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.
Ngong River Regeneration Network - Zone (1-6)
The Ngong River Regeneration Network Zone Coordinators (Zones 1–6) held a productive meeting with the Commissioners representing the Ngong River, chaired by Commissioner Benjamin Langwen, alongside Commissioners John Kioli and Dr. Loice Jepkemboi Kipkiror, together with Inspector Ashford - NRC Secretariat. The meeting was highly engaging and inspiring, leaving us even more energized and committed to advancing the river restoration agenda. Together, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to not only regenerating our rivers, but also promoting a cleaner environment, encouraging food production through downstream farming, and creating sustainable job opportunities through riverine activities. #NgongRiverRestoration #NairobiRivers #EnvironmentalConservation #RiverRegeneration #ClimateAction #CommunityEmpowerment #GreenJobs
World Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration
In celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day, ETCO, in partnership with Rotary Club of Nairobi Connect and with support from the Safaricom Foundation, today donated 900 sanitary towels to girls at Joash Olum Primary School. This initiative was aimed at supporting the girl child by promoting menstrual dignity, boosting confidence, and helping keep girls in school so they can stay focused on their education and future careers.
Kikuyu Rotary Club Team site visit - partnership
It was a pleasure hosting the Nairobi Rotary Club Connect’s Yumbya Nyamai, who also represented Ecologists Without Borders (EcoWB), alongside the Kikuyu Rotary Club Presidents—past, current, and incoming—George Ngotho, Patrick, and Marion respectively. We truly appreciated your visit to the site and your interest in the upcoming waste management project.