Introduction
My name is Mrs. Emmah Karuana Muriithi. I am a professional Sociologist, Social Worker and Psychological and Addiction counselor. I have more than seven years of experience in this field and this has given me a great encounter with many difficult situations in the families and in the community. Some of those desperate cases urged me to give to those in need even the little food left in my own house. The case of Ryan below is just one among very many cases and situations that have driven me to opening the foundation with great desire to do even more to the people with and in the community.
Story of the Founder
One day as I walked along Makuyu Market in Muranga County, I came across a very wounded, bleeding, dirty and hungry boy called Ryan(Not the real Name). Ryan is a boy born by a single mother and grew up in a very violent family. He could be beaten often by the mother who had her personal issues. Ryan developed an epileptic problem due to much beating, sleeping hungry and being neglected. Ryan was a bright boy in school but since he developed epileptic condition he could not continue with his studies. His mother who was unstable financially could not help much. Hence Brian resulted to walking along Muranga Makuyu road, and going to various institutions and in the neighborhoods begging for food.
When I met Ryan in Makuyu Market was crying very painfully and was breeding on the head, for head, lips and both arms had many wounds. He was seated on a veranda outside a hotel. I didn’t know Ryan, this was my first encounter with him. I felt so sad and I just could withhold just to find out how he was doing. I greeted Ryan and I asked him what his name was, he told me he was hungry. I asked Ryan what he wanted to eat and he told me to buy him some cooked rice and beans. I entered the hotel and asked the cateress to serve Ryan some food. I asked her if she could give Brian somewhere to sit inside but she told me she couldn’t allow him inside because he was so wounded. I gave Brian food outside the Hotel on the veranda and I Ryan thanked me and asked God to bless me. I prayed with Ryan and left him eat.
Ryan was a center of interest to many people who saw him but they could only stare at him. This really disturbed my heart and challenged me. I asked myself what is really different from me and Ryan. What good have I done to God to give me a stable family, a place to eat and sleep. Is there anything that Ryan did to deserve such a life since childhood? This made me realize that the needy people are there for me to meet Jesus in them. Matt25: 31-40.
Life of Ryan changed my way of viewing life and has given birth to Joyful Sound Foundation. Just to make a despairing, rejected and frustrated person in the community find a reason to smile again, regain her or his Joy a world that all of us desire to live in.