Celebrating a milestone as we near the end of 2021; 4,000+ children are back with their families from the streets since the work began! Some have got their own families and living their dreams. We thank God and rejoice for restored hope where there was hopelessness. In October, 44 children were removed from the streets and they are at home with their families.
MUSA
When we met him, Moses was lonely on the streets but he was not sniffing glue or jet fuel like the other children on the streets. He had no more strength to face another day on the streets where he and other children salvaged plastic bottles from the waste to sell for food.
By then he had been trapped by the desperation and realization that his dream of joining high school would quickly vanish if he never took action to find a way. He came to the city to look for casual jobs to save some money to join high school. He had endured insult from a group of vendors and chased by the police several times. To make matters worse, he had been harassed by some of the older boys who stole the little money he had managed to earn toward school. He had no courage to carry on.
Tumaini team took him aside and bought him some food as they talked. Musa was very ready to go home.We reunited Musa with his family in the slums and found him a sponsor who paid his school fees to join high school.
4 years later, he was through with his high school final exams, got good grades and he was ready to join college.
A week ago, Musa joined college to pursue a Diploma in Tourism Management. The same sponsors agreed to support Musa to pursue this 3-year-course. We thank God that Musa is on his transformation journey as he acquires a new skill for life.
LYN
Lydia’s story is one of a kind. At home the sun was scorching, poverty and desperation was the order of the day for Lydia’s family. Something changed when Tumaini team brought their daughter back home from the streets. We found a sponsor who supported the family and Lydia to go back to school. Her parents expressed gratitude to Tumaini Kwa Watoto for Lydia going back to school. Without this support, she would have been married off like many young girls in her community.
From our recent home visit, it was evident that Lydia was the hope for her family and community. Lydia is in Form 1 in a secondary school near her home. We were their visitors, and the community members confirmed that Lydia signifies hope for them and their younger children. We pray for protection for Lydia to continue standing out in her community in her generation
Dave
Life was not easy when David’s mother abandoned him as a young child and left him with his grandmother. His grandmother enrolled him into a nearby school but, he dropped out of school and never to return. The search form went on for months around his village. We later found him on the streets in a deplorable condition and he was ready to go home.
We reunited him with his family but he did not settle. He ran away again due to the stigma and negative peer influence. This time round, he was on the street for a short time but had started sniffing glue which affected his respiratory system and he just wanted to go back home.
At home, David’s grandmother and uncle took care of him and he was returned to school. There is hope for David because God is a father to the fatherless. (Psalm 68:5) In our recent home visit, David looked optimistic about what the future holds for him. He is now ready to go for it.
Faith
Faith is 15 and had lived on the streets for months. There was no food at home and life was very difficult, so she decided to look for food. She would take the hour-long walk to the streets after school and return home at night, but slowly she started sleeping on the streets until the streets became her home. The mother who is the sole bread winner had separated with husband years back.
It was hard to keep an eye on her daughter as she was busy doing casual labors. But when Faith never returned home, she began searching for her. Tumaini team found Faith on the streets and reunited her with her mother. She was re-enrolled in school, and she is doing well. The family was supported with food stuffs and the mother was empowered to start a small business to boost her earning in providing for her family.
Thank you our friends for your continued support toward our work. Empowering families and children !!!
