Born and raised in Obunga slums of Kisumu city, where he also currently lives with his family, Samuel Ochola says he has seen both the beauty and the struggles of families in his community as each strives to create a better future.
A proud parent, Samuel tells us that one of his greatest joys and challenges has been raising his son, Austin. His gaze changes to a pensive mode as he continues; “Like many young people growing up in the heart of informal settlements, Alvin has faced pressures that weighed heavily on him. He was introverted, often missed school and when he did attend, it was usually under great reluctance. He struggled to cope under the weight of societal and peer pressure. As his parents, we tried everything we could to guide him and encourage him to change but despite our best efforts, nothing seemed to truly reach him. Day after day, we watched helplessly as he drifted further away from his potential hoping for a breakthrough that never seemed to come.”
Samuel says that a turning point came when his son, Alvin, joined the Crime Si Poa Club in school and became part of their community mentorship program. “The change was nothing short of miraculous. Through their mentorship, life skills training, and positive peer influence, we witnessed a transformation we had almost given up hope on. Alvin not only began attending school regularly but also started excelling academically. He became punctual, took pride in his work, and rose to the position of class prefect, leading by example” the happy father enthuses.
“Today, Alvin is full of confidence, purpose, and ambition. We owe his remarkable turnaround to Crime Si Poa, they gave us our son back.” Says Samuel.
According to Samuel, Austin’s story is not isolated. The impact of Crime Si Poa’s intervention is visible throughout the Obunga community. Young people who were once vulnerable and at risk of falling into crime and other anti-social behavior are now becoming leaders and positive influencers among peers.
“Parents are more hopeful as the transformation in their children’s lives and the spirit of progress is evident. As a parent and a proud member of this community, I am deeply grateful to Crime Si Poa. They have restored hope not just in individual families, but across Obunga community. Their work encourages us to keep moving forward, impacting more young lives, and transforming communities one at a time,” a visibly excited Samuel moves to conclude.
Samuel says that as a community, they believe that change is possible, “and with organizations like Crime Si Poa, it is not just a dream, it is happening right before our eyes.”