A Ruben Easter Basket with the Mukuru community

Easter Basket celebrations added vibrance to the Ruben Centre and School grounds on 16 March 2021, in the Mukuru kwa Ruben settlement. The Ruben Centre fraternity hosted the Easter Basket event and involved the Mukuru community in reflecting upon the values of loving one another.

The celebration occurred with a lot of pomp in light of the pupils closing school on 19 March 2021, to pave way for the national examinations to begin. Oodles of people streamed into the venue to celebrate alongside the young and ambitious children of Mukuru.

The direct Mukuru community was entertained to songs of praise by scouts, dancers, gymnasts, learners, staff, volunteers and alumni of both the Ruben Centre and Ruben School. The Mukuru community struggles through a myriad of challenges which threaten their sense of community such as unemployment, a lack of access to food and water, and internal conflicts.

However, this sense of community is amply being restored through glorious occasions such as the Easter Basket. Spreading messages of love, hope and servanthood in addressing human suffering was central to this year’s Easter Basket event. Other services in the social, health, economic and education factions of Ruben Centre play a pivotal role in empowering the Mukuru community.

Gymnasts perform antics at the Easter Basket.

The empowerment is geared towards safeguarding the vulnerable people in Mukuru against further harm caused by lacking social and economic safety nets. This effort is facilitated by donations, sponsorships and awards from philanthropic personalities and organizations.

The Ruben fraternity is especially grateful to the donations shared from corporates which facilitated the issuance of an ‘Easter Basket’ containing household goodies to parents with children admitted to the Ruben School.

As the Ruben fraternity is pegged to the catholic faith, members of the Ruben administration actualized the symbolic washing of the feet by cleaning the feet of special children, national exam candidates, to extend love and care. This act was followed by more entertainment from the Ruben Orchestra, the gymnastics, an Abagusii song and other live performances.

Loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds and soul, and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves are vital acts of kindness to reflect towards Easter Monday. Furthermore, with love being a general practice towards the social life of Mukuru residents, a just and empowered Mukuru is achievable.

A list of contents of the Easter Basket.

Written by Stephen Tengo.