A win we are proud of as Smart Edge
In 2020, at the height of COVID-19, when the world was closing doors, we opened ours. When we started Shared Moments with Justus, we were operating from home. No studio. No guarantees. Just conviction. While most people were avoiding physical contact, we welcomed strangers into our living room so they could share their stories with the world. It was a risk — to our health, our finances, and our
family’s privacy — especially coming out of lockdown when fear of COVID-19 was still very real.
But we were guided by something stronger than fear: the belief that stories restore dignity, give perspective, and spark change. Five years later, that decision remains one of our proudest wins at Smart Edge Media. What we built was never just a show. We built relationships that have endured far beyond the recordings.
Gladys Gesare (story link here) still calls to check on our progress and occasionally sends vegetables and fruits from Kisii. She once told me her life was restored not simply because she shared her story, but because she felt seen, respected, and heard — even before the camera
started rolling.
Josephine Leshao (story link here) sends produce from her kitchen garden and has visited my home several times. She helped me set up my own garden and was the one who encouraged me to start rearing chickens. She continues to recommend potential guests for the show, many of whom we have featured. Beyond that, she is actively supporting terminally ill persons and persons with disabilities in her community — quietly but consistently.
Beatrice Mwangi (story link here) called us last year concerned when we did not hold our annual Shared Moments event. She had a team from Naivasha waiting for our communication on the date and venue. She continues to send encouragement and updates about her work supporting parents of children with cerebral palsy.
And then there is Simon Kilanga.
When Simon came on the show, he was already running the GLC Rescue Center for homeless adult men rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating them back into the community. After his story aired, something powerful happened. Members of the Shared Moments audience showed up. Facilitators volunteered. Well-wishers offered support. Partnerships were formed. The visibility translated into tangible reinforcement for the mission. Since then, Simon has expanded the vision. He has relocated the men’s rescue center to a larger, quieter, and more serene space and established a similar center dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating homeless women. The impact multiplied.
These are just a few of the stories.
Our greatest pride is not in the views or production milestones. It is in the evidence of transformation the humanitarian work, the expanded programs, the strengthened missions.
These and many more impact stories are captured in our upcoming documentary, Shared Moments @5. It tells the story of how a platform that began in a living room during lockdown became a catalyst for measurable community change. As a company, we have signed significant deals and travelled across Africa and beyond producing development stories. Yet building a digital platform that continues to change lives long after filming ends remains one of our proudest moments.
If you believe in the power of storytelling to multiply impact, subscribe to the Shared Moments with Justus channel and follow us on social media for the latest stories and updates on the progress of the Shared Moments @5 documentary. The journey continues.