The Joy of Life
Joy, at ETCO, often arrives as githeri scooped into a bowl that is not quite big enough — laughter spilling over instead. “Life” here is the act of sharing what you have, whether that is a sack of maize, an afternoon, or a joke that makes a teenager roll their eyes and smile anyway.
A smile will not pay rent; it can still light a dark week. We chase that brightness on purpose — meals together, small memories stacked like plates — because children watch how adults handle scarcity. They learn whether to hoard or to pass the spoon.
Every Saturday we see contented faces — not because life is easy, but because belonging tastes like something. We hope the lessons stick: compassion, empathy, the habit of noticing who is left out. That is how a neighbourhood becomes gentler without pretending it is rich.
We are not naive about scale — one bowl does not fix structural poverty. But habits form in small rooms: a child who learns to wait in line learns to imagine other people’s hunger; a teenager who serves elders learns a different definition of strength than swagger on a corner.
If you want to nurture that kind of joy, fund a meal, mentor a game, or simply show up and learn names. Joy multiplies when it is shared on purpose.
We end where we began: with a table, a prayer if you pray, and the sound of spoons scraping plates — ordinary proof that life here is still full of possibility when people choose each other.
Easter Feeding Program
Thanks to Tim Ruff and Stephanie, ETCO hosted a warm Easter Friday feeding program for children at our new office—bringing joy, a good meal, and community together in Kibera.
ETCO's Kibera Slums Tour
We thank Tim Ruff and Stephanie for joining ETCO’s Slum Tour in Kibera—walking with us, listening to residents, and experiencing the strength and reality of our community firsthand.
FLOOD SUPPORT APPEAL – KIBERA
Heavy rains brought flooding to Kibera’s riparian areas—destroying homes, claiming lives, and leaving families in urgent need. ETCO appeals to well-wishers for food, clothing, bedding, medical support, and other basics, while urging everyone to stay safe around fast water and contamination risks.