BlogStory of the Week
‘Home’ – Why would 12 year old Alex Mutua want to go back home to such poverty? He looked desperate and ready to go home after spending a year on the streets. We were surprised to hear that he had not used any drugs or glue for a whole year unlike many children on the streets. Alex had left his home town to escape poverty and met other boys who influenced him to go to the streets of Nairobi. When they got to Nairobi they joined other boys who became Alex’s family on the streets. But it is true ‘every child needs a functional family’. Will you join hands with us to lift Alex’s family out of poverty?
Alex led us on a long journey to Mwingi (Eastern Kenya), 400kms from Nairobi on a dusty road and hot sun which took us two hours on a bus as well as a ride on a motor bike. When we arrived to his home, surprise awaited us as we saw an emaciated lady with tattered clothes, sitting on the dust outside her house with crutches by her side and surrounded by small children. Alex’s mother was surprised when she saw Alex with strangers – a miracle of her son’s appearance after a long time of searching for him without success.
Let one and all arise and break this poverty cycle: Poverty greets you as you enter their two roomed house, a living room which doubles as a bedroom for the children and the other room for Alex’s mother. Inside are pieces of a frayed mattress on the floor which Alex and his four (4) siblings share. No wonder Alex often spent nights at their neighbour’s house which made his mother angry. Sometimes, Alex would sneak out of the house and spend the night under a tree.
With mixed emotions, Alex’s mother shared her family’s harrowing story. Tears flowed freely, as she expressed pain not only for her children but her life’s ordeals. One of her legs has been amputated which explained why she sitting on the floor and the crutches by her side.
She continued to say that Alex had also been in and out of the hospital
for three years after falling when he was little. This explained why Alex didn’t look quite alright during our outreach on the streets. Alex is the first born in a family of five. There was no mention of a dad to the five children during reintegration. Where is the father of these children?
Alex made the choice to return home to the same poverty because there’s no hope on the streets. He wants to go back to school, but he needs help. Let’s all arise and break this poverty cycle by giving this family the basics – a bed and a mattress, food to eat and cover their backs as we seek for lasting solutions to restore this family. Will you join hands with us to lift Alex’s family out of poverty?
