Grief is a potent force that can manifest in myriad ways and has the remarkable ability to spur individuals into transformative action. For Joyce Wanjiku Kairu, her journey towards forging a more purposeful and compassionate path began after her mother’s passing from battling colon cancer. 

Grief’s Transformative Force 

Prior to losing her mother, Joyce was at the zenith of her professional life. Years of hard work and dedication had led to her working as the regional project manager at Stanbic Bank in South Africa. When her mother’s health began to decline back in Kenya, Joyce spared no expense in ensuring that her mother received the utmost care. Despite this intentionality, Joyce was absorbed in the demands of her bustling life, only realised the depth of her oversight in the final days before her mother’s passing in 2010. The overwhelming burden of guilt became a catalyst for change, leading Joyce to embark on a mission to honour her mother’s memory by dedicating her life to providing solace and care to other elderly individuals. 

Returning to Roots 

The transition required Joyce to relinquish her lucrative career, a decision met with resistance from her immediate family who perceived it as a monumental mistake. The push back against her decision was also experienced on a bureaucratic level. Joyce encountered challenges in registering the Purity Elderly Care Foundation, where authorities failed to grasp the urgency of such an organization. Traditional African values, although emphasising familial responsibility for the elderly, are at odds with the complexities of modern urban life, leaving many elderly individuals isolated in rural areas. 

Returning to her hometown of Mweiga in Nyeri County, Joyce confronted a community reluctant to accept external aid, viewing it as an intrusion upon familial responsibilities. Undeterred, Joyce spent a year volunteering, utilising personal funds, and meticulously documenting instances of neglect to substantiate the imperative for her work. Only after presenting compelling evidence did she succeed in officially registering Purity Elderly Care. 

 Allies in Compassion 

Early in the foundation’s inception, Joyce identified allies within her community. Rachel Waraki, a dedicated community health volunteer, and Peter Gitonga, a skilled fundi, joined forces with Joyce, forming a formidable core team. Together, they undertake visits to the elderly, distribute supplies, and conduct essential home repairs. Joyce, leveraging her comprehensive knowledge acquired in the banking industry, employs her astute project management skills to secure funds for the organization. The ebb and flow of funding is marked by periods of abundance and scarcity, yet the trio have remained steadfast in their commitment to providing both tangible assistance and emotional support to the elderly. 

Twelve years down the line, Joyce’s unwavering dedication with Purity Elderly Care continues to weave a marked change in the communities she serves. The foundation, propelled by the resilience of its founder and the compassion of its core team, stands as a testament to the transformative power of intentional, purpose-driven action emerging from the depths of grief. 

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