The voice of Happy Star
“I’ve had a lot of help in my life. Today I have more to give than to receive. I want to keep pushing the boundaries.”
Steve, Happy Star’s founder
The face of hope
Stephen Odiambo Arodi, known as Steve, is a child from Mathare. During his childhood, he was sexually, psychologically and physically abused by women, but above all by men in the street. Steve has turned his experience into a strength and vowed to change things.
At the age of 6, he followed a street boy to school. This decision was not well received by his parents, who were counting on him to earn money by selling drugs or prostituting himself. Between the ages of 6 and 14, Steve lived alone on the streets of Mathare. He survived thanks to the help of local residents. He was first helped by a school teacher who, seeing his determination, paid for his uniform, his bag and his schooling. The headmaster then took him under his wing, followed by a parish priest and then the Rotary Club.
His resilience combined with the help of a caring environment enabled him to go on to university.
Educating for change
Steve studied psychology at the University of Nairobi and then did his internship in a remote village on the shores of Lake Victoria (Kenya) with the Rafiki Wa Maendeleo Trust. His role was to look after vulnerable children in the community. He became the first laureate of the slum. He returned there after graduation to open the first Happy Star school in 2016. A better education is the key to escaping the cycle of poverty in the world. Steve wants to provide high-quality pre-school and primary education to help children get a better start in life.
The face of hope
Stephen Odiambo Arodi, known as Steve, is a child from Mathare. During his childhood, he was sexually, psychologically and physically abused by women, but above all by men in the street. Steve has turned his experience into a strength and vowed to change things.
At the age of 6, he followed a street boy to school. This decision was not well received by his parents, who were counting on him to earn money by selling drugs or prostituting himself. Between the ages of 6 and 14, Steve lived alone on the streets of Mathare. He survived thanks to the help of local residents. He was first helped by a school teacher who, seeing his determination, paid for his uniform, his bag and his schooling. The headmaster then took him under his wing, followed by a parish priest and then the Rotary Club.
His resilience combined with the help of a caring environment enabled him to go on to university.
Educating for change
Steve studied psychology at the University of Nairobi and then did his internship in a remote village on the shores of Lake Victoria (Kenya) with the Rafiki Wa Maendeleo Trust. His role was to look after vulnerable children in the community. He became the first laureate of the slum. He returned there after graduation to open the first Happy Star school in 2016. A better education is the key to escaping the cycle of poverty in the world. Steve wants to provide high-quality pre-school and primary education to help children get a better start in life.
The children of Mathare need your help
We need qualified teachers and appropriate school materials. We also need food for the children. What they eat at school is often all they have for the day.
The children of Mathare need your help
We need qualified teachers and appropriate school materials. We also need food for the children. What they eat at school is often all they have for the day.
Credits to Emmanuel LUYET