Blue Cross in Mathare was started in 2005 when Pastor
John Sadera, who was earlier introduced to Blue Cross by
Paul Munguti of Blue Cross in Mtito Andei, attended a
seminar in Mtito Andei together with 4 other people from
Mathare. Sadera became the chairman of Blue Cross
in Mathare, and later also the vice chairman of Blue
Cross Nairobi Self Help Group.
The centre in Mathare has about 12 registered members
per March 2008, and 10 affiliated groups. Pastor
Sadera is the chairman and works with a board of 7
people.
In the first Blue Cross seminar in Mathare, Dr
Klaus Richter from Germany was the fascilitator. On the
picture, we see Pastor Sadera in the middle. The centre
in Mathare has organised several seminars targeting women,
youth and old men who are affected by alcoholism, and wants to
create awareness with a message of hope.
One of the Blue Cross
objectives is to network and collaborate with other likeminded
organisations. It was in that capacity Pastor Sadera
attended a stakeholder workshop at Lake Baringo Hotel,
organised by NACADA. A lot was discussed, and the
seminar was an eye-opener with challenging thoughts. We
agreed to work together in helping reduce addiction in our
nation. In the picture we see Pastor John Sadera to the
right, chatting with the former NACADA coordinator Joseph
Kaguthi.
In the effort of
uniformity, Blue Cross - Kenya organised a national seminar at
Diguna in 2006 as a way of making sure that all members use
the same approaches when it comes to counselling and handling
the addicts. The seminar was well attended with
representatives from Daystar Universuty, Freedom from
Addiction, the Diguna staff and others. The key speakers
were Dr Klaus Richter, Martin Mischnic, Kwame (from Nairobi
CBD/Embakasi), Pastor Sadera, James Oindo (from Kisumu) and
Benter Ndeda (national chairperson Blue Cross). After 4
days of intensive learning, the members staged a demonstration
against addiction at Ongata Rongai shopping centre.
