Together we can remove children from the streets and give them a fresh start. That’s what equipped community leaders did. The pastors in Homa Bay area of Western Kenya were fired up to go after the children on their streets after our Equipping Parents’ and pastors’ training seminars.Here are briefs of 11 children they have rescued so far this year, bringing the total to 23 children since last year.These siblings, Grace Anyango (13) and Antony Odhiambo (14) are in class 6 & 7 atAlfa Academy. They were rescued by Bishop Jacton Migenda of IPHCK (K). Grace’s family was disintegrating after their parents separated but the reconciliation process is ongoing and Pastor Jacton has been key in reaching out to both parties. Antony’s behavior is improving as he used run from school to the streets. He has now turned a new leaf, listening to instructions and concentrating on his studies.

 

Emmamuel Ochieng, Daisy Aila and Stacey Awinja ages 12, 13, and 14 years are in Class 5 and 6 at Shauri Yako Primary School. They were rescued by Evangelist Mary Ajwange of Jesus Restoration Center. Stacey and Samuel are orphans who are currently supported by the church. Daisy is back with her mother. All three are doing well in their school work and seem to be settling well.

 

 

 

13 year old Belinda Oluoch is in class: 6 at Oyuka Primary School and Pastor Vitalis of Christian Family Church rescued her from the streets. Belinda has been performing very well in her class work. Pastor Vitalis and his church are giving her an opportunity to study in a private school next term.

 

 

 

Joshua Omondi is 14 Years and he is in

Class 6 at Mirika Primary School.

Bishop Elijah Obado of Mt. Zion rescued him and reconnected him with his uncle and he also has settled well.

 

 

 

Jacqueline Adhiambo is only 12 Years and in class 5 at Makongeni Primary School who was rescuedby Pastor Naftali Milanya of PFCK church. Jacqueline’s parents could not be traced and she was placed in a children’s home where she commutes to school with ease. Pastor Naftali continues to look for her family.

 

 

 

Pastor Kennedy Otieno of PEFA church rescued 13 year old Mark Kelolo from the outskirts of Homa Bay town towards Migori County.

He was immediately attached to a pastor who tried to trace his family without success. He was later enrolled to Gordia Primary school in class 6 and has been under close monitoring.

 

 

 

Pastor Patrick Mackiche of Faith in Christ church rescued 11 year old Simon Wangapala and reunited him with his parents after a long absence from home. Simon initially refused to be reintegrated back home citing parental conflicts. Simon has now been readmitted back to Kibwole Primary School in class 4. Pastor Patrick reported that his parents are attending church regularly.

 

 

 

Hillary Juma (in a white stripe shirt) is 13 Years and in class 6 at Kabunde Primary School. Pastor Paul Oyomo of Faith in Christ church rescued him. Pastor Paul offered to take Simon to live with his family for a short time just to shower him with love and encourage him as he saw other children going to school. It’s amazing how this situation turned out because Hillary wanted to be enrolled to a vocational training school despite his age. Through guidance and counseling, he was helped to understand the merits of education.

Would you like to engage with the issue of children on the streets in your community? TKW team will be on hand to bring Equipping Parents’ and Pastors’ Community Program to your community. You and your community can become gatekeepers to stem the tide of children flowing into big towns and cities. You can also partner with us to financially support these pastors who are caring for these needy children.

 

 

Joseph is a very quiet boy who came to the city determined to find his sister but after landing in Nairobi he could not find her. Disappointed and lost, he found himself on the streets. He is an orphan who was left under the care of his elderly grandmother. After three months on the streets, he was rescued by city authorities while they were removing children from the streets. He was taken to one of the government rehab centres in Eastland’s part of Nairobi. In January 2015, all other boys at the centre were taken to school but Joseph refused the pleasure of going to school in Nairobi as he said, “I want to go back home to my family in Kisumu”, a six hours’ drive from Nairobi.

Ita, one of our visitors and friend from U.K visited Kenya in February 2015 because she wanted to experience the work we do with the children. TKW team embraced her attitude and desire and took her to Bahati Rehabilitation center, Eastlands. She saw firsthand how TKW works as they approached Joseph. They chatted with Joseph and he really opened up saying wanted to go home.Ita carried Joseph in her heart back home. Thank you Ita, you initiated the process.

A few weeks later, a team prepared for the journey to Kisumu. Joseph looked very excited as we were walking; but we would occasionally leave him behind just to see how serious he was to go home.   Along the way he gave us stories of his experiences at the Rehab centre and on the streets.

We got to his home at 5 P.M and met this elderly grandmother, who shouted, “Boi! Boi! Boi!, where have you been! Ooh Nyasaye erokamano (Thank you God) “Come my son,” she held him as she blessed him with great joy. During that moment of celebration, Joseph walked outside and his grandma paused and asked, “Has he gone again?” A few minutes later, Joseph came back with sticks and started lighting the fire. The neighbors came and you could see real love. One of the neighbors who is also his teacher came with her daughter, she said, “We wanted to see Boi”, as they called Joseph. Everyone was like, “Boi, you are back. God loves you. God loves this child.” The joy, smiles and excitement could not be hidden. Joseph was back home where he belongs.

Today, Joseph is back in school for his last year in primary school. His teachers had no problem of admitting him to school. Let’s walk with Joseph as he prepares for KCPE, final primary school exam that ushers young people to secondary school. Joseph will need education support as his elderly grandmother can only feed this promising young man.

“My life was good before, I had a nice home, loving family, everything I wanted. But then my mother left and married another man, a foreigner. I want to go back to my real father and away from my mum and step-father. I’m much better off without their destructive influence.”

12 year old David has lived through such traumatic experiences in his life, but his recovery has just began. He came to the streets to look for money to enable him to go look for his father.

He was reunited with his father who was very excited to have his son back. However to make sure that the abusive mother does not come and destabilize David’s life again, his father reported the case to the children’s district officer who gave him the custody of his son. David’s father has remarried and they have two children younger than David. His step mother is a great woman and unlike many step parents, she welcomed him to their home and accepted him as her own son.

David’s emotional scars are healing. Through counseling and patience, he is making progress, now attending school and his grades are steadily increasing as he adjusts.

David recently ranked among top in his class. His willingness to participate in any activity or chore at home despite his traumatic childhood. David has been delivered and now smiles freely. “We will protect him here in our school now that his father has explained to us his case.” Said the head teacher of David’s new school.
This is a story of 12 year old David Tonito, who is carrying physical and emotional scars of his childhood. David grew up with his father and mother in the town of Magadi on the border of Kenya with Tanzania (where his dad still lives and works). He was 7 years, when his parents separated and his mother got married again to a man who has treated him horribly, physically and mentally abusing him, and not accepting him as his own. Tired of this pain, David left home early February 2015 in search of his real father, not even knowing if he was alive or dead. All he knew was that the man who fathered him lived near the border.

 

David was on the streets for 3 weeks moving from place to the city to another with a goal of begging to get enough money to travel to the border town to look for his father. During his fourth week, he was met by TKW team and David saw a savior. In a dismal mood, he why he was on the streets. He needed love and someone who cared enough for him. ”It would be easier to tell people my parents are dead because when I tell people that I don’t have any contact with my mother and my step-father they question the credibility of my story. Sometimes I have to respond with something like, “They aren’t very nice people”

David was finally rescued from the streets and though it was not possible to take him direct to his father, David remembered his aunt’s (father’s sister) place near the border town. She was grateful to receive David and promised to deliver him to his father.

David recounted painfully what led to his parents separating and him moving to another town with his abusive mother:-”Though my dad was absent during the week, I was assured of seeing him every weekend. My drunken mother physically disciplined us with a heavy cord. She always had a live in boyfriend who also had the nerve of physically abusing me at any opportunity when dad was not around.

After countless times, I finally got the courage to tell my dad what mother was involved in and also told my mother what her boyfriends were doing to us. In front of my dad she called me a liar and so I stopped telling. My dad finally found out the truth and this disintegrated our family. My dad went to the children’s officer and insisted that my mother leaves me under his custody but instead children’s officer did not allow my dad to take me like I begged for, I was stuck with my mother. We moved to the city with barely enough to eat and my mum blamed me for their separation.”

Against all odds, David is growing from the most challenging situations and is still progressing in all areas of his lives. As TKW team we say ‘we are eager to bring hope and change other lives like David’s’. Partnering with us will make the rescue and reintegration of more children with their families. To rescue one child and monitor his progress for three months, we need a gift of £250 or £20 a month or £5 a week for a year. Not every child on the streets is from a poor family…so next time you see a child on the streets, stop and chat with him.

9 years old Hilary Kiprono, had a difficult childhood. He grew up in Nakuru County before his family disintegrated after his single mother’s death. He stayed there with minimal help from relatives and later was moved to his maternal grandmother who has since fostered him together with his 2 older sisters aged 15 and 16 years.

When TKW team met Hilary on the streets, he mentioned to them that his two older sisters lived on the streets too but in a different town. ”Please I want to go home but could you also rescue my two sisters too…they live on the streets of Nakuru town, when we get there I will take you where I used to stay with them…” these were heart wrecking words from little Hilary’s love for his sisters. He yearned for a new life out of the streets but also wanted his older sisters to be part of this too.

 

As the team got to Nakuru, Hilary rushed them through the town to where the sister had a makeshift polythene room inside the streets… “this is where my sisters live…” Hilary pointed at a polyethylene made room… Seeing their youngest brother they hurried and embraced him but quickly the team took over and introduced themselves and why they were with Hilary. “Yes, we would want to go back home too and back to school…life in the streets has been challenging… running from the police to fighting for territory with street gangs… For you to get something here, you have to steal or do some real bad things, and the chances of you getting caught are great”! Hilary older sister commented…

The two sisters added to the story that Hilary had told the team and narrated their predicaments that led all of them to the streets…”Our grandmother is old, and after our mother’s death she struggled feeding us and it was also very hard for her managing to pay our school requirement…After a while it became apparent that we all had to drop out of school, as we could no longer afford it. We knew by then that our grandmother was growing old and needed us to support her. We were neither strong enough nor able to do so and we wondered about the future. Our mother was a strong woman and she continued to manage the home and care for us with the limited money she had but after her death things turned from bad to worse… …”We left home because the streets created a good outlet to pull us out from the lack we experienced at home…It was not easy to see our grandmother struggling to provide for us and thus we wanted to create a new environment for our selves’’…Hilary sisters narrated

This was a true communication that though Hilary was the contact child to TKW team, his heartbeat was connected to that of his sisters: it was time to go back home…No matter the challenges at home the three siblings had made up their mind; “when you know you can make an honest living by persevering that is what really drives you, even though it may be difficult”…

The journey home to their grandmother was swift and interesting…Hilary and his two sisters enjoyed each other’s company…the TKW team hearts pounded with great anticipation…”How will we find these siblings grandmother?…Will she accept them? Will she be able to support them after we have reunited them?”…The discovery was not far from the truth…The grandmother was at home and her first gaze on the three children made her visual appearance overcast and to the TKW team this meant a lot: the burden on her shoulders again?!… After a time of listening to Hilary’s grandmother, it was clear that her troubles have been many since the death of her daughter… “They had dropped out of school in June 2013, since I could not pay their school fees, or buy them uniform and books which are key school requirement… they were being sent home every other day from school and it was weighing me down! My body is not strong enough to hustle like young people…these children are my blood but I fail them…” the grandmother narrated painfully…

“I had a good farm in north rift but due to post-election violence we were evicted from our own land to this place we live now as IDPs (Internally displaced people). Life is not easy but I am glad my grand children are back home thanks to friends like you. They have been growing older on the streets and now they seem they could help with manual work to support each other” theGrandmother concluded.

As the reintegration day was ending, the TKW team managed to go to Hilary and his sisters’ former school to request for re admission on behalf of the children’s their grandmother. By God’s grace, the head teacher was gracious enough to accept and promised his support toward the three siblings. Hilary and his two sisters will be in school but there are requirements to be met i.e. basic needs (food and clothing), uniform and school fees. These are BASIC needs for every human being…Would you become God’s channel of provision? Partner with us in seeing Hilary’s family united and self-dependent!

 

 

 

 

 

Jimmy: Singing after a tearful reunion

Have you watched Jimmy coming back home video on youtube? Here’s the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU0DTB4mr7M. Get some tissues ready… Does Jimmy Kasong’o’s coming home video bring back memories? Reuniting Jimmy with his family was traumatic and emotional. His mother couldn’t stop sobbing, screaming and calling out ‘my child, my child’ when TKW team brought Jimmy back home. But the joy that followed encouraged us greatly. This kind of joy is what takes us back to the streets again and again to rescue another child – every child needs a family. Jimmy is now singing gospel music and he is joining his church choir alongside his dad.

Restoration is a process of helping heal relationships between a child with his family and community. 9 year old Jimmy Kasong’o, a Congolese boy brought Kangemi Market on the outskirts of Nairobi to a standstill in July 2013 when we took him home. The women were shouting,”Heeeee small boy stand there and do not try to move. Where have you been?”

Fast forward 18 months on, Jimmy here with his dad at TKW office this week

A gospel music singer: Since returning back home, Jimmy has found his singing voice and lately he’s found a friend who practices singing with him at Central park in Nairobi without informing his father. Jimmy and his dad arrived at TKW’s office this week for counseling to resolve this issue. Jimmy was remorseful, asked his dad for forgiveness and accepted the proposal to work closely with their church choir to give his father opportunity to monitor him. Jimmy will also polish his talent of singing.   Watch this space for this upcoming musician following in the footsteps of the likes of the late Angela Chibalonza, also from Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thank you for your partnership. Jimmy is one of 388 children Tumaini Kwa Watoto team rescued from the streets in the last two years. Jimmy is now back with his family, where he belongs. Every child needs a family. Partnering with TKW will mean walking more children back home. It takes only £250 to rescue 1 child alternatively £20 a month or £5 a week for a year. Value a child, rescue one child!

The gift in an envelope said, ‘Christmas hampers for needy families.’ Having rescued 233 children in 2014 it was a huge challenge to pick which families needed this most. The spirit of sharing is in the air and we were giving thanks to our partners who have given gifts to cheer some families. Christmas is a time when families get together to celebrate and catch up.
For many of these families, Christmas makes no difference and life moves on in their daily challenges of hand to mouth toil. Thank you for this gift.

Dominic Nderitu’s Family:He was rescued in February 2014 and his family lives in Nanyuki 400 Km from Nairobi, on the foothills of Mount Kenya, plus two hours motor-bike ride from Nanyuki town. Dominic’s mother died a few years ago. Dominic was left under the care of his sickly father and his paternal grandma. There is abject poverty in this home which is located in a sparsely populated area of Nanyuki without many amenities.

Good tidings of Christmas gift brought a new lease of life to this needy family. We handed them a hamper box with food stuffs and books for Dominic, who was overwhelmed with joy. His father and grandmother opened the box and after checking what was inside, they had no words to express their gratitude. His  grandmother declared a blessing and appreciation the team. Dominic’s grandmother asked him to light a fire and start making some chapatis as they all longed for this rare meal. Christmas had come early for this family!

 

 

Allan Kafu and his family were also benefitted from this Christmas gift 2014. They were amazed to receive food stuffs as a Christmas gift. On emerging from the main gate Helen (Kafu’s sister) and Kafu rushed towards the gate to welcome the team.”Oh my goodness! Our angels have come to bless us this season.” Kafu was reintegration with his sister, Helen on 28^th October 2014. He has been helpful and mixes well with others. That was her joy and that we had kept our word that we would visit Kafu again.

As team went on to receive updates about Kafu they also presented the box containing the gift. Helen went:”Aaaaaaiiii, God is great; we did not have hopes of receiving anything for Christmas let alone traveling home to Kakemega where we have our other family members to celebrate this Christmas with them. TKW teams noted that all through Kafu’s face had brightened up and his friends from the neighborhood were asking who the visitors are? He responded with confidence “these are my sisters.” He did not wish to extend his explanation of where or how they had met; all that mattered is the love these “angels “had shown him and his family. On the other hand Kafu did not want to disappoint his friends after they had reintegrated him home.

Musalia Muli family felt highly favoured: Florence Muthei,Musalia Muli’s mother, rose from her seat and welcomed us with a big smile. She took our packed paper bags full of foodstuffs. Earlier in the year we had helped her clear huge school fees arears to enable her son to complete school when she had lost hope of her son ever completing school. She explained this as tears trickled down her cheeks. When we told to her that the Christmas gift was from one of our friends, she could not stop crying saying that this was the year of the Lord’s favor in her life.

We thank God for our partners who gave toward these families, for sure witnessing the  smiles and tears of joy from them are the greatest reward…

Stephen, the skating boy’s family: We arrived late to deliver the early Christmas gift to Stephen’s family but they kept awake waiting for their visitors. Their joy was made full and we thank God that this Christmas will be different for this family. God has visited them. Immanuel, God with us.

JK Hall government rehab: There was joy and laughter as goodies were dished out, food was served and a Christmas tree was decorated. The season of goodwill was here to celebrate!

Every boy had enough food prepared right there by a caring TKW team sharing love in action.

’Ronald Mwangi’s family: “Praise the LORD! I am lost for words with the love TKW has shown my family with this visit and these gifts” ‘’May God almighty increase you abundantly! Said Ronald’s mother, Mary Kanini. She could recall how TKW team ignited hope at a time she was almost giving up because her husband left her with three children to raise on her own.

Her business has picked up quite well and at the time of the visit, she was beaming. She shared with the team her hopes of investing more in the thriving clothing business as well as increasing her savings because she wants to diversify her business.

She was totally surprised when TKW team arrived with the Christmas gifts. She also invited her Pastor Josephine to share in the celebration. “This will go a long way to boost my shopping as my children and I will not worry what to eat for Christmas” She said as she once again appreciated this gesture.

Thanks to our friends and partners, we shall celebrate Christmas in style as we also celebrate the gift of God’s son, ‘Immanuel, God with us.’  Happy New Year 2015 as together walk more children back home……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 3 years Jack Otienotells his own story. “My name is Jack Otieno. I am 12 years old and a second born. I have 2 sisters and I live with my grandparents in Busia, Western Kenya. I met Tumaini Kwa Watoto [TKW] (Children of Hope) Team in 2011 when I was only 9 years old.  We were then living with my mother in Kibera slum, Nairobi. The challenges at home made me walk the streets looking for food. This made things worse in my relationship with my mother. She would punish me harshly and at some point I felt like she was doing it because of hidden bitterness from her past. She separated with my father when I was 6 years and he re married…

Before their separation, my father was my good friend and I believe this is why my mother was angry with me. However my father betrayed me too. He used to drink heavily; left us and married another woman. He also stopped coming home and providing for us. This broke my heart and I blamed my mother for pushing my father away. At this time I decided to stay on the streets forever and never to go back home again, but God had His plans for me.  He used the TKW team to rescue me from the streets, loved me and put me in a shelter called Bethany. (TKW’s halfway house) I was there for 3 months as they tried to reconcile me with my mother.  I was given informal school at Bethany as they prepared me to join primary school.”

“After reconciliation with my mother, she agreed to relocate our family to my maternal grandparents’ home in Busia county-Western Kenya so that I could be away from the influence of negative city life. With TKW team’s help we packed our belongings and they facilitated our journey upcountry. My grandparents welcomed us warmly and gave us a room in the compound where we could settle as a family BUT little did I know that my mother had another hidden agenda – to drop me at my grandparents’ home and disappear with my younger sister. The following day my mother disagreed with my grandparents and this hastened her journey out of the home without me. We only hear that she went back to the city but this has not been confirmed!”

Tumaini Kwa Watoto (Children of Hope) Team: We’ve walked with Jack since his rescue from the streets 3 years ago.  A soft spoken and shy Jack has had a tough life. He was born into extreme poverty to an abusive mother and a father who left his family.  Jack’s family always had a roof over its head in the slum, but it was never home and Jack often found himself on the streets after being beaten by his mother who was bitter towards her husband.

Jack continues, “TKW team’s persistent follow up on me and their prayers have brought me this far. I was defenseless and prone to feelings of rejection. I wondered why my mother did this to me. My father too left me!  Life here with my grandparents has not been easy but they love me and my teacher’s support has been very encouraging too. It has been 3 years since I last saw my mother and my younger sister but I have made great progress in my life especially academically. I was in preschool in 2011 but now I am in class 3 and one of the best in my class!”From a child who considered himself a victim, he has blossomed into a confident boy.

Dreaming of becoming a doctor:  Jack has won his teachers over with his positive behavior despite many hardships. He is a boy destined for great things and with a dream of becoming a doctor one day, who or what could stop this diligent boy?  Will you walk with Jack, from poverty to purpose. Come “walk another child home”.  £250, or £20 a month for a year or £5 a week for a year will rescue one child and enable us to monitor his progress.  Let’s see how many children we can rescue this Christmas. Give a child a chance in life.