In the heart of Nairobi, Kenya, lies the Dandora dumpsite, one of Africa’s largest landfills. It’s not just a place of discarded waste but a daily battleground for survival for many, especially children. Young boys and girls, often out of school due to financial constraints or hunger, find themselves sifting through mountains of garbage in search of sustenance or items to sell.

When Alice, a mother to three girls, started collecting trash at the dumpsite, she noticed that older men and women mistreated the young boys and girls by buying their goods at a lower price than the market rates. Other workers mistreated the children, forcing them to carry heavy loads. The systemic exploitation caused sleepless nights for Alice, who kept thinking about how she could help the children.

Determined to make a difference, Alice decided to act as a mother to these children. She began by getting to know each child, listening to their stories, and ensuring they received fair compensation for their collected recyclables. This led to her being affectionately nicknamed Wa-Kahii by the waste pickers, a name derived from the Kikuyu word “Kahii” for boy or child, symbolizing her protective role over the “boy child” at the dump. 

When International Samaritan came to Kenya two years ago, we formed savings and loan groups with the recyclers, and Alice saved enough to secure a small loan from her group so that she could begin purchasing materials from others instead of collecting them herself. This was a huge leap for her, from collector to aggregator. As an aggregator, she uses her purchasing power to buy most of her materials from the young boys and girls, guaranteeing them fair compensation, moral guidance, motherly support, and a place to vent their daily challenges. 

Alice goes beyond transacting with the children. She uses every transaction as an educational moment, talking about the dangers of drugs, crime, and other prevalent issues around the dumpsite. Her place has become a sanctuary where these children can share their experiences and find support and encouragement. In and outside the dumpsite, the young boys call her “mathe” which is slang for mother.

“People call me ‘mathe,’” Alice said. “In this name, I draw gentle strength, from which my heart develops a refuge for the lost, a beacon of hope in a world of shadows.”

Through Alice’s influence, the young boys are allowed to scavenge from the waste trucks. Alice has helped the boys to maintain a high level of discipline because they must have a very clean record both at home and at the dumpsite to be able to sell to her. Some parents report their children to Alice when they deviate from the right path and she talks to them to help bring them back. 

Alice has become a pivotal figure at the dumpsite, and she is one of the lead people who identifies potential scholars for International Samaritan Kenya. While our team is at the dumpsite, she allows us to meet at her place. 

When children and young adults become Samaritan Scholars, they receive tuition fees, school clothes and shoes, food, and basic health and wellness care. They are able to focus on school and no longer pick through trash at the dumpsite. As we raise more funds for scholarships, Alice will continue to connect us with some of the many children at the dumpsite who have a desire to study and learn marketable career skills.

Alice’s journey to a cherished mother figure is a testament to the power of compassionate action and selfless love. Here at International Samaritan, we celebrate stories like hers as a reminder that we can all share motherly love, even in unexpected places.

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting 950 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Esther Muhia, Country Director

Esther’s education is in sociology, communication, and gender and development studies. She has worked in several leadership roles in Nairobi, Kenya, including at the Catholic Medical Mission Board. She has worked with NGOs and community and global organizations. Esther has successfully implemented various programs, including family and parent skills development, school-based mentorships and scholarships, economic empowerment, psychosocial support, and gender-based violence prevention programs.