“My son, the mortuary was the last place I thought of looking for you…but something kept convincing me not to consider that idea as it could hind bad luck” said a teary Teresa. Initially when we found David Kimutai on the streets at their famous base, he looked distressed; like one who had been entrapped as a hostage and needed immediate rescue. As we related with him, he quickly pegged blame on a friend who incited him that they could test the allure of the city under the sun and simply go back home. This was never to be; his friend disappeared into the bustle and hustle of the city life. He really missed home, having tasted the harsh life on the streets and rescuing him was the only solace from this mess he found himself in.

David’s mother shared the anguish she had to bear with all this time her son was absent from home. She is a single mother of five children; David being the second born. God makes things beautiful in His time…and with David having being reunited with his family was a great joy and relieve of a heave of burden she was carrying! We visited him early this month and his mother assured of taking him back to school once they reopen, thanking the team for bringing her lost son back home safely.

 

Finally my son returns home…..“The food in my mouth was like water, I could not sleep because of the many thoughts of my missing son,” Lillian-Douglas’ mother said. She failed to understand what was pushing her son to the streets and had gone to look for him on all possible places she could think of. Douglas Baraza left home for the streets due to peer influence after seating for his third term exams in class four. After the long journey of about six hours Douglas was worn out but soon, we were at their home amidst joy and jubilation as his mother dashed from the house to embrace her son. She narrated of her ordeal three years ago when her husband passed on and therefore did not wish to lose another loved one. She fervently prayed after her son left- the fourth born in a family of five other siblings, but could now rest after his safe return.

This time round the streets had hit him hard as he recounted of the times he had to go without food yet back home their mother worked hard to provide for them. He therefore prefers to proceed with his learning lest his younger brother overtakes him in school.

His mother works hard to make ends meet for the big family. The only profitable thing that Douglas can do is to study hard in school and hope for a brighter future. He dreams to become a manager, may this dream come to pass!

 

A mother’s heart never changes in the overflowing love for her son. Can we make more mothers happy….?

We have often had stories of young boys, full of life yet wasting away the potential to do great things. What could have caused them run to the streets where life is so hostile, endure the cold nights, the rainy days without food and all the dangers on the streets?

Could it be wrong choices, or peer influence? As for Paul, the decision to join a group of irresponsible boys cost him much. It meant that he could no longer continue with school. In the company of these boys, they loitered around the streets picking papers and metals which they would sell to earn some money.

When we met Paul Mwangi a 13 years old boy, it was clear from his explanations that lack didn’t lead to his waywardness but the choices he made. His parents have always provided the basic necessities and their devotion to religious matters was evident when we took Paul home. “We have always tried all we can to provide for our children”, his mother explained to our team. It was a great joy seeing Paul reconcile with his family as he committed to take life seriously and concentrate in his education.

“Welcome home son!” These were words from John Mucuri’s father when we rescued him from the streets a few weeks ago. “John fears being reprimanded especially when he does a mistake…He opts to take to the streets instead of asking for forgiveness or solving problems through dialogue…” his father clarified. This time round John decided to go home and like the prodigal son, ask for forgiveness from his parents. His mother could hardly believe her eyes as she welcomed him home. His parents assured him of their love as they told our team “Faith keeps us hoping that our son will remain at home...”

Our joy is to see parents reconcile with their children, and embrace them back to their families. These young boys have what it takes to live purposeful lives. Should they continue wasting their potential on the streets?

We may often feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop…….Whatever you contribute towards this mission is worthwhile, together we do more!

We were at first startled when we met Abednego Musyoka and wondered how a boy with such a unique character found himself in a place where most of his peers have developed a rebellious attitude.

Pastor! Pastor! Pastor! That’s what we heard other children calling Abednego when we met him at a government rehabilitation centre. Upon further probe, we came to understand that the boy was actually playing pastoral roles and others had come to accept it as such.

Once you sit down, and create friendship with him to an extent of building trust in you, he opens up and shares what he has gone through. Abednego comes from a family where parents separated and he was left under the care of the maternal grandmother since his early childhood days. Together with other siblings, they have been raised up by their grandmother who is a devoted Christian….No wonder the pastoral roles.

The parting of the parents was huge and messy. This left their mother emotionally traumatized, which made her to abscond the responsibility of raising her children and passing it on to her mother. She even threatened to poison the children when confronted about her negligence. These confessions made the grandmother to give up on her and from then on, took the responsibility of her grandchildren. At some point, the grandmother had taken the children to their father only to be rejected again, and because he had remarried, their stepmother could not cope with them.

Rejection from parents  had a bad effect on Abednego who developed the habit of running away from home and sleeping out. Fortunately, his grandmother is well known in their locality and so every time he attempted to sneak away, he could be brought back home. This one time, he prepared to go to school but he had other plans in mind. He boarded a vehicle far away from home lest someone who knew him cut short his mission, and managed to find his way to Nairobi where he made the streets his abode. One day the city council inspectorate caught up with him and together with others, was taken to the rehabilitation centre. We were glad that when we met him at the centre, he agreed to go back home and over the Easter eve, Abednego was reintegrated back home amid shouts of jubilation from his siblings.

There was no better way to celebrate Easter than taking Abednego home…..!!

 

 

A mug of tea, a quiet five minutes and time to play and reflect at the end of the day could make all the difference. As a team, we took time to reflect on our work for the first quarter in a different way, and had a team day out.  

The last three months have been full of activity for us; always on the mission to rescue that child on the street. We have successfully reintegrated forty three (43) children from the streets with their families. The experiences are always overwhelming as the families receive their lost children and embrace them back again.

There was a lot to be shared as we recounted on these successes and even planned the way forward for the next three months. Some in the team reminded us of how some boys were so desperate to go back home as they had gone to the streets in search of a better life, the hopeless situations they would encounter in the families they met but eventually, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

“Triple Blessing”, this is what we say whenever we see a child off the streets back at home and in school. “Seeing Fannuel (a boy rescued in November 2013 and we did follow up in January) back to school was reason enough to rescue another child from the streets.” One team member added as she also reminded us of how Fannuel’s head-teacher was thrilled to see our team come all the way from Nairobi to Eldoret (313 Km) to follow-up on his student.

 

As we discussed on the activities in the past quarter, we all expressed how encouraging it was seeing parents empowering themselves from the simple training skills they were educated on during reintegration. Organizing schools empowerment program was also  a major highlight for the team as well as launching a pad for upcoming Equipping Community program in the regions where the team has duly reintegrated children. We look forward to such opportunities as we have managed to reach out to five schools in different counties as well as equip more than seventy pastors and parents.

We are excited about this second quarter and looking forward to rescue seventy five more children. As our mission, we exist for that child on the streets- join us as we walk more children home in the next few months!!

 

 Their countenance shows how elevated with joy they are, their attentiveness and the inquisitive response of these young ones are always refreshing. It shows how yearning the students are for knowledge.

Does this take you years back, when you had big dreams and now you’re living them? TKW takes the students through Life skills lessons, how to achieve better performance and Drugs and Substance abuse where the participatory skills of the pupils is lively and enchanting. The program helps these children develop communication skills, feel valued and explore interests.    

 This year, we have reached out to five primary schools, with the aim to motivate the students and inspire them for better performance and self- esteem. “I am now motivated to score an ‘A’ grade in the national examination.” One boy said to the team after having a session in their school. 

Every school is unique and the needs vary but the best assistance we can provide is the transformation of minds. Some of these schools such as Nguto primary school in Murang’a County have challenges that stem from families and parenting and especially issues facing the girl child. Our team was allowed to have motivational and counselling sessions with the pupils in this school as well as address a few delicate concerns facing these young ones.   

Despite some of these challenges, the pupils are always eager to learn and gain new insights from other young people. Kagera Primary school in Kiambu County has had poor performance for the last few years but at the end of a session with our team, all the pupils agreed that they will achieve the best grades ever in that school. At one point they loudly declared “yes we can” as they tapped their chests!!!! What an experience.     

Giving back to the younger girls is always fulfilling, as it was the experience at Nyondia primary school in Nakuru County. The girls were expectant, eyes wide and faces full of expectations ready to get insight from our wonderful team. The girls had many questions which we addressed to save them from ignorance and misconception when at that age. We are there to provide the right information which is vital to such girls.      

 The teachers are usually not left behind as they also portray a high level of trust and confidence with us. We motivate them on how to bring out the best in their pupils. Our team had the opportunity to address matters concerning discipline and performance with the teachers at Langas Primary School in Eldoret as well as a motivational session with the pupils. 

We endeavor to encourage pupils on the importance of positive thinking and let them know that nothing can hinder them from achieving their dreams.  Malikini Primary school in Mwingi, Kitui County was brought to our attention through a child rescued this year and thus our team planned for an outreach. The school is in a very remote area, and the means of getting to the school were quite challenging yet at the end of the day, we left a happy and motivated pupil.  

 We always look forward to such opportunities to interact with the younger and energetic students. You can always see their joy as they pose for photos with the team who also become their friends and mentors. It is humbling to have that great opportunity to empower the young ones.   

Five schools-in five different counties. Together we can inspire more children for a stronger future! Would you like to be a part of us in this journey of transforming lives? 

 

 

My Grandmother would be very happy to see me…

When our team first met Geoffrey Munyao and interacted with him, all he would say was that he looked forward to seeing his grandmother again.  

 Munyao, small in stature had been exposed to scenes beyond his age through the experiences on the streets. He is ten years of age, very talkative and has been on the streets for a considerable period of time but not to the extent of forgetting his rural home. He is a total orphan who is taken care of by his grandmother and they hail from the Eastern part of our country.  

The distance between his home and Nairobi could be about 300km but Munyao made it to the city. His level of curiosity is high and probably his love for adventure. He does not name hunger as one of the reasons which landed him on the streets which make one to wonder, what is it then? He says friends prevailed upon him to take French leave but he feared to disown the offer since he didn’t want to betray them.  

 In the city, realities came face to face with him. He started sleeping on the pavements with nothing to cover his face. It was even worse when it rained. The morning frost could just bite him so hard that sleep could not come anywhere near his eyes. This experience almost turned him into a nocturnal being. Carrying out most of the activities at night but sleeping during the day. His enlightened friends introduced him to sniffing glue so that he could forget his troubles but it made minimal improvement. He stayed with the clothes he came with until they become dirty and tattered because there was no place to wash clothes on the streets. He started eating crumbs from the dust bins to satisfy the biting hunger.

At this point in life, just like the prodigal son, he couldn’t help recalling the good life he used to live at home. The warm food and water to wash he used to get. Sleeping under a roof covered by a warm blanket in a bed. A wanting to go back home was born in him and he yearned for a good Samaritan with whom he could share his woes with but nobody was willing to lend him an ear.

Desperate as he was and seeing there was no hope, TKW team showed up at the ninth hour when help was good music to his ear. The team shared their concern with him, and  like dry ground swallowing every drop of rain, he quietly listened to every word and when given the opportunity to respond, it was on the affirmative. Imagine the joy he had when it dawned on him that an opportunity to go home had come his way.   Home at last……There was so much joy and jubilation when he arrived home. Everybody including the neighbors wanted to know where he had been all that time because they had looked for him without success.

 The first follow up by the team was very encouraging. Munyao is now safe at home and in an environment conducive to positive growth. He is back to school, in class four to continue building his dream of becoming an Environmental Specialist.   

 Munyao has developed into a very responsible and obedient young boy. He no longer goes out of their home without his grandmother’s consent. He is also very active in church and never misses Sunday school classes. The grandmother informed the team of how Munyao narrates the ordeals he underwent on the streets and promises never to go back.  

Every child deserves to be in a family. Join us in reaching out to more of such children like Munyao and give them a purposeful life. 

 

 

 

  Tobias’ mother, Pamela is a woman who is bearing a huge burden in bringing up her children in the absence of her husband after they separated.  She is a single parent at only 35 and with five children! “A mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible“.

Tobias Otieno says,” I went to the streets to look for money because I didn’t want to sit here and see my mother struggling”.  But life on streets didn’t deliver his dream.  Tobias’ mother, Pamela is also partially disabled.  Tobias introduced us to her when we rescued him towards the end of 2013.  Tobias and his 8 year old sister could not go to school till January 2014 due his family’s dire economic situation.

 As Pamela shared with us about her humble background and family’s history we began exploring with her the way forward.  She had an idea of starting a small business of selling potato chips next to her house in Manyatta slum. We encouraged her to start saving few shillings every week to enable her to buy a two kilogram container of potatoes and then start her business. When we visited the family recently, we were encouraged to find her doing the business she had proposed and had managed to send Tobias and his sister, Lillian to school.

 After school and during the weekends, 12 year old Tobias has taken the responsibility of helping his mother at her small business of cooking chips and selling them for a few shillings along the streets of Manyatta slum in Kisumu. 

 Though Tobias and his mother work hard, they are still unable to meet their basic needs, and only make enough for one day at a time. Pamela’s desire is to expand her small business. She needs capital and business skills which we believe will enable her to improve her economic situation. 

A one off gift of Kshs 10,000 (£100) can boost Pamela’s business by buying tools of trade for her transport to the market. You walk alongside this family for six months by providing basic needs as Pamela builds her business. 

With £1,000 (Kshs.120,000) we can move this family and 9 other families from poverty to purpose as we boost their income. 12 year old Tobias is standing with his mother to work towards their dreams.  “A mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible“.  Your partnership is greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

Who will CARE for these orphans?

 

“I have a dream that one day my grandchildren will grow up to be happy, successful adults,” Thomas’ grandma, Ann said..

Ann Nyambura is an ailing 60 year old grandmother, who is the sole provider for 14 old Thomas and his two cousins, 7 and 2 year old girls. Together we can make sure that Thomas and his family live healthy lives and fulfill Ann’s dream to ‘grow up to be happy, successful adults’. With the high rate of HIV and AIDS, many people are either afflicted or affected by the tragedy surrounding the disease. That’s where we pick up Thomas’ story. 

Thomas and his cousins are orphans. Their grandma has experienced pain after her two daughters succumbed to AIDS a while ago leaving their children as toddlers under her care. Ann also developed a chest problem and has been admitted to hospital several times making it difficult for her to care for her grandchildren.  They live in Nakuru region, Molo-Tayari village. 

 

‘I often struggle to walk, to work and cook especially due to the smoke which makes my chest worse. It’s a real problem providing food for my grandchildren and cloth them,” Ann says, explaining that her health, together with the lack of rain, makes growingcrops difficult in her small piece of land and has to rely on good neighbors. “Sometimes ago we used to receive food rations from the county government but that stopped. With no food in the house, Thomas started going out to look for food and sleeping out in Molo open air market. He would come home for few days and just disappear without any notice. The last time he disappeared he left me in hospital.” Ann said with a sigh.

Thomas Chiribwa is a passionate 14 year old who is looking for a way to earn a living and support his ailing grandma.  He told us that on the streets of Nairobi, he would wake up from the rubbish heap, carry his sack and walk round the city looking for plastic bottles to sell later for a plate of food. ”Please take me home today, I have had enough” Thomas said this to the team every day they met him. 

The presence of abject poverty that this family lives with hit hard as TKW team arrived with Thomas.  His grandmother couldn’t believe her eyes that her grandson is back.  She struggled to stand as she embraced Thomas with tears in her eyes.  ”You left me sick and you did not tell me you were going…I brought you up and carried you on my back, what happened to you my child?” Ann asked.

“What you see in this container is the only remaining flour and I don’t know where food will come from but in one way or another God continues to provide.” Ann added showing the team an almost empty flour container. She explained how her effort to put Thomas in school has not borne any fruit but She was very optimistic that this time Thomas will settle at home.

 

“I have a dream that one day my grandchildren will grow up to be happy, successful adults,” Ann said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘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?

 

 

It’s an exciting start to the New Year and TKW team is back on the streets of Nairobi.  One child walks back home! Meet Eugene Ronald Otieno and imagine his parents giving him that name dreaming of what he would become.  Would he become the next Ronald Reagan – a president in the making?  Yet here he was on the streets wasting away all that potential.

Have you ever lost someone or something?  It hurts a lot and it takes time to recover.  When Eugene’s parents separated, he lost his home and lost his father because his father moved away.  He then came home one day and found that his mother had relocated to an unknown place.  This was his second loss, his mother and siblings. Although his mother could barely provide the basic needs for the family, at least she was always there when Eugene came home from school.  Later on he was reunited with his siblings at his grandparents’ home in Kitale in North western Kenya, but he could not settle there so they decided to send him to his father.  This was another loss and separation with his siblings and community.  He came to live with his father in Kitengela, Eastern Kenya, but his father worked long hours and Eugene found himself with a lot of time on his hands.  That’s how he started wandering to the streets. This is a 10 year old child who has gone through many losses and which has left his self-esteem and dreams in tatters.  But there is hope…

Eugene’s journey to restoration will be long and hard considering what he has been through.  The team members who rescued him expressed satisfaction of seeing one child rescued from the streets. One of the team members involved in the rescue said, “We are glad to start the year in such a way”.  Eugene looks innocent because of his age but he has been on the streets from time to time.  He was very jovial and enthusiastic about going back home where he used to live with his father.

Our motto is: “Transforming Lives of Children, Families and Communities”. It takes many journeys to the streets, rescuing the child, journey back home and many more journeys to monitor his progress. Restoration begins when we meet a child on the streets and it takes time and resources.  Eugene could not trace where his father lived in Kitengela and the team had to enlist the help of the area District Children’s Officer who found his father at a nearby town of Isinya.

Eugene says of his father, “My dad used to bring home chicken pieces and I loved that”.  His father seems a responsible man as he shared how he would always ensure Eugene had enough food after school.  However, Eugene lacked parental guidance because his father was always busy at work. That is how he was enticed to the life on the streets TKW team met him at the beginning of January.  Eugene is now with his father and we shall walk with him until he is fully settled and restored.

It has been said, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.  Eugene’s journey to transformation and restoration will take human resources, financial resources for him to recover his losses and get his dreams back on course. We are exploring the possibility of reconnecting him with his grandparents and his siblings. With the right structures in place Eugene will settle and his journey to restoration is on course. Despite his past there is hope

We are glad that Eugene Ronald is no longer a statistic but a child of hope!  Come with us on this exciting journey.  Eugene’s rescue at the beginning of the year has ignited our passion to see many more children find hope in 2014 as well as monitor the progress of the 145 rescued last year. “Transforming lives of children, families and communities”

Jan 2014 – first rescue