THE STORY OF JACK OTIENO OWUOR
Every year Willfreight Express Cargo Services does donations to the less fortunate in the society. This year we have picked on Jack who is an orphan enrolled in Nageya Children’s Home, a Community Based Organization located at Mathare 4A slums in Nairobi County.
However, in the process of preparing Jack Awour’s documents to go back to study, he was lucky to get a full scholarship program to study in Los Angeles. WECS however did not end the journey there as there are many children in need at Nageya Children’s home. We came across an orphan young girl by the name Nancy Awour, whose story shall be highlighted in the next edition. Willfeight Express Cargo Services wishes Jack Awour’s success in his academic journey and life afterward.
Brief Background of Jack Owour
Young Jack was picked up from the streets in 2009 by a sympathizer, Mr. Peter Lango (also in charge of the CBO) who saw the potential in him and was very determined to save him from the atrocities of the streets.
He opened up to us about his sad background. He confessed that he has a young sister and both his parents could not be duly responsible for them as they had a problem with addiction. He was later taken in by his aunt who lived in Nakuru.
After some time of living together, the aunt proved irresponsible as she could not handle herself due to traumatic experiences from her previous relationships.
Jack was determined to go back home after he could not take it anymore from his aunt. In the process of leaving, his mother, unfortunately, passed away. This was in the year 2005. He was a very young boy and only in second grade.
The streets eventually became Jack’s new home and he had nowhere else to find decent food and shelter. His aunt could not invite him back since his newfound husband would not accept male children who are from outside their new marriage. His sister stayed back at his aunt’s place but she later dropped out of school as she was expectant. She now works as a house help.
Life in the streets pushed Jack into abusing drugs and engaging in criminal activities together with his newfound friends.At one time he almost got shot when the flying squad branch of the police learned that he and his friends were ferrying illegal firearms and crude weapons. Some of his friends lost their lives during raids by the police.
Jack was lucky since he got rescued while in his hideout by Mr. Peter Lango who gave him a chance to start life anew in Nageya Children’s Home.
Mr. Peter Lango made sure Jack was enrolled in Nageya Primary School the same year in Standard six.
Jack passed his Kenya Certificate of Primary School exams with flying colors and managed to secure a chance at a local Secondary School.
After completing his studies in high school, he had the passion of pursuing a course in Mass Communication and he got the opportunity to study at The University of Nairobi (UON).
Before joining university, he did menial jobs to raise some money for his school fees. He managed to save Ksh. 20,000 for a start with the hope of getting sponsorships from willing parties.
This however did not go as he had wished forcing him to defer his studies until when he will be able to raise enough funds to enable him to pursue his dreams.
Jack wishes to be a trained journalist as well as giving back to the society as a way of appreciation for the support granted to him.