Tommy Nyawir was accompanied by Steve Brunskill and Jen Lawson from Youth Out Loud. Tommy grew up in Kibera slum in Nairobi, KENYA.In 2010, Tommy and his wife Judy founded a charity called The Mirror Of Hope next to Kibera slum. To paint the picture of Kibera, Africa’s largest urban slum is to picture approximately 1 million people living in an area of 2.5km2. Most families of 3-4 people (often without a father) live in a small shanty of about 3 x 3 metres with a leaking tin roof. They earn approx. $AUD 40 / month to live on providing for food, rent, electricity, water and medical needs.
Tommy was fourteen years of age and completing his eighth grade of school when his parents lost their source of income. Despite being a talented student, he had to leave school as he was unable to pay the compulsory school fees. He had always wanted to be a lawyer but instead had to remove thoughts of ever attending school again to focus on survival.
This focus on survival changed due to the kindness of a stranger who upon a chance meeting gave Tommy the funds he needed to go back to school. Tommy not only was able to finish secondary school but went on to achieve a scholarship for Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Human Development.
Mirror of Hope conducts a number of programs to help children of Kibera slums to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment through education.
Chairman Bob Hoskins urged all Members to find out more about Mirror of Hope and to consider child sponsorship or a personal donation.More information can be found at http://mirrorofhopecbo.org/