Day of The African Child 2023
Celebrating the African Child
On the 16th of June, 2023, Ruben Centre hosted a memorable Day of the African Child celebration that will be deeply engraved in the memories of all those who attended. The event, which had the theme "The Rights of The Child In The Digital Environment," was a vibrant and meaningful gathering for learners from AEF Ruben Primary School, as well as Ruben Centre staff. Numerous institutions responded to Ruben Centre's invitation and participated in the commemoration, including Alliance Girls High School, citiesRISE, We Foundation, Labourman Academy, Maendeleo Junior Secondary, Gatoto Primary, Mama Project, Edmund Rice Foundation Kenya, and Makongo Computer College, among others.
The day commenced with a procession featuring the gymnastics team, scouts, and orchestra. During the procession, the children creatively displayed posters depicting the positive (good), negative (bad), and challenging (ugly) aspects of the digital environment. Following the procession, everyone gathered in the AEF Ruben Primary School’s field for the main event, which showcased various performances from different departments within Ruben Centre, including vocational training, the Special Unit, and pre-primary learners.
Celebrating Ruben Centre staff’s resilience
Later in the day, a program was organized at the Ruben Centre hall for employed staff, partners, volunteers, and interns. The program began with a tribute to the late Nelson "Mandela" Asiago, followed by ice breakers and interactive activities to create an engaging atmosphere for the 150+ attendees. Margaret Kariuki and Gregory Barake led a session titled "Celebrating Ruben Centre Resilience," where participants were divided into groups of five. Each group shared highlights from specific years between 2000 and 2023, with long-serving staff members providing valuable insights into the journey of Ruben Centre throughout the years. Thomas Lemba then delved into the most recent years, 2020-2023, reflecting on the challenges and triumphs faced by the Ruben Centre staff. He reminded everyone of their resilience, concluding the session with a symbolic balloon-popping activity to represent overcoming personal conflicts. A video of the activity can be viewed on the Ruben Centre's YouTube page.
As the sun began to set, Madam Grace Kyuli took the podium to lead the Ruben Centre family through another session called "The Spirit of Edmund Rice." Grace, who has faithfully served Ruben Centre since 2004 through AEF Ruben Primary School, shared the story of a young Irishman named Edmund Ignatius Rice. She highlighted his selflessness in giving up his wealth to improve the lives of young street boys. Grace emphasized the importance of embodying this spirit of selflessness in daily service to the people of Mukuru. Together, with the staff, she sang the song "Where to now Edmund" and concluded by welcoming RC Director, Br. Frank.
Br. Frank, leading a session titled "Way into The Future," joined the staff in reminiscing about recent years and outlined the organization's plan for the remaining two years of its current strategic plan. He then led a candle lighting ceremony alongside project leaders, symbolizing the spark of a new light within the Ruben Centre community. The lit candles were placed beside Nelson "Mandela" Asiago's portrait as a tribute to his memory.
Br. Frank welcomed RC's Human Resource Manager, Chrescent Ebembe, who led the final activity of the day. The highly anticipated announcement of the Employee of the Year nominee took place, and Ruben Health Centre's dedicated Occupational Therapist, Fredrick Mitieng', emerged as the winner. Fredrick's exceptional commitment to serving the people of Mukuru and his embodiment of the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice in his work earned him the accolades and respect of all Ruben Centre staff. Other winners from the various departments include: Elizabeth Kagwima from Human Development Skills Training Program, Tabitha Njambi from Advocacy & Networking, Rahab Ngunju from Education department, Br. Fabio Ondieki from Administration Support Staff and Gregory Barake from Administration department .
The Day of the African Child celebration at Ruben Centre was a testament to the organization's mission and its unwavering dedication to transforming lives in the Mukuru community. It showcased the power of collective action, as institutions and individuals came together to honor children's rights in the digital age. This memorable event will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for the continued work and impact of Ruben Centre in the years to come.
By: Gregory Barake & Benson Kagwima