Profile-Pauline Kirubi (08-1007)

MOTHER TO MANY

Finally the long awaited day had come. I felt anxious throughout the morning hours for the interview was to be held in the afternoon at 3.30pm. It was at her office that I would meet with the lady known to many as ‘mum’. At my arrival, her office was crowded, busy and noisy. I could hear her small soft voice talking to the students who carelessly interrupted her amid sentence to give their view and they would all laugh out loud. They even used the generation Y language known to many as ‘sheng’. This made me relax and smile to myself. With my interview questions at hand, I paced up and down the corridor wondering how to approach this great lady who just received an award for the best lecturer in Community Development department and another for the best lecturer overall for the seventh time. The day I went to request her for an interview, she did not hesitate. “Come tomorrow at 3.30pm, I will support you”. She said.

The students finally came out noisily but some still remained inside. The door was open so I peeped and our eyes met. “Just come in, are you ready?” she asked me. Without giving me a chance to answer, she offered me a sit. She finished with those that were still inside as I waited. I noticed that they were fetching green liquid soap from a bucket and realized that it was the one she had taught us to make in our Extension Education class. This was the second class I was taking with her. I also remembered that she had been my small group leader the previous semester. When preparing the questions I would ask, I realized that I had answers to almost all questions I came up with and as we were getting settled to start, I told her so. “It is because I am very self revealing especially in my classes” she told me.

Mrs. Odima starting her computer

Mrs. Mabel Odima is a mother of too many and not just her four beautiful daughters.

“I came to Daystar University in the year 1999 as an Assistant lecturer in the Community Development department. I was a part time lecturer for six years”.

During this time, she would go to patience hostel and counsel several girls for this is her passion. “I would go looking for them, knocking on their doors just to offer help. One day as I was taking a walk around the campus, I saw an empty house and I decided that I would apply as a full time lecturer and as a resident tutor. That was in 2005. A year later, I joined Daystar fully and moved in with my family”.

I cannot help but notice Mrs. Odima’s passion for the work she does. It comes out through her voice, her actions and her eyes. I have also observed that Mrs. Odima relates very well with the international students. Being in a foreign country with no one to run to, she tells me that her house is always open to everyone day and night. So whenever they have a problem, they go to her and she gladly helps them out. “One day, a student came to me at 3am in the morning and told me that she needs to be at the airport before 5am since that was the time her flight was to leave. I woke my husband up and requested him to take the girl for at that time it would have been tricky to call a taxi” she remembers.

Apart from working as a lecturer, she also works with various communities as a social worker. She has worked in Korogocho, Lungalunga, Ngándu, Mathare, Huruma and Soweto Kayole slums. “Soweto was my best” she says. “When I lost my mother, those that I had interacted with in Soweto hired two big buses just to come and see me. I was greatly touched. When I asked them why they did this, they told me they were simply giving back what I had given to them.”

In these communities, she has taught many, imparting them with skills like making home made soap which is very easy to make and its ingredients are very affordable. She makes it together with them teaching them step by step and even goes to the extent of helping them to sell it. Through this, many are able to make a living and even educate their children.

She has also taught the communities how to care for those infected with HIV/AIDS especially those that are bed ridden. She visits them and cleans their houses, cooks for them, encourages them and gives them some love until they stand up on their two feet again.

Mrs. Odima in her office

In her soft voice, Mabel continues to tell me that all this began in a church where a pastor called her name and prophesied over her life. From that day, it has never been the same again. Carine Basimaki a third year Congolese student describes Mabel as the kindest person she has ever met. “There are several times that I go through tough times like lack of food. But this does not worry me for I go straight to her kitchen and serve myself”. She says.

Carol Mwende a development student too describes her as caring, loving and hospitable. “When you go to her with a problem, she does not sympathize with you. Instead, she empathies with you and does not stop at that. She goes on and helps you solve your problem and mind you she does a follow up too”.

Her hobbies are worshiping and playing the guitar. “Whenever am alone or am feeling low, I take my guitar, lock my door and worship Jesus for He is my all”. In her classes, she always has a session for devotions and there are times she carries her guitar and sings to the students her favorite song, ‘Let your daddy listen’.

She teaches practically while sharing her experiences with so much energy and vigor making actions with the whole of her body which makes them funny and lively.

To conclude the interview, I take several pictures of her which she pauses to very serenely and politely. “Am very camera shy by the way” she says.  For the recording, we do it twice for she is very soft spoken and I can hardly hear her. “Then how come you manage to shout so much in class for three hours?” I ask. On a light note, she tells me “It only happens after anointing and praying for myself before class”.

Tranquil pose from Mabel Odima in her office