Urban Heroes #2: Dumpsite manager John and his church without borders

"We have an 85-year-old blind man who has been living in a small tipi on the dumpsite almost his entire life. Unable to walk, unable to sustain himself. Without the help of John, who brings him milk and bread almost every day, this old man wouldn’t be alive."

Cities are made by people. People build cities and destroy them. People come to work in cities, to chase their dreams or to chase others. Together with thousands or millions, we as people live closely together and shape our cities through our everyday lives. How a city is experienced varies for every urbanite and depends for a large part on the people we meet and the networks we establish. The power of specific individuals and the importance of social networks in the city reveals itself when I meet dumpsite manager John Ochieng in the city of Kisumu (Kenya). 

This amazing individual not only keeps most of his dumpsite residents alive, he is even able to provide some a better future. For A City Made By People I interviewed this fascinating man and former streetboy Kevin in their 'church without borders'. Below you can find some shocking imagery as John takes me for a tour around the dumpsite. Check out the full story on John's achievements right here.