The following post was written by CMETrust Alumni Emmanuel Otieno. We are grateful for his permission to reshare it here. 

Have you ever wondered what it means to serve your own community?

Here is where my journey began.

I was born and raised in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s most vibrant and resilient communities. If you know it, you know it’s a place full of energy, character, struggle, and somehow joy. Growing up, we learned how to navigate toxic flooded trenches (mitaro) like ninjas, and still make it to school looking sharp. But beyond the hustle, Mathare taught me how to dream, and that dream took shape when I got a scholarship from Canada-Mathare Education Trust (CMETrust)to attend high school.

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Have you ever wondered what it means to serve your own community?

Here is where my journey began.

I was born and raised in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s most vibrant and resilient communities. If you know it, you know it’s a place full of energy, character, struggle, and somehow joy. Growing up, we learned how to navigate toxic flooded trenches (mitaro) like ninjas, and still make it to school looking sharp. But beyond the hustle, Mathare taught me how to dream, and that dream took shape when I got a scholarship from Canada-Mathare Education Trust (CMETrust)to attend high school.

I still remember sitting across from a team of panelists, Titus Kuria, the ED & CMETrust co-founder, during my scholarship interview. He looked at me kindly and asked, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Then came the kicker: “And how will you give back to the community?” Me?😂 I had dreams, but I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I mumbled something about becoming an engineer or pilot (the go-to answers back then), but that second question stuck with me. It echoed in every school term and followed me like a shadow every time I came home for the holidays.

Not Just School Fees.

To be clear, CMETrust didn’t just help with school fees and staying in school. No, these people went deeper. During every school holiday, we were invited for what I now call the “Real Curriculum.”

They brought in facilitators, career coaches, self-awareness trainers, and even mentors, people who challenged us to think about who we are and who we wanted to become. We talked vision, purpose, and life skills. Let me tell you, by the time I finished Form Four, I could pitch my life goals better than most job seekers on LinkedIn.

I also met fellow scholars who, like me, carried stories of struggle, resilience, and hope. Have you met Victoria Ochieng? Check her out. Those sessions helped me see that giving back didn’t have to wait for a degree, a title, or a big salary. It starts with a mindset and sometimes with helping the next person in line.

While many people talk about “serving the community” like it's a distant idea, CMETrust made it real for us. We were being molded not just as students but as future leaders and changemakers. I didn’t have to wait until I was 30 with a title and a tie, I could start right then, even in small ways.

Looking back, I realize that scholarship didn’t just change where I studied, it changed howI saw myself. It taught me that being from Mathare doesn’t mean your impact ends there; it means your story begins.

So why am I sharing this?

Because, that question Tito asked, “How will you give back to the community?” has shaped every decision I’ve made since. And if you're reading this wondering how to start your own journey of impact, trust me: it doesn’t take much. Just one opportunity, one mentor, or one voice telling you, “You can do it.”

For me, CMETrust was that voice.

Stay tuned for Part 2.