1. EARLY YEARS IN KOROGOCHO: A GLIMPSE INTO ADVERSITY
Hassan’s demeanor exudes a sense of tranquility that belies the tumultuous nature of his early life. Born into a family with a single mother and seven siblings, Hassan faced the harsh realities of life in Korogocho from a tender age. Without financial stability, he became a hawker, selling milk to sustain his family. The struggle for daily sustenance was compounded by a lack of new clothes, limited access to quality food, and the harsh truth that the hope for a different life seemed distant.
In reflecting on those challenging times, Hassan candidly speaks about hopelessness and low self-esteem. He paints a vivid picture of his early life when asked about the specific changes he experienced while living in Korogocho and how those experiences shaped his worldview.
“I grew up with a single mother and had seven siblings. I became a hawker at a very young age, selling milk to survive. I was part of the family business, I used to help my mum out. Some of my customers were my classmates. We didn’t have the privilege of new clothes. Although we never slept hungry, eating good food like meat was rare.”
2. ASPIRATIONS AMIDST ADVERSITY: THE DREAM OF BECOMING A LAWYER
Despite the challenging circumstances, Hassan held onto a dream. His only aspiration during those tumultuous years was to become a lawyer. Endowed with a gift for words, he often out-mouthed his older brother, which often resulted in fights. Besides that, he did not have other ambitions, given their living conditions. It was his grandmother who, with unwavering encouragement, planted the seed of hope within him.
“Walking barefoot today does not prevent you from wearing shoes tomorrow,” she would say.
Although Hassan, like many young people in similar circumstances, could not foresee his future, the encouragement from his grandmother and mother kept the flame of ambition alive.
The struggles Hassan faced significantly influenced his aspirations and dreams. Living in conditions where the basics were a luxury, he admits,
“I cannot say I dreamt much, but my grandmother’s encouragement and my mom’s as well kept me going. I did not for once think I would be where I am today.”
3. A BOND WITH GRANDMOTHER: RESILIENCE AND LOVE
Hassan shared an intimate connection with his grandmother, a woman of intelligence and grit. Despite lacking formal education, she ran a fully operational shop, handling money with a keen eye for business. She embodied toughness and love equally as a mediator between Hassan and his mother.
Hassan’s admiration for his grandmother extends beyond her ability to navigate familial dynamics; it encompasses her strength in adversity.
4. EDUCATIONAL HURDLES: NAVIGATING THE PATH TO KNOWLEDGE
The educational journey was riddled with obstacles. When Hassan’s elder brother, a father figure in his life, was arrested, it dealt a severe blow to the family. Raised without a father, Hassan’s brother had been his mentor, teaching him life’s essentials and guiding him through the intricacies of growing up. The arrest prompted Hassan to embark on a tireless fundraising campaign for his brother’s release, and although the required bond was only 3,000 shillings, the family could not raise it.
The financial strain extended to school fees, a perpetual challenge for Hassan’s mother, who struggled to provide for the family’s basic needs. He trekked a long distance to school, and books were challenging, forcing him to walk further to his friend’s house to complete assignments. The introduction of free primary education in 2003 brought hope, ensuring Hassan’s ability to achieve his national exams.
The financial burden persisted even in high school, where his fees were a modest 2,500 shillings, which the family could still not afford. He cleared high school with arrears, which meant he did not get his certificates on time; his high school principal had to write him a letter to indicate to potential bosses that he had been a student and had finished his national exams.
5. EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Post-high school, community-based organizations came through for Hassan. Joining as a volunteer, he rose through the ranks, contributing at the grassroots, provincial, and national levels. Hassan found educational support and a platform to give back to the community through these organizations. Volunteering became a means of interchange for Hassan, who had experienced firsthand the transformative impact of community support on his journey.
6. MAINTAINING RESILIENCE: FAMILY AS THE UNYIELDING PILLAR
Through the trials and tribulations, Hassan’s family emerged as the unyielding pillar of resilience. His mother, the only surviving sibling among six, had herself faced the loss of her father at a young age. Her mother, widowed and left with only one child out of six, leaned towards Hassan’s mother for support. Together, they had endured all the trials and tribulations. For a significant period, the family consisted solely of Hassan’s mother and grandmother. Despite their challenges, the family remained the glue that held them together.
7. ENTREPRENEURIAL ROOTS: LESSONS FROM MOTHER’S BUSINESS ACUMEN
Hassan’s entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in his mother’s enterprising background. A businesswoman who thrived in multiple ventures, including a roadside food kiosk selling milk and sweet potatoes, Hassan’s mother navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship with resilience. Unable to afford hired help, her children became her helpers, learning the essential negotiation and bargaining skills from a young age.
By age eight, Hassan had his customers, a testament to his early exposure to business dynamics. His mother’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances left an indelible mark on Hassan.
“When the milk market crashed, my mom opened a kiosk and prepared ready-to-eat meals. She was, in fact, the first woman in our locality to start selling rice in a food kiosk,” he shares.
Instead of succumbing to adversity, Hassan’s mother demonstrated the art of adaptation and survival, lessons that would shape Hassan’s entrepreneurial journey in the years to come.
8. INSPIRATION FOR HOUSE OF HOPE: A WORKSHOP THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The genesis of House of Hope, Hassan’s initiative for positive change in the community, traces back to a transformative workshop. A chance encounter with a motivational speaker who had overcome significant challenges ignited a spark within Hassan. The speaker’s story, one of struggle and perseverance, resonated deeply with Hassan, inspiring him to delve into peer training on issues like drug and alcohol abuse. It was during this period that Hassan discovered the power of motivational speaking.
9. BALANCING PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS: A MULTIFACETED JOURNEY
Balancing the roles of a journalist, professional motivational speaker, and serial entrepreneur is no small feat for Hassan. The intricacies of juggling professional pursuits with family life present unique challenges. Hassan acknowledges the difficulty but underscores the importance of being fully present in each role.
“When with family, it’s about my family, and when working, it is all about work,” he affirms.
He notes that the struggle prevents one realm’s intrusion into the other. Hassan attributes the principles of his religion, Islam, as a guiding force that facilitates balance across the various facets of his life.
