Grounded in purpose

On Thursday 23rd October 2025, Ruben Centre staff gathered for the October Centre Meeting, led by our new Director, Liz Mwangi. The meeting provided a warm and reflective start to a new chapter for the organization. We were also joined by three representatives from Edmund Rice Foundation  (ERF) — Richard Patris, Regional Manager for Africa; Judy Leparan, Financial Administrator; and Tabitha Kabugi, Programs and Partnerships.

The meeting opened with a reflection by Ms. Mwangi, who shared the fictional tale of Nsiki, a young girl whose name represents truth, conscience, and innocence. Nsiki had been locked away and needed to be freed, symbolizing the human struggle for liberation from fear, denial, and injustice. Ms. Mwangi used the story to explore the concept of the seven basements of the human heart — the deep layers within us where emotions, beliefs, and fears are often hidden. She explained that leadership is the key that opens these basements, allowing people to act with honesty, compassion, and courage. Her reflection reminded everyone that meaningful change begins within and that leadership at all levels should be grounded in self-awareness and integrity.

After the reflection, Ms. Mwangi introduced the various roles of the guests from ERF. Judy will be supporting Ruben Centre’s Finance Department, while Tabitha will work closely with the Programs team. Richard reaffirmed ERF’s commitment to continue supporting Ruben Centre, acknowledging that while the organization has grown remarkably, there are still areas that can be strengthened through capacity building. He noted that the secondment of ERFA staff will help stabilize systems and reinforce processes that sustain long-term growth.

Updates from the Strategic Plan Launch Committee followed, where Gregory Barake, Communications Officer, thanked everyone who helped make the launch and the introduction of the new director a success. He appreciated the teamwork that made the day memorable and emphasized how the event symbolized both continuity and new beginnings.

Benard Kalola, Finance Manager, reminded staff that the Centre is currently in the third-quarter reporting period. He also announced that the Human Resource Office is transitioning to a paperless system. All staff members are encouraged to ensure they have active Ruben Centre email accounts, which will soon allow them to access their payslips, apply for leave, and receive HR communication digitally.

From the Communications department, Gregory shared that donors continue to request more stories of change from Ruben Centre’s programs. He encouraged project leaders to collaborate closely with the Communications team to capture community impact and share it widely. He also highlighted the importance of the weekly memo in supporting accurate and timely reporting. Gregory further mentioned ongoing efforts in rebranding and emphasized the need for all materials to consistently reflect Ruben Centre’s official colours.

Albanous Gituru, Operations Manager, shared that quarterly reporting is almost complete, with only the Education Department remaining. He thanked all project leaders for their cooperation and dedication throughout the process.

During the Project Updates session, Tabitha reported on the Salama Centre, noting an increase in the number of youths presenting with mental health challenges. She said that many of them are dealing with psychosis and are being supported by three counsellors. Martin Bunyali from Ruben FM shared that the station is doing well and recently held a community event in collaboration with the Mukuru Community Justice Centre, the Police, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to address issues around arrests. He also mentioned that new interns will be joining the station next month.

Elizabeth Kagwima, from Human Development and Skills Training, reported that both production and training activities are running smoothly. She announced that twenty-seven students will sit for NITA (National Industrial Training Authority) exams in December and that her team is currently producing school uniforms for 2026. Madam Linah, Deputy Head Teacher, shared that the candidates have begun their assessments and that the school officially closed on 21st October.

Catherine Njuki, from the HEED department (Humanitarian Economic Empowerment and Development), reported that 30 needy students received clipboards and 40 were supported with scientific calculators, which will remain as part of Ruben Centre’s educational assets. Victor Ocharo, from Advocacy and Networking, spoke about a recent training for parents at the Special Needs Unit, aimed at improving child safeguarding and empowering parents to better protect their children.

From the Health Department, Belinda Kamundi reported that the team conducted three tuberculosis outreaches, testing 489 people and identifying nine positive cases. She also attended the annual KCCB (Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops) Health Conference, which brought together more than 400 private health facilities. The conference discussed the challenges facing the Social Health Authority, especially delays in payment to health facilities since June.

The meeting concluded with remarks from Ms. Mwangi, who encouraged staff to uphold excellence, teamwork, and integrity in all their duties. She emphasized the need for collective effort in advancing the mission of Ruben Centre and continuing to make a difference in the Mukuru community.

Story by Benson Kagwima

Edits by Gregory Barake