- Visits to deprived neighborhoods like Mathare made him see first-hand the walls poverty can erect, blocking children from achieving their ambitions
- They decided to pool resources and mobilise other friends to help rehabilitate a school
Aged just 8 years, Yimenghan Liu came to Kenya from China in 2008, with his mother and fell in love with the country.
He also developed a passion for lending a hand to poor learners in slums.
For 16 years, Liu has been mobilising resources from China to help lighten the path to the future for the children from deprived backgrounds.
Now co-leading an organisation that serves free breakfast and lunch to over 4,000 children in primary schools in Mathare, Liu ensures the learners remain in school.
His mother, now retired, was a businesswoman who dealt in exporting and importing goods.
Liu pursued his undergraduate degree at USIU, where he teamed up with friends to volunteer at a primary school in the slum.
Their visits to deprived neighborhoods like Mathare made him see first-hand the walls poverty can erect, blocking children from achieving their ambitions.
They decided to pool resources and mobilise other friends to help rehabilitate a school.
“We raised Sh1 million to help repair their school infrastructure so that the kids could have better facilities while studying,” he told the Star from Mathare on Wednesday.
That was in 2014.
They named the institution Chang Rong Light Centre Elementary School.
Adventurous and compassionate, Liu did not know that this would birth a fully-fledged entity that promotes access to education.
Together with his friend Yin Binbin, they created the Dream Building Service Association.
The non-profit entity harnesses resources from donors and well-wishers to invest in lives of the young children.
DBSA gives scholarships to the needy, provides free meals and carries out activities to ensure that the children find school-going fun.
Liu's motivation was born from seeing the children struggle.
They had worn out reading materials and developed eye problems from straining to read at night with little light.
At playtime, they used footballs cobbled from polythene bags and played near sewages.
“When you see that, you become heartbroken,” he said.
Through partnerships, the lobby has reached 30 schools in the slum.
Dropout rates have declined and children look forward to being in school.
The organisation, that is active in Mathare and other places in Kenya, is also registered in Tanzania and Uganda.
“DBSA has grown organically to include board members, staff and volunteers located across Canada, China, the United States and Britain. We are looking for great people who truly wants to make a real difference in the world,” Liu, who is the director, said.
On Wednesday, the organisation engaged children from different schools participate in a talent extravaganza at Heidemarie Primary School in Mathare.
Activities included dancing, singing, acting, modelling and football.
“These kids are talented and only want opportunity. That is why we host this jamboree every year to encourage them that as they pursue their formal education, they can also explore their talents and have fun while at it.”