Reflecting on Culture, Legacy, and Future Initiatives: Highlights of Ruben Centre’s October Meeting
On October 31st, Ruben Centre project leaders gathered for their monthly meeting—a gathering marked by reflection, updates, and a vision for the future. The session, led by the Centre’s director, Br. Frank O'Shea OAM, provided staff with insights into the Centre's culture, celebrated its legacy, and laid out exciting plans for the upcoming silver jubilee celebrations.
Ruben Centre's Culture: The "Onion" Model
Br. Frank likened the culture at Ruben Centre to an onion, with layers that reflect the values, beliefs, and practices embedded within the organization. At its core, he emphasized, Ruben Centre stands as a beacon of hope for Mukuru's community. He spoke of an “inner layer” embodying the Centre’s core values, beliefs, and vision—elements essential for maintaining a cohesive organizational culture. This foundational layer includes norms and practices that staff are encouraged to uphold, ensuring the Centre’s mission of positive impact is sustained.
In the "outer layers," Br. Frank highlighted the visible elements of Ruben’s culture—its symbols, artifacts, and practices. From monthly staff meetings and departmental prayers to the way staff interact with visitors, these actions collectively reflect the Centre’s ethos. He also noted the significance of interconnectedness among staff, community members, donors, and partners. Reinforcing this cultural structure, he explained, would enhance productivity, unity, impact, and a strong sense of belonging across the Centre.
Silver Jubilee: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present, Securing the Future
Following Br. Frank’s address, the Silver Jubilee taskforce—comprising Margaret Kariuki, Thomas Lemba, and Gregory Barake—unveiled plans for the Centre’s 2025 celebrations. The theme, "Living in the Present, Celebrating the Past, Securing the Future," is a tribute to the legacy and impact of the Christian Brothers since their leadership began at Ruben Centre. The jubilee is set to be a year-long celebration with five key objectives:
Showcasing Ruben’s Journey and Impact: Celebrating the milestones and progress achieved through the Centre’s dedication to Mukuru’s community.
Engaging Stakeholders: Recognizing the invaluable contributions of donors, beneficiaries, and partners.
Sustainability and Fundraising: Strengthening organizational resilience through strategic fundraising efforts to support ongoing and future projects.
Strategic Planning: Preparing for the next phase as the current strategic plan nears its conclusion.
Enhancing the Centre’s Brand: Telling Ruben’s unique story of impact through powerful narratives that highlight its influence on Mukuru.
Gregory Barake encouraged staff to rally behind these objectives, as the celebration’s success relies on collective belief and commitment. The committee also proposed building a beneficiary database to streamline success story sharing, amplifying Ruben's impact on the community.
The meeting continued with updates from various departments, each presenting recent achievements and ongoing efforts:
Finance: Festus Mwaniki, the Finance Manager, shared promising news of secured funds, noting recent approvals and pending disbursements that will support the Centre’s activities. He reminded staff of the importance of strategic expenditure, given that 88% of the projected annual budget has been utilized.
Operations: Albanous Gituru, the Operations Manager, outlined the plan for fund-based implementation, stressing the need to align spending with the remaining budget for the year.
Youth Program: With 60 weekly participants, the youth program remains active. Additionally, the Centre is nearing completion of a podcast studio to further engage and generate income.
Advocacy: Margaret Kariuki highlighted recent sexual health training sessions and expressed concern over a spate of fires in Mukuru, urging continued advocacy on safety.
Health: Ruben Health Centre, recently recognized as a top service provider, continues to thrive, reaching 500 monthly deliveries and successfully restocking vital pharmaceuticals. The clinic also received accreditation for its strong management information system utilization.
School and Special Unit: Following a visit by Kenya's and Serbia's First Ladies, Ruben Centre’s school received a generous donation of tablets. The school also plans to integrate six children with special needs into primary education, bolstering inclusion efforts.
Ruben FM: The Centre’s radio station is celebrating eight years, with programming aimed at educating and sensitizing the community on child safeguarding and mental health.
HDSTP and Urban Farm Project: Building Skills and Sustainability
The Human Development and Skills Training Program (HDSTP) continues to be a key area of focus, with the Centre recently shifting its training facility to “Ruben B,” allowing more space for vocational classes and hands-on learning. This project offers young people in Mukuru a vital opportunity to learn practical skills in areas such as creative design and personal development. The training facility is also being redesigned to better accommodate both theoretical and practical sessions, fostering a comprehensive learning environment. The program is working towards full accreditation, with plans to register through TVET and NITA, positioning it as a self-standing institute by the beginning of next year.
HDSTP has also seen an increase in student numbers for digital learning, with more youth acquiring essential skills to navigate today’s digital world. This growth highlights the Centre’s commitment to creating a sustainable impact through skill-building initiatives that prepare young people for meaningful employment. Additionally, character and behavioral development is emphasized; through the Salama Youth Hub, all learners from the project have weekly sessions on personal growth.
Complementing this, Ruben Centre’s Urban Farm Project is setting new standards for food security and community empowerment. The farm recently gained attention at the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show, where visitors explored its innovative urban farming techniques. Beyond providing fresh produce, the farm offers training to local youth and generates additional income for the Centre. The farm also includes projects like yogurt-making, which serve as both a learning platform and an income-generating activity.
The Human Resource Manager announced that staff appraisals would begin in November, emphasizing the importance of aligning individual goals with Ruben Centre’s values. Additionally, the IT team is working on compliance with data protection regulations to safeguard sensitive information and further strengthen Ruben’s commitment to ethical practices.
Br. Frank concluded the meeting with a reminder about safeguarding, underscoring the need for vigilance in every department. He acknowledged recent incidents and called on staff to participate actively in safeguarding training to protect the Centre’s image and mission.
As the Centre gears up for its silver jubilee, the commitment to Mukuru's community remains steadfast. Each department, project, and individual plays a vital role in advancing this mission—truly embodying the spirit of hope that Ruben Centre represents for the people of Mukuru. With unity, vision, and unwavering dedication, Ruben Centre is poised to celebrate its past and embrace its future, creating a lasting impact in Mukuru and beyond.
By: Lisa Karanja
Edits: Gregory Barake