Kenya is one of the many countries of Sub-Saharan Africa dealing with a high population growth rate - about 3 percent per annum. The population pressure has lead to land degradation, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility from over cultivation and over grazing. This has not only had a negative impact on the income of the rural population, but has also led to severe food shortages. As a result, many young and energetic people migrate to urban centres in search of jobs and better living conditions.

Nairobi, as one of the major cities in Kenya is facing a serious problem from this increasing influx of people. The slow growing economy has been unable to absorb the many young people who enter the job market every year. There is also a serious housing problem. Consequently most rural migrants end up constructing temporary structures out of paper, wood and iron sheets on waste ground, so that about 60% of the city's population now live in these slums.

The slums in Nairobi include Kibera, Mathare, Kawangware, Kangemi and Korogocho. Most of the residents earn a meagre living through casual jobs in the city's building and manufacturing industries and from prostitution. Malnutrition, disease (especially air and waterborne diseases), drug abuse, poor sanitation, poor garbage disposal, high crime rates and above all, hopelessness are endemic here. The Government has sought to provide social facilities like schools, hospitals, clean water, toilets etc. to the slum dwellers. However, the Government alone is not in a position to meet all the needs of the people and that is why the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and churches become vital.

One such organisation that is playing a significant role to improve the living standards of slum dwellers is Vision Peoples in Mission (VPM) which is centred in Korogocho in the Northern part of Nairobi. The centre was established in 1997 under the leadership of Rev Franklyn Otwoma.

VPM established a Primary School, which runs from Nursery to Standard five. About three hundred children have enrolled to date, ranging in age from three to five. Most of these children come from families where parents are unemployed, others from single parent households, while the majority are orphans due to HIV/AIDS, which is so rampant in the slums. The parents are unable to meet the basic needs of their children for food, shelter, health, clothing etc. hence they are not able to pay for education. Because of this VPM provides free education to about 90% of the children while about 10% pay up to 100 Kshs (1 US dollar) per month towards the teachers allowances. There are three male and nine female qualified staff.

In Kenyan society women have the main responsibility for providing food for their households. Since most of the women in the slums lack any basic job skills, most of them are forced into prostitution to earn a living. VPM has established a women's vocational department in the centre in order to equip these women with skills which can help them earn a living by making affordable clothes instead. The dressmaking and tailoring department has several women currently receiving training.

The slum dwellers are also told about the love of Christ and how knowing Jesus Christ can make a big difference in their hopeless state. VPM runs a Discipleship Training department by the name of TEAL, which is aimed at equipping local pastors from different denominations to teach and reach out to their congregation and other people in their neighbourhoods.

To meet the health needs of Korogocho slum dwellers VPM established a clinic in February 2001. God has enabled the smooth running of the clinic through the generous contributions from friends and supporters. The clinic serves the whole population of Korogocho - about 500,000 people, most of whom are unemployed, and hence cannot afford to seek medical services in the Government and private hospitals that are located far away from the slums. The poor hygiene in the slums leads to the rapid spread of diseases, particularly cholera, malaria, typhoid and dysentery. To add on these water and air borne diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS are now so wide spread that they form about 70% of cases treated in the clinic monthly. The HIV/AIDS patients cannot afford treatment for opportunistic infections, so they die faster than their counterparts in developed countries. Diseases spread rapidly not only because of population congestion, but also because of social evils like prostitution, rape and incest.

The Clinic has three employees. A trained nurse, a laboratory technician and a clinical assistant, all working as volunteers. They are paid small allowances to cater for food and rent. The Clinic has a reception, treatment room and small laboratory for basic clinical tests. However, the clinic has struggled to meet the rising demand for health services due to inadequate facilities. Much more basic medical equipment is needed.

Plans are underway to establish home based medical care where the nurse can visit homes to attend to patients who may be too sick to walk to the Clinic. This will not only address the medical needs of the patients, but also provide advice on matters of hygiene. The other areas of need are for a dental clinic, a child immunisation programme, Radiology (X-ray and ultra sound), an operating theatre, an ambulance and mortuary services.

We believe that the Almighty who began with us will open doors of blessings to enable us continue to serve His people because he is the Alpha and Omega.