My name is Dorcus Kangu Andati, the founder of Mombasa Rays of Hope Women Project, born and raised in Kenya. For a long time, I wondered what life is. I ask myself this question many times, but as I near the “answer,” I get even more confused. I’ve met well-to-do dwellers telling me life is hard, just like the answers from the less fortunate.

Do we really need to be rich or poor to have a meaningful life? What should we achieve to live fully? Many die before discovering their purpose. This question means different things to each of us.

If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live

Martin Luther King, Jr.

“People give rise to people.” This is the truth I’ve come to realize. That’s why I’ve devoted my life to serving humanity. It’s the most fulfilling thing I do. It makes my life whole.

Walking through Likoni and Mombasa slums, one wonders: when did the rain start beating us? Who is really to blame? Society? Government? Our actions? An increasing number of vulnerable children, school dropouts, early pregnancies, drug abuse, widows, HIV, disabilities, social crimes, and environmental injustices are on the rise.

It’s no coincidence that these issues plague Kenya while most turn a blind eye. The root causes include lack of awareness, skills, reproductive health education, and neglect of the vulnerable.