THEIR FUTURE, MY PASSION
” I stand for the welfare of children around the world. Every child deserves to feel safe and loved in a world that is free from pain and sorrow.” Irene Wangui.
Being only 17 years old, Irene Wangui is overcoming all odds by being the voice for the less fortunate. She has been nominated at the ultimate children peace prize in 2017 for standing out and being vocal against child abuse, empowerment of the girl child and championing for good parenting for children.
Irene Wangui was born in Kibera with other 3 siblings, at a very tender age, her mum became a drunkard hence she could not take care of them and her father on the other hand tried to rape her and that is when she ran away at the age of 7 years, lucky enough she found the Drug Fighters and Counseling Center which is a Community based non profit making Organization that was founded in 1998 by Agnes M.Musau .
DFC is situated at Mashimoni village in the heart of Nairobi which is one of the most densely populated villages in Kibera slums within Langata Constituency.
Water is scarce, and the sanitation conditions are very poor, poverty being a sad reality.
Drug Fighters runs a rescue and rehabilitation centre which serves over three hundred children. Within its structures, is a primary school that begins from pre primary to class eight.
The first lot of class 8 candidates did their exams in 2011. DFC also supports post primary education and has been supporting students who do well and proceed to secondary school.
Within the DFC program, their main objective is to rescue and rehabilitate children, majority of whom are orphans and vulnerable children. We aim to improve the children lifestyle by providing a conducive and friendly environment in which the young get an opportunity to grow away from drug and substance abuse.
After Wangui was rescued by Mama Agness, she could not settle knowing what the rest of her siblings were going through and she requested mama Agnes to take her younger brother with her.
Since the age of 7 years Wangui has had the burning passion within her change the world in her own little way and especially towards empowerment of young girls who go through challenges such as she. She has been outstandingly vocal and aggressive in pursuing her dream to be an activist so as to fight for the less fortunate children.
She is the 6th nominee at the ultimate children peace prize in 2017, The Award provides funding and recognition to support life-changing work for children by discovering and elevating only the most effective changemakers for children worldwide.
Spread this word worldwide! lets talk about what Wangui is doing
You can help further promote this story by sharing this story of change and create more awareness for this cause.
1. Share the profile of Irene on your own Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
2. Ask your network to share the story of Irene on their channels to reach an even broader audience, using #ChildrensPeacePrize
3. Attached is a nomination certificate for Irene’s nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize. You are encouraged to make a picture of Irene with the certificate and share this online using #ChildrensPeacePrize.
Article By Cyd Mathews.
Photography by Joseph Murimi