How I Found My Passion Early Through Village HopeCore and Never Looked Back
My name is Anita Kanana and am 25 years old. I currently work with Village HopeCore International as a nurse, and it was only after a long search and investigation of my passions that I came to be where I am today. I first learned of Village HopeCore through a relative in 2010. I started working as a volunteer receptionist at that time. This was just after my O-level completion, whereby I earned high marks.
Every time I look back I say to myself that sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it. Taking you back to my story as a volunteer receptionist, I was a young naive girl, without implying any negative connotation. I had the desire to pursue a lot of things in my mind, though I was not sure of the exact thing that would match my spiritual, physical, and emotional desires and fears.
Working as a volunteer receptionist gave me a lot of experience, without even undergoing any course on secretarial or receptionist studies. I had several responsibilities, such as cleaning, photocopying, and data entry, among others. I truly enjoyed my job. Life is found in the dance between your deepest desire and your greatest fear. In the back of my mind, I held a deep admiration for the public health department, but I was not sure about the path I could take to work with them. Luckily enough, a new day dawned in 2012. I saw the light after being beckoned to join the Public Health Department as a Data Clerk. This was a positive gesture to me and I said to myself, “I will actively participate in my dreams today since there are unlimited opportunities available with this new day.” I always remind myself that success is something you experience when you act accordingly.
I believed I was up to the new role and took the bull by the horns. Again, reminding myself daily that it is my attitude at the beginning of a difficult task that, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome. Putting uncommon effort into the new task was my day-to-day activity. During this time, I did clerical work and attended a loan collection meeting and home visits. It was in this new role that I had the opportunity to interact with our nurse, Winjoy Micheni. I envied how she carried herself within the organization and her inspirational stories about why she chose to be a nurse. I began to have a special interest in her career and she really motivated me to join the nursing school, though there was this monster that kept on holding me back…financial constraints.
And as they say, “If an opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” I eventually became more confident and shared my story with the HopeCore President, Dr. KK. Mugambi. I explained to him that I had serious financial constraints and could not afford fees for nursing college, though it was my passion. With the support of Village HopeCore through paying half of my college fees, I was able to join Clive Irvine Nursing School at PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital in 2012. The offer to support me was completely unexpected to me, but believe me, a woman who walks with God will always reach her destination. I am truly indebted to HopeCore for this support, and motivation, and for being part of my journey.
The journey of the Nursing School began and without turning my back on the organization that made it a success. I still worked with HopeCore as a Youth Peer Provider. This was an uphill task for me, balancing my studies and volunteer position, but God gave me the grace to succeed. Studying nursing became my passion and loved every bit of medical management, in all areas including pediatrics, surgical, obstetrics, psychiatry, community health nursing, reproductive health, research proposal writing, data collection, data management, and presentation skills. Meanwhile, I worked as a peer educator in the Youth Peer Provider program, which improved the range of my experience in both nursing and other skills. I educated the youths on behavior change communication, sexual reproductive health, and life skills among others. This gave me different perceptions and attitudes on how I handled my clients even, in the hospital setup.
Within no time I was done with my nursing school in 2015, having worked hard to achieve the best. Like it is a dream for everyone, whenever you are now educated, you need to secure a good job and stand as an independent person. Again, fears crept into my mind, but I would not set my bar any lower with the determination that I had in search of a job. Luckily, favor followed me all the way and there was this vacancy that was advertised at HopeCore, and I had better chances of getting the job having worked with them for quite some good time.
Although I still had to undergo the formal application process, I was confident I would be selected. I submitted my formal application, was shortlisted, participated in the interview process, and then crossed my fingers. Within no time, I got the good news that I had been hired as a Community Health Nurse. This was a turnaround of my life, and I was all smiles, after the heartaches of sleepless nights of study, the helter-skelter of exams, and the practicals in school, as I began a new chapter as an employed lady. My greatest appreciations come here. When all is said and done I can honestly say that I have met the best people in my life through Village HopeCore. All salutations to you guys, you have been a pillar in my life. Many challenges have come my way but I thank you for standing with me and your encouragement. With you, I have proudly stood up and overcome all the pitfalls in my life.
Thanks to Dr. KK Mugambi you are just from a special breed; you are an amazing man with no boundaries of discrimination. I thank you for being a friend in my career life. I am grateful for the opportunity you accorded me at HopeCore. I will always remember the commitment and kindness you expressed in assisting me in my career. I pray that God may rejuvenate your passion for life and generosity in assisting others in the world. To everyone else who has touched my life in a positive way, I thank you so much.