TULIP

Rescuing the girls of Korogocho

Pauline Wanjiku’s life has significantly changed since she joined the TULIP family. Born in 1985, Pauline has lived much of her life in Korogocho's Highridge village. The last born of 4 children, she was raised by her mother and only came to know her father in the year 2000. Her mother (presently a born again Christian) was jailed in 1993 for 3 years, in the course of which Pauline dropped out of school and did house chores for relatives.
Pauline has experienced first hand the physical danger of living in Korogocho. She specifically recalls an incident in which she escaped rape by a whisker. “Once as I had to buy groceries late and15 boys abducted me,” she narrates. “They took me to the river side to rape me, but as they tried to undress me an elderly man appeared and scared them off with his stick.” Pauline attributes her close call to God's grace. TULIP exists to mentor girls like Pauline and provide avenues for nurturing their dreams, talents and potential.

TULIP is registered as a Non Governmental Organization serving to empower teenage girls from the poverty stricken slums of Nairobi. The Ministry started as a social justice initiative of Nairobi Chapel in the year 2002 and it is located in Korogocho slum. The name Korogocho is synonymous with the word 'chaos', which aptly defines the lives of many young people who reside in one of Nairobi's largest informal settlements (slums). Due to abject poverty (household heads earn less than one dollar a day) Korogocho like any other slum has been characterized by disorder in the form of drug abuse, alcoholism (chang'aa), prostitution, violence, child labor, racketeering …as residents struggle for survival. Amidst all these, the girl child is at a higher risk, given the socio-cultural tendency to deny her equal access to education and resources.

Our Objectives

Spiritual Formation: We meet spiritual needs of girls through bible studies, devotionals, prayers and church involvement.

Mentoring: We believe in counseling the girls on life's realities, decision making and leadership roles. We model character and expose girls to age appropriate mentors.

Vocational Training: We equip the girls with a variety of skills that they can use to earn an income. These include quilting and beading We sell the products they make and use the proceeds to subsidize needs such as food, toiletries and school fees.

Education: We seek out academically talented girls who drop out of school, prepare them to go back to school at our TULIP home and eventually reintegrate them into various high schools. For this we depend on sponsorship funds from well wishers.

Health and HIV/AIDS Awareness: Due to the increased rate of the orphaned and vulnerable children, TULIP conducts awareness among at-risk teenage girls, parents and also youths in the slums. We do this through , sports, entertainment and recreational activities.

Community Outreach: TULIP conducts capacity building training for families whose girls are involved in TULIP programs. We do this to empower them to improve their living standards. Currently, these parents have

Achievements

Since the inception of TULIP in 2002, 33 girls have gone through our program and 25 have been integrated to high school. Some have attained vocational and college education.
Emily Muthoni, is currently studying a diploma in Early Childhood at the Montesorri College, having been sponsored by TULIP since high school.
Elizabeth Ateng'o also been a part of the TULIP program since high school and is currently working as an office assistant. She is now able to financially assist her family and contribute to her college training in mass communication.
Through TULIP, many families at Korogocho have accessed training on parenting, income generating skills and there are now three family support groups seeking to break the poverty cycle.
TULIP partners with the Nairobi Chapel, Faulu Kenya, Food for the Hungry, Life spring Chapel, Fellowship of Christian Unions and others.

Statement of Need

TULIP Ministry depends on donations from friends and well wishers to meet education, programs and upkeep needs for the girls. We invite you to join in making a difference by supporting a girl.

Costs monthly per child:

Costs annually per child:

For more information

For more information about Tulip, and some of the girls you might be interested in sponsoring, please see this page

Christmas services: Christmas this year falls on a Monday. We will not be holding a Christmas Day service.

Ekklesia: Would you like to join an Ekklesia group? Please pass by the Information Desk after the service and sign up.

Giving: Thank you once again, for your giving through the month of November. Our total giving was 2.8 m. God has been good to us as a church because of your faithful giving. I trust that you have seen his faithfulness at a personal level as he has kept his promise to bless you even as you faithfully give to his work.

Jobs, jobs, jobs! Do you need a job? If so, then please write us and let us know. Mention your area of training, what sort of job you are looking for, qualifications, past experience, etc. Include your CV is you have one. We'd like to compile a list and circulate it to potential employers in our congregation. If you are looking for a high powered job we will mention it in our bulletin early in the year; but this isn't just for big jobs. Don't be afraid to list your name even if you are looking for a house-help job, gardening, office messenger or whatever.

For those with the power to employ, please remember your own brothers and sisters here in our congregation as you look at hiring new people at the beginning of the new year. Remember what Paul says in Gal 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”. We are prepared to help you pre-interview anyone you are interested in on the list, and follow up on referees and leads. We'd really like those in need of jobs among us to get a break, especially as a new year begins.

Testimony Sunday: is coming! 31st December. Testimony Sunday is that service where we all give testimony of what the Lord has done for us in the course of the year. Prepare yourself to share a brief (like 3 mins) testimony from your life. It's gotta be personal, and needs to give God glory for his goodness. Ps 107:19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds . . . Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”

Min opportunities: Early next year we'd like to begin a Women's Ministry. We're looking for 6 or 7 women who can give us leadership in this. Would you like to be involved? If so, please give us your name at the information table so that we can begin praying and seeking the Lord on this together.

Young Adults Fellowship: We'd also like to gather the young adults into fellowship. Are you a leader? Do you have a desire to lend your best to the service of God among the young adults. If you'd like to serve in the brainstorming team, please list your name at the information table after the service.

School of Prayer: Do you have the gift of intercession, the gift of knowledge of prophetic words, the gift of discernment? Would you like to go to the next level in discerning prayer? Join up for the school of prayer 10 weeks of study on how to be an intercessor. The class will be taught by Pastor Simon Mbevi of Mavuno Church.

School of Service: Have you ever wanted to serve in the Ushering ministry of the church. Or as a “Greeter” (one of those people who meet you as you come into church, smile and brighten up your day? Yes, yes I know you're asking “Which ones?” Exactly!) We want to train you for a new ministry, that of welcoming and receiving people as they come to church. The Ushers serve and seat us, but are not able to receive, chat with and help people feel connected when they come . . . so, can you help? One of our members (Mrs. Esther Ikinya) who trains Kenya Airways hostesses, has offered to teach us how to reach out to people, and “brightening up their day”, making them feel at home. If you can serve your church in this way, please list your name at the information table after the service. The 5 session course begins mid-January.