in my pocket. I had to talk with my supplier to service them for me and I signed a service contract with him on how I will be paying him some cash every month before I get back on my feet.

4) Spell out a Plan of action- “The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, Just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.”
How do you map yourself to see your ideal self get there? Put it in an A-B-C kind of format. What is your starting point? How will you quantify your growth? What indicators shall be used to guide you through the process in helping you know when you get there?
5 Set a time limit-Having a deadline will make you start off with your vision and make you have a mission to work through. Above all things never see you standing.Walk! Constantly walk with guided steps.
6) Identify all benefits-Why am I doing what I am doing? What shall be the aftermath after I lay down everything in place? What is in for me? What business am I in? Look at an all rounded approach focusing on what notch you have above the rest. That will be your benefit.

Japan!!
1950-It lost all the youthful aged people because of Hiroshima. The leaders said that they will be Number 1 textile producer. In 1959, they achieved it.

1960-The leaders went back and said they will be the number one Steel producer in the world. Owing that they do not have no coal nor iron ore. They reached their objective in 1968

1970-They set another goal and said they will be the number one automobile producer in the world. In 1979, they did it yet again!!

1980-They didn’t limit themselves. They said they will be the number one Computer and Electronic producer and in 1988, they did it yet again.

Why is Japan succeeding? They know the formula.
3*3=9
what about;
124679054637*98765346789=?????
If I get you a pen and a paper you will figure it all out why? because you know the formula!

Do not hesitate do it now!!

Goals create activity which therefore creates excitement
Logic will not change an emotion but action will.

ICT4D Evangelists....

Kimathi Information Centre lies in the marginalized part of the urban estates in Nairobi Kenya Eastlands.How time flies!we have just hit our two years anniversary last month.What reminded me was my yahoo alert! I guess what has made me not remember are the challenges this venture has been facing.Our Internet service providers-(Names withheld) pulled down our efforts towards reaching our goal for approximately one year and 9 months we have been experiencing crazy downtime's until we got a solution sometime ago.This though has not killed our passion to reach out to the whole community by providing a conducive environment towards bridging the digital divide.(That why we call ourselves ICT4D Evangelists)-ICT4D stands for-(Information Communication and Technology For Development)

Our drive comes through after we see what we do on the grgrassroots.We have individuals who have never gotten an opportunity to touch a computer leave alone getting to understand the jargon's involved in sending an email or writing a text on a document.I cannot forget to mention my young folks who scram the centre during the weekends to play games and relax after having been closed in their houses doing school work and house chores.

Kimathi Information centre in its two year existence has brought enormous change by bringing convenience to its neighbors.Now neighbors can surf at the comfort of their homes.We have even gone further to involve the youth towards training them on how best they would write business plans and proposals then hooking them up with mentors and financial institutions who guide them through the process of acquiring start up loans.

We are looking ahead focusing on our vision to reach out to the marginalized communities in our Country.We purpose to give an opportunity to all individuals who want to change.We shall always preach ICT4D towards eliminating poverty in Africa and in particular my community.My beloved community through Kimathi Information Centre.

Myself.....

I gotta blog!I gotta blog!Today has been quite exciting!My friends Mom arrived from the states two weeks ago after spending approximately two months of touring the states.When my day started,I just felt like sending her a text and letting her know that I am doing fine and that i am free to start a project that we left half done just before she left for the states.

Three months before she flew,she was planning to have a seminar that would bring up to 1000 guests from across the continent.She feels that I am the right person for the job since I have organized several seminars and workshops for the last two years and they have been quite good.She calls me and says that it is very timely for us to make arrangements and put proper logistics on the ground.

I got dressed and rushed to several possible venues for the seminar.From venue to venue as I inquired,I was received with total care and for a very long time have I been handled so well with individuals I barely know.Today I felt respected.I felt like I would not ever want this day to end.I am in pursuit of making this meeting a success.

Faded Colors........

The only thing I think I may take with me is how you used to stare ,the way you used to smile.I valued every minute I was with you because I knew how you had to sacrifice your studies for the few dates we had.Having to reach-up to your expectations was the hardest huddle that I dint manage to jump.Watching the person who meant so much to me get dissolved with the mirage is the most painful thing that I am dealing with.

You brought so much excitement in my life and it would make me walk the extra mile for us.Mixed feelings come rushing through my blood stream and I fight with myself and say within me -"I don't want to know if you have some one who is loving you.I just need you to pretend that I am the only one.Keep it on the low".Then again I go like-"I would rather be alone than having to share you with someone".

I can't forget how you pushed me into something,talked me into forgetting that I wasn't ready to choose,said you were willing to take anything, told me I didn't have to,so I didn't and you left me sitting alone in the dark,watching the person I knew dissolve in the night............,you whose heart never changes, but whose colors do.

Skate till you fly!!

For as long as I can remember my brother before he travelled to the States four years ago,he has always loved skating.Every weekend,my brother would sweet talk my Mom for her to agree that he would take me to luna park (an amusement park in Nairobi).I get so excited and I wonder which uncle my brother talked to for some cash!!Hey,Phillip where we going?I ask.Because we arent taking the same route to luna park.He looks at me and gives me a big smile that extends from Cheek to cheek and whispers "sssssskatinggg".Oh gosh that would send shivers all over my body.To be honest,it was really risky but it was so adictive that you always felt you need to skate every time you remove the wheels off your feet!

Its a Sunday afternoon and no cars on the road.My brother puts me on his back and on my back I would carry my skates and his.within a tweet,we reach our skating ground."Paliament road".The road is as smooth as summer cherries.As soon as he put me down,we found ourselves removing our shoes and putting on our skates on.We would speed skate from county house to Hotel Intercontinental and back.people would sit on the pavement and watch us as we do our adrenalin rush sport.

When my brother left for America,I stopped skating for some time.Such kinds of sports needs someone to give you the push and give you the adrenalin rush.I am about to recieve a pair of five wheelers parcel from the states.I cant wait to get back on parliament road and remember what my brother tought me.To skate till you fly!!!!

Survived to tell.........

The Accident

One fateful day in 1980 when Jose' was four months old, Jose's Nanny broke her routine of dropping off Jose' at his mother's grocery shop to go pick up his sister from kindergarten. The Nanny decided to leave Jose' at home and rush out to school to pick up the sister, but before leaving she decided to start boiling water. When the Nanny returned home with the sister, she saw that the house was on fire and burst into the home (and in the process burned her arm) to rescue Jose. Fortunately, she did not leave Jose' on the bottom bunk bed like she normally does, but rather left him on the top bunk. By the time she reached him, the bottom bunk bed was in flames which was reaching up to the top bunk. Jose suffered 3^rd degree burns to half his body, particularly to his face and arms, and most of his fingers on his left hand were burned beyond saving. Jose's Mum was told what was happening on the next street and came running leaving the shop unattended.She took the child from the arms of the nanny and grabbed a taxi to the burn unit of Kenyatta National Hospital and spent over the next nine months, Jose's mother spent every day attending to her son, helping him to heal, while the rest of the family helped run the shop. Incredibly the mother (and Jose) forgave the nanny for her mistake but the nanny felt so guilty that she resigned from her job.

Childhood

Growing up, Jose found it very difficult in school. The other children discriminated against him for his disfigurement in such ways as always choosing him last in team sports and excluded him from groups. How did this affect him? His self esteem was so low in primary school that he developed a stammer and did poorly in school but with the unconditional acceptance from his family, he built up his confidence and most importantly, his kindheartedness.

Jose' had to draw strength from one of his friends called Christopher Kariuki (1980-2006) who walked him through the healing process in his school life.Christopher could protect me from his peers who would disrespect him.Further in their young adult hood,Christopher would teach Jose' how to talk with girls and convince them for a date or two.This really helped Jose' to look beyond what humans could see.He ultimately saw this as a character building opportunity and used his natural social talents to win people over. Rather than allow this accident to fill him with bitterness and pity, he deliberately decided to transform the experience to one of deep meaning and purpose. Jose feels a deep commitment to bring change to his community. The meaning he finds is "what matters is what change you can bring and not what you look like" and the scars are a constant reminder to him to "value yourself and the people around you and not disrespect others". Yet his worst moment to date was when he was asked by a stranger if he was a victim of the US embassy bombing back in 1998. He still gets asked frequently about what happened but he himself has never asked "why me?" Instead, Jose has asked "what's my purpose?" largely due to his faith and family. Since his family never treated him differently or pitied him, he never pitied himself. His philosophy is that "you attract positive or negative to your life. If you pity yourself, you attract pity. You should not mourn yourself but rather find your purpose". Not surprisingly, Jose feels no resentment or anger towards his former Nanny but rather feels she is the bravest person in the world for rescuing him. He is in fact looking for her now because "she is my hero for saving me".

Becoming an Entrepreneur

In 1999 after completing school, Jose' started distributing milk, bread, newspapers to his community. His true entrepreneurial spirit was unleashed when he set up a shop to distribute his goods. It became successful enough that he hired an employee to run it. After a five year detour as a cell phone technician for Nokia, he went back to his entrepreneurial roots. Two years ago he and two colleagues realized that his community (Kimathi) lacks proper access to information so he completed a comprehensive survey to assess what amenities/services does the community want to see. Aside from the need for a central notice board, his respondents also said they they wanted better access to the Internet. In particular, students needed to write papers and communicate with others, but at the time, they had to stay late in downtown Nairobi. While downtown is just 7 km away, the travel time could be up to 1 ½ hours. Furthermore, coming back to Kimathi late at night could also be potentially dangerous.

Seeing the need, he calculated that there are about 3,000 houses in his community with an average of two target market customers in each house for a total potential market of 6,000 people. The key issue for him was how to raise the start up funds of 250,000 Ksh or $3,600 USD, of which he only had 40,000 Ksh or $600 USD. that had been fundraised by the three partners.For the 210,000 Ksh that he needed to raise, he approached Computers for Schools Kenya to sell the need of his community. They agreed to do a pilot program for which they contributed 13 Compaq Deskpro Pentium III computers and monitors. The remaining balance (210,000 Ksh) had to be paid off in installments. Hence the Kimathi Information Centre (KIC) was born. Part way through the debt repayment, Computers for Schools -Canada, which works with the Kenya operation, saw the impact on the Kimathi community and decided to forgive the debt. KIC has expanded beyond a cyber cafe into a business training centre. He started organizing symposiums for youth, with the first symposium in March 2007 netting 185 attendees. His passion and vision is to empower his greater community with technological advantages to bridge the digital divide.

Social Entrepreneurship 101

But how did Jose' get involved with SE 101? A Sauder School of Business graduate was working for IDRC (International Development Research Centre) when she met Jose' and promptly introduced him to Nancy. At the time, Nancy needed to pull together an SE 101 program in just three weeks because the organization that she was working with pulled out unexpectedly at the last moment. Impressively, Jose' was able to line up 37 students as well as the required facilities and materials.

This year, Jose' has organized the two sites Bahati in Easlands marginalise surburbs-40 atendees and Kibera Langata-45 attendees at total of 65 attendess, lined up 18 guest speakers, invited government officials in two Ministries-Minisrty Of Youth Affairs and Ministry of Information and Communication(ICT BOARD OF KENYA), and sourced program materials,secured a training ground with two churches Kenya assemblies Of God -Bahati and Friends church International-Kibera. He's also been very helpful in helping me to organize my class by taking attendance, encouraging the participants, and making the class announcements. Jose' is a gifted public speaker; he has a natural way of connecting with his audience that is impressive to watch. His passionate commitment to his community is even more remarkable.

I am not my hair

I once read something in a book that said something like, "love like you've never been hurt and dance like no ones watching" and there is this song that has this chorus it goes like "I am not my hair,I am not my skin......and so on.sung by India Arie. ( http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/indiaarie/iamnotmyhair.html)

Hmm....it got me thinking for a while,why did India Arie have to say such statements?why did such a person have to write and sing such a song?The answer just came to me last night when I was lying in bed facing up and my eyes on my mural painted ceiling .Something tragic had just happened in my life through an sms that came in my small cheap mobile phone that changed my destiny within a flash! Ironically,instead of hating,I just remembered in the beginning of the year,I took this promise bible verse in a local church which is in Isaiah 41:10 and peace like a river just flowed in me.

Everything in life works for good.When a child is born,dies your house burns,you are looked down apron and when you love and don't get love in return?! They are all for good.I learned that,I should look up in the skies because that's where my help comes from.I should not be judged by my hair,my skin because that's not me! You might never know what you hold in your hands is valuable till you loose it.OK some practical lesson for you.look at the palm of your hands.What do you see?I guess line criss crossing your hands.Look again and concentrate forget what is happening around you.keep looking at it.What do you see? That's what your hands hold.That's your worth.That's a secret.Until we learn to protect what we have,we never value what God has granted us.

I refuse to be judged with my hair,my skin and more so my looks!What matters to me the most is how hard I will impact your life.If I came into your life to hurt you?to disrupt you?to empower you?to encourage and expose you? anything of the sort.guess what! It was meant for good.That's the point you go like,thank God am a being.Thank God I been judged by my hair and I am not my skin.

Loving like you've never been hurt portrays your personality and puts you in a position in life as a fighter and as an open minded person.Just in case an sms comes in your mobile phone and goes like "I like you as a friend and I think you are wonderful person and a friend too.Otherwise I am seeing someone and we are serious." Don't look down on yourself and go like I was judged by my hair! Pick up yourself,dust off the durst on your back,put your head up and look for more loving search yourself and pursue the next and love like you've never been hurt.