Advancing Integrity and Social Justice through Faith-based Service Learning in Kiambiu, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/ajhece.v1i3.2491Keywords:
service learning , peace, justice, human rights, community engagement, experiential educational theoryAbstract
The Franciscan School of the Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation, Tangaza University, offers a course on peace, justice, and human rights during which students engage with the Kiambiu small Christian communities through five weeks of community engagement service learning from a faith based perspective to implement the theory they learn. The programme includes prayers, Bible study, and reflection on the factors affecting their lives and society. Both formative and summative assessments form the total grade for the course. A study was undertaken with the following objectives: to explore how students of the Franciscan school engage with members of the Kiambiu small Christian communities; to examine issues that affect the socio-economic lives of the Kiambiu small Christian communities; to evaluate socio-political issues that challenge the integrity of the Kiambiu small Christian communities, and to involve the Kiambiu small Christian communities in their rights for a just nation. The methodology for this study is the five-stage pastoral cycle, and the experiential educational theory was used as its framework. The programme targeted 17 small Christian communities with a population of 425. There were 28 students in total. The outcome of the community engagement reveals that both communities and students are enriched and transformed by the experience. The findings highlight that, through community engagement, the Kiambiu small Christian communities’ members work and transform their attitude towards justice, peace, and human rights, improve their economic status, and alleviate their standard of living by starting self-reliance income-generating projects, while the students are transformed intellectually and affectively.
References
Ayejugbagbe, J. S. (2023). Assessment of the characteristics of slum in the core of Akure. Asian Journal of Geographical Research, 6(2), 14–30. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJGR/2023/v6i2179
Bird, J. Montebruno, P, & Regan, T. (2017). Life in a Slum: Understanding living conditions in Nairobi’s slums across time and space. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 33(3), 496–520.
Dewey, J. (2024). Democracy and education (N. Tampio, Ed.). Columbia University Press. (Original work published 1916)
Freire, P. (1970). The Banking Concept of Education. In Pedagogy of the Oppressed, New York: Herder and Herderpp. 53–70.
Gremillion, J. (1992). Young Christian Workers. In Catholic Social Thought: The Documentary Heritage, O’Brien, D. J., & Shannon, T. A. (Eds.). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, pp. 265–270.
Groome, T. H. (2011). Will There Be Faith? A New Vision for Educating and Growing Disciples. HarperOne.
Gutierrez, G. (1973). Liberation, Theology and Proclamation. London: SCM Press.
Hassen, M. Z. (2023). A critical assessment of John Dewey’s philosophy of education. International Journal of Philosophy, 11(2), 28–31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20231102.13
Holland, J. & Henriot, P. (1983). Social Analysis – Linking Faith and Justice. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books.
Kammer, F. (1991). Doing Faithjustice: An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought (pp. 112– 134). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
KCCB-CPIHD-Catholic Justice and Peace Department. (2024). Integrity for a Just Nation, Lenten Campaign 2024. Nairobi: Don Bosco Printing School.
KCCB-CPIHD-Catholic Justice and Peace Department (February, 2017). Kenya: Catholic Bishops Advocate for Peaceful Election. Nairobi: Don Bosco Printing School.
KCCB - Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (September, 2017). Kenya and Regional Conference of Catholic Bishops Discuss Financial Sustainability. Nairobi: KCCB Secretariat.
KCCB - Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2022). Invitation to Hope and Trust in God. The Catholic Mirror. Nairobi: Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)- Commission for Social Communications.
KCCB - Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (7th June 2024). Kenya: Catholic Bishops in Kenya decry Financial Bill 2024, appeal Revisions to protect the vulnerable. Nairobi: AMECEA Social Communications.
Kenya Water Tower Agency (KWTA) (2020). Technical Report on Integrated Water Towers Monitoring Framework for Kenya. Nairobi: Kenya Water Tower Agency.
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB). (2022). Statement on the Impact of Rising Living Costs on Kenyans, pp. 4-6.
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB). (2024). Response to the Financial Bill 2024: Concerns About High Taxes and Living Costs, pp. 7-10.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. (2017). Framework for monitoring realization of the rights to water and sanitation in Kenya. KNCHR. https://www.knchr.org/portals/0/ecosocreports/phe-framework.pdf
Kolb, A. Y. & Kolb, D. A. (2005). Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in Higher Education, Academy of Management Learning & Education, 4(2), pp. 193–212.
Kolb, D. (1984). Experiential learning theory and learning style inventory: A reply to Freedman and Stumpf. Academic of Management Review, 6(2), pp. 289–296.
Marais, N. (2018). Rain must fall – a theological reflection on drought. Acta Theologica. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/3217756600
Nussbaum, M. C. (1997). Cultivating humanity: A classical defense of reform in liberal education. Harvard University Press.
Otieno, M. (2018). The effect of violence on growth and development to children in informal settlement in Kenya: A case study of Kiambiu slums in Nairobi. (Masters of Arts Thesis. Nairobi: University of Africa).
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2005). Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. 3rd Reprint 2012. Nairobi: Paulines Publication Africa.
Pope Benedict XVI. (2009). Encyclical Letter Veritate in Veritate to the Bishops Priests and Deacons, Men and Women and all People of Good Will on Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth. Rome: Libreria Vaticana.
Pope Francis. (2015). Laudato si’: on care for our common home: Encyclical letter. Huntington, In Our Sunday Visitor.
Pope John Paul II (1995). Evangelium Vitae: To the Bishops, Priests and Deacons and Women religious, lay Faithful and all People of Good Will on the Value and Inviolability of Human Life. Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope John Paul II. (1971). Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus: Encyclical Letter on the Human Person at the Center of Society. Nairobi: St. Paul Publications – Africa.
Pope Paul VI, (1971). Apostolic Letter of Paul VI on the New Social Problems: Octogesima Adveniens. Nairobi: St. Paul Publication.
Renato, M. (2003). Water, an Essential Element for Life. Pontifical Council for Peace. Rome. https://www.vatican.va justice>document
Resch, K. & Schrittesser, I. (2023). Using the Service-Learning approach to bridge the gap between theory and practice in teacher education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 27(10), pp. 1118–1132.
Sen, A. (2003). Development as Capability Expansion. Readings in Human Development: Concepts, Measures and Policies for a Development Paradigm, In Fukuda-Parr, S., Kumar, A. K. &. Moudud, J. K. (Eds.), New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 41–58.
Shibia, A. (2023). Kenya’s cost of living crisis: expert unpacks what’s driving it and what should be done. The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). Nairobi: The Conversation.
Shibia, M. (2023). The rising cost of living in Kenya: A comprehensive analysis (pp. 12–15). Nairobi: Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), pp. 12–15.
Turner, F. (2013). Water in Catholic Social teaching. Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care. Ecojesuit.com/water-in-catholic-social-teaching/
United Nations (2002). United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, CESCR No. 15 (2002).
United Nation-Water. (2021). Human rights to water and sanitation. SGD 6 Progress Report. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights-water-and-sanitation
Wafula, C., Wangui, L., Matara, E., Koskei, M., Misiko, H., Mwangi, W., Mkanyika, L., Oudia, R., Kimuyu, H., Nambeka, J., Obara, V., Munene, G. and Jaola, E. (2024, June 20). Kenya’s anti-tax demos spread across cities and towns. The East African. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/kenya-anti-tax-demos-spreadacross-cities-and-towns-4663784
Wangari, M. M. (2018). Factors influencing the effectiveness of donor-funded projects in improving sanitation in informal settlements: A case of fresh life toilet project in Kiambiu slum. (Master of Arts Thesis. Nairobi: University of Nairobi).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sr. Margaret Aringo, Odhiambo Kevin Odongo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
