Ambrose

Birthday: August 28, 1983

My Journey with Thrive

Ambrose

After finishing high school, I was figuring out what would be my next move and was looking for something to do in my life. I tried so many things, including burning charcoal, working as a room steward in hotels and working in peoples’ gardens to earn some money. In the year 2006, my mum received an opportunity to attend training on organic farming at the Manor House Agricultural Center. When she came back she shared with me about it and I was interested to do a 2 year course at the college. At that time my parents didn’t have money for the school fees, but a good samaritan came and paid the fees for me to attend the college. During the time that I was in school, I felt that I had passion for working with my community and I started thinking of how I could start a community based organization to be training people on how to grow food organically after I finish the course. As I was about to finish the course, the founder of Thrive, Mr. Dale Bolton, had come to the same training college and I happened to meet with him. We did share about our stories and Dale requested me to be part of his vision because we found that we had the same ideas. After my graduation, which was in 2008, he assigned me to go to start the first project in Maasai land in a place called Kajiado. I worked there for 8 months and went back to my home area where I continued to set up projects and trained the community. Dale was much interested in my work and he suggested to me that it would be good for me to do a Discipleship Course and after that I could become the school director. After doing my DTS in 2013, I was promoted to be the school director where I fully took the position in 2014. To date, I still hold the position and I thank Dale, Linda and the entire board for the trust they have put in me and am happy to be working with Thrive. It’s a much-involving position with intensive training and managing all training activities, but I thank God for the strength, knowledge and wisdom that He has granted me to this far.

What is your favourite vegetable?

I love beetroots so much. I enjoy eating them raw. When I walk around the garden, I often search for beetroots, pick and wash them. I also cut it into small pieces and add them in a glass of water and drink as a tea. I love the taste and colour. Beetroots are good for cleaning the small intestines.

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is the knowledge I have acquired in my lifetime which has made me be who I am today. Being the first in the community to practice organic farming has given me respect from my community and to my family who is very proud of me. I look forward to giving out this knowledge to the entire world. I will leave a mark in their lives.

If you could visit anywhere in the world you’ve never been, where would you go?

I have been admiring to visit any country outside Kenya where this gospel of growing health has not reached. I was to disseminate it to people by training and helping them to eradicate poverty, kick out diseases and curing food insecurity.

What is your favourite quote?

“He can who thinks he can, and he can’t who thinks he can’t”

– Orison Swett Marden

What is your favourite family tradition?

One of the traditions of my family is that we have created all vacations, i.e April, August and December, During this time we meet up with everyone and have fun together, share stories and encourage each other. Besides this, we are a Christian family and every evening we have prayer items which we pray for. I am very proud of my family.