Appreciating Mwanzo's Teachers!
What makes a great teacher? At Mwanzo, it’s not just what happens in the classroom—it’s the heart behind it. This Mwanzo Story, we’re shining a light on four folks who go above and beyond every single day.
There’s Teacher Tobias, running tech lessons by day and Scout drills by afternoon. Teacher Jababu, who’s raising future farmers and confident performers. Teacher Kevin, who brings quiet strength and structure to his Grade 3 class. And Pamela, our school therapist, holding space for students, caregivers, and whole families to heal.
These are the people shaping more than lessons—they’re shaping lives.
Teacher Spotlight: Teacher Tobias Okoth
From the banks of Lake Victoria to the front of the ICT lab, Teacher Tobias’s journey is one of perseverance and purpose. After a childhood shaped by loss, displacement, and hardship, Tobias set his sights on rewriting the narrative for himself and his community. Today, he teaches ICT to students in grades 4 through 9, using technology as a tool for empowerment and opportunity.
But his impact stretches well beyond the computer room. Teacher Tobias is the vibrant heartbeat behind the Mwanzo Scouts program, where he teaches students discipline, survival skills, and teamwork. Under his guidance, the Scouts have not only excelled in competitions but have also become role models on campus—raising the flag, providing first aid, and leading environmental conservation efforts. With over 40 active scouts and growing, the club has become a core leadership pipeline within the school.
He also mentors The Reading Land of Cisticola Community, a birding and conservation club that connects students to the environment and to one another. And if that weren’t enough, Tobias runs the school music studio, training young learners in sound production and creativity. His commitment to mentorship, skill-building, and joy makes him an irreplaceable presence at Mwanzo.
Teacher Spotlight: Teacher Jababu Ochieng
Teacher Jababu Ochieng is one of those educators who carries more than a lesson plan—he carries vision. Known for his infectious energy, deep subject mastery, and signature laugh that echoes through the campus, Jababu is a pillar in Mwanzo’s teaching family. His classroom is a space where Science, Math, and Agriculture come alive—not through lectures alone, but through real-life applications that meet students where they are.
At the heart of his work is the Poultry Club—a student-run initiative that is turning young learners into entrepreneurs. Under Jababu’s guidance, students take charge of everything from daily chicken care to feed planning and hygiene rotation schedules. They’re not just learning about poultry—they’re learning accountability, time management, and what it means to contribute to something bigger than themselves. The club has impacted families, too, with learners bringing home skills that boost income and nutrition in their households.
But Jababu’s reach goes even further. As head of the Music & Drama department, he helps students find their voice—literally. Whether it's through preparing for performances, coaching vocal delivery, or introducing the magic of stage presence, he creates space for expression and confidence-building. His ability to move fluidly between the science lab, the coop, and the stage speaks to the kind of multidimensional mentorship students at Mwanzo are lucky to receive.
Jababu is more than a teacher—he’s a cultivator of talent, a motivator, and a community educator. His impact stretches far beyond any syllabus.
Teacher Spotlight: Teacher Kevin Michael Otieno
Joining Mwanzo Education Center in January 2020, Teacher Kevin Michael Otieno quickly made a lasting impression with his quiet strength, humility, and determination. Originally from Kano—about 40 miles from Rabuor—Teacher Kevin was raised by his maternal grandmother after losing both parents at a young age. Despite the odds, he pursued education with unwavering focus, working odd jobs to save money for college while caring for his aging grandfather, who is now partially blind and in poor health.
Kevin completed his training at Asumbi Teachers Training College in 2018 and began teaching at a small school in Kisumu, commuting daily and earning just enough to get by. That experience deepened his love for teaching and shaped his hope of one day working in a supportive, student-centered environment. In late 2019, he heard about Mwanzo from a friend, applied, and was selected among four top candidates to join the team.
Now the Grade 3 teacher, Teacher Kevin also supports the school’s library and store systems and is a steady presence in environmental and student leadership clubs. Reflecting on his first week, he shared: “The classrooms and building are so beautiful, when I visited here, I thought I was at a college... Mwanzo seems to have a strong team spirit and teachers are supportive. I hope things continue the same.”
With his journey rooted in service and self-sacrifice, Teacher Kevin brings care, structure, and compassion to the classroom each day. His presence is a true gift to the Mwanzo community.
Spotlight: Pamela Madhira
This spotlight is all about care that extends beyond the classroom. Education is about growing the whole child, and wellness plays a huge part in that journey. We’re proud to feature Pamela Madhira, who is walking with students, staff, and families through some of life’s most tender moments—with strength, skill, and steady presence.
As Mwanzo’s lead psychological therapist and head of the Mental Health Department, Pamela has expanded care to over 100 students and dozens of community members, offering therapy, crisis support, family reunification services, and mental health education to one of the most underserved regions in Kisumu County. When tragedy struck Rabuor village, Pamela led urgent counseling responses for children and families, helping restore emotional safety through classroom-based support and group therapy sessions.
In her outreach across Rabuor and neighboring villages, Pamela leads family counseling for widows and single caregivers, many of whom face discrimination and isolation. She’s also partnered with the Proud Farmers Group to offer mental health support that’s improving school performance and strengthening family bonds. From caregivers, to the Proud Farmers Group, to children facing abandonment or abuse. In every instance, she provides tools for resilience, dignity, and healing
Pamela is also laying the foundation for a future safe space for children in distress and dreams of hosting a holistic residential Bible camp for youth—focused on mentorship, faith, and practical life skills. Her work, anchored in faith and advocacy, embodies what it means to serve the whole child and the whole community.
Through her faith and fierce dedication, Teacher Pamela is bringing hope to places many would overlook. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing is as vital to learning as any lesson plan—and that true education means caring for the whole child, in body, mind, and spirit.