Whatever you can do, or dream you can begin it.Boldness has genius, power and magic in it-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.

Maina Mwangi is not your ordinary shoeshine guy.He is one determined guy.A determination to help those in need, a passion he shares with his wife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. He together with two friends started a small school where they teach street kids on moral values and also reading writing and basic arithmetic.They achieved this Community Based Organization he started after completing his  high school education.

Maina’s day starts at 7am, he dedicates the day to God, takes breakfast and leaves for work. He breaks for classes at around 8:30 am so he can assemble the kids before 9 am when classes commence.

The half an hour period between 8:30 a.m and 9:00 a.m is also time to settle disputes which may have risen during the night or in the morning. ”We have our own little ‘court session’ before classes start. “He says proudly.

Classes end at 11:00 a.m and he goes back to what keeps food on the table, his shoe shining job ,a job he started fourteen years ago. ”This job has its perks,” he says .When it starts raining; he has no other option but to pack and leave for home. Though sometimes out of good luck a person may realize that his or her shoe is sucking in water and takes it to the cobbler.

Maina Mwangi, due to his passion for helping those in need manages to make time for the street kids even while he is working. Some come to him whenever they are in trouble or in disagreement.

Another challenge he faces while dealing with the street kids is other CBOs which instead of focusing on their goal start competing with him.

This ‘extraordinary’ cobbler, so to speak assists the male street kids when it’s time to transit to adulthood. He takes them to hospital and pays for them though his monthly income is averagely 9000kshs.

“I hope that by the year 2015 there will be less than 20 street children in Nanyuki.” He says. “Through God’s blessings I know I will achieve this.” he adds