My Vocation Story

Sister Deborah Mallott, D.C.

A Kenyan Mission Reflection

Being sent on Mission to Kenya has been a dream come true for me. Kenya is a beautiful country with many natural resources. I enjoy seeing the varied landscape with all of its natural beauty, but I did not come to Kenya as a tourist. I came to live and work with the people in Kenya with the hope that together we could draw closer to God and make a better life for those who are poor. During my two years in Kenya I have become increasingly aware that the most valuable resources in Kenya are the Kenyan people. Kenyans are quiet, gentle people who long for a peaceful life, education and a means of supporting themselves and their families. The Kenyan people are truly a treasure buried in the midst of poverty and neglect.

Needs in Kenya

Currently, I live and work in the Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Parts of the city are very modern and the people who live in these areas enjoy comfortable living conditions. But there are also several very poor areas within the city, often called slums. Here the people live in houses made of mud or wood and with gaping holes in the roof and walls. They often live without electricity, running water, or sewage. In most areas the walk ways are uneven and filled with putrid water and debris.

The Kenyan’s I’ve met have had a great appreciation for education. They are a bright and intelligent people, but most Kenyans have little opportunity for education. Until recently primary and secondary schools charged tuition and very few Kenyans were able to pay for the tuition. Primary education is now free in Kenya and secondary school is becoming more affordable, but the education system still has tremendous need for improvement.

Health care is another area of ongoing concern for people in Kenya. Many people live in poverty. Poverty and sickness seem to go hand in hand. While there are many dedicated health care professionals working to provide care for those who are ill, health care facilities are often over crowded, understaffed and lacking in basic resources.

After conducting an initial needs assessment, Sister Arthur Gordon (Province of the West) and I began to visit the homes of people living in the very poor communities within St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish in Nairobi. Sister Arthur conducts the medical assessment and refers those in need of medical care to existing healthcare facilities, using a prepaid voucher system. I accompany Sister Arthur and help identify resources within the family and the community for addressing the non-medical needs of the patient or family. Non-medical needs include food, shelter, clothing, transportation, education and employment.

The work Sister Arthur and I began in the poor communities would not have been possible with out the collaboration and cooperation of individual Kenyans in the communities where we visit. These people are models of caring. They helped us to better understand the language and the culture of the people and they played a major role in helping us gain the trust and confidence of the communities where we work. John Bosco Kamau is one of these Kenyan collaborators. John is a husband, father of three, a Catechist, and a tireless advocate for persons in need.

Visiting a person in their home is a wonderful way to get to know the person, but it also has its challenges. After just a few weeks of visiting, it became clear that we needed light and air and privacy if we were go to properly assess the medical and social condition of the persons we were visiting. We began to search for a small place to build a center. After months of searching and many false leads, one of the elders in the village offered us a building that she was no longer using. She agreed to allow us to tear the building down and rebuild. With the help of Brother Jim Donlevy, CM and his carpentry students, we built a tiny one room center that is continuously in use. This small building, which we named the Peace Center, is the hub of activity. It houses a small preschool class. On Thursdays Sister Anita Hubrich, DC (Province of Ireland) conducts a general medical clinic and the children in the Peace School are tutored by volunteers from nearby colleges. Home visits are still conducted but now there is a clean bright place where people can come to seek assistance as well.

The privacy offered in the center is particularly helpful when counseling or providing medical care for persons suffering from HIV/AIDS, a disease still surrounded by much fear and stigma in Kenya. Shortly after we arrived in Kenya it became apparent that there are large gaps in the medical care provided for persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi. Most of the health care providers we spoke with agreed that there was a need to provide free, comprehensive and holistic care for persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Project DREAM

In response to this identified need, the Daughters of Charity, and in collaboration with the Sant’Egidio community, have begun to construct a building that will house the DREAM Project in Nairobi. The acronym DREAM stands for Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition. DREAM provides the same state of the art medical care available in Western countries to the people in Africa. Sister Arthur Gordon will act as the coordinator for the DREAM Project in Nairobi. The DREAM Project will offer diagnosis, treatment, nutrition support and follow-up care. The follow-up care will be provided by activist, persons who are HIV+ and who have undergone special training and who go out into the community to help and encourage others.

Many people ask how they can help. I ask that you continue to pray for the work of the Daughters of Charity in Kenya and throughout the world. The work that the sisters do is inspired by God and sustained by God. Become an educated advocate for those in need in your own community and around the world. In this era of Globalization many of the problems that plague those who are poor are universal and have intertwined root causes. And last, financial contributions are always a great help.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to God and to the many people who support the ministries of the Daughters of Charity.

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	My Vocation Story
	Sister Deborah Mallott, D.C.

	A Kenyan Mission Reflection Being sent on Mission to Kenya has been a dream come true for me. Kenya is a beautiful country with many natural resources. I enjoy seeing the varied landscape with all of its natural beauty, but I did not come to Kenya as a tourist. I came to live and work with the people in Kenya with the hope that together we could draw closer to God and make a better life for those who are poor. During my two years in Kenya I have become increasingly aware that the most valuable resources in Kenya are the Kenyan people. Kenyans are quiet, gentle people who long for a peaceful life, education and a means of supporting themselves and their families. The Kenyan people are truly a treasure buried in the midst of poverty and neglect. Needs in Kenya Currently, I live and work in the Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Parts of the city are very modern and the people who live in these areas enjoy comfortable living conditions. But there are also several very poor areas within the city, often called slums. Here the people live in houses made of mud or wood and with gaping holes in the roof and walls. They often live without electricity, running water, or sewage. In most areas the walk ways are uneven and filled with putrid water and debris. The Kenyan’s I’ve met have had a great appreciation for education. They are a bright and intelligent people, but most Kenyans have little opportunity for education. Until recently primary and secondary schools charged tuition and very few Kenyans were able to pay for the tuition. Primary education is now free in Kenya and secondary school is becoming more affordable, but the education system still has tremendous need for improvement. Health care is another area of ongoing concern for people in Kenya. Many people live in poverty. Poverty and sickness seem to go hand in hand. While there are many dedicated health care professionals working to provide care for those who are ill, health care facilities are often over crowded, understaffed and lacking in basic resources. After conducting an initial needs assessment, Sister Arthur Gordon (Province of the West) and I began to visit the homes of people living in the very poor communities within St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish in Nairobi. Sister Arthur conducts the medical assessment and refers those in need of medical care to existing healthcare facilities, using a prepaid voucher system. I accompany Sister Arthur and help identify resources within the family and the community for addressing the non-medical needs of the patient or family. Non-medical needs include food, shelter, clothing, transportation, education and employment. The work Sister Arthur and I began in the poor communities would not have been possible with out the collaboration and cooperation of individual Kenyans in the communities where we visit. These people are models of caring. They helped us to better understand the language and the culture of the people and they played a major role in helping us gain the trust and confidence of the communities where we work. John Bosco Kamau is one of these Kenyan collaborators. John is a husband, father of three, a Catechist, and a tireless advocate for persons in need. Visiting a person in their home is a wonderful way to get to know the person, but it also has its challenges. After just a few weeks of visiting, it became clear that we needed light and air and privacy if we were go to properly assess the medical and social condition of the persons we were visiting. We began to search for a small place to build a center. After months of searching and many false leads, one of the elders in the village offered us a building that she was no longer using. She agreed to allow us to tear the building down and rebuild. With the help of Brother Jim Donlevy, CM and his carpentry students, we built a tiny one room center that is continuously in use. This small building, which we named the Peace Center, is the hub of activity. It houses a small preschool class. On Thursdays Sister Anita Hubrich, DC (Province of Ireland) conducts a general medical clinic and the children in the Peace School are tutored by volunteers from nearby colleges. Home visits are still conducted but now there is a clean bright place where people can come to seek assistance as well. The privacy offered in the center is particularly helpful when counseling or providing medical care for persons suffering from HIV/AIDS, a disease still surrounded by much fear and stigma in Kenya. Shortly after we arrived in Kenya it became apparent that there are large gaps in the medical care provided for persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi. Most of the health care providers we spoke with agreed that there was a need to provide free, comprehensive and holistic care for persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Project DREAM In response to this identified need, the Daughters of Charity, and in collaboration with the Sant’Egidio community, have begun to construct a building that will house the DREAM Project in Nairobi. The acronym DREAM stands for Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition. DREAM provides the same state of the art medical care available in Western countries to the people in Africa. Sister Arthur Gordon will act as the coordinator for the DREAM Project in Nairobi. The DREAM Project will offer diagnosis, treatment, nutrition support and follow-up care. The follow-up care will be provided by activist, persons who are HIV+ and who have undergone special training and who go out into the community to help and encourage others. Many people ask how they can help. I ask that you continue to pray for the work of the Daughters of Charity in Kenya and throughout the world. The work that the sisters do is inspired by God and sustained by God. Become an educated advocate for those in need in your own community and around the world. In this era of Globalization many of the problems that plague those who are poor are universal and have intertwined root causes. And last, financial contributions are always a great help. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to God and to the many people who support the ministries of the Daughters of Charity.

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