“Where will you be five or ten years from now?” One of the team members asked. The class 8 girls at Dr. Aggrey Primary School lifted their hands up to respond to the question. The session was to encourage them just before sitting for their

KenyaCertificate of Primary Education. From the pupils’ response, they appeared confident, well-informed and focused. The TKW Team spoke of dreams and how to achieve them.

 

We can all play the role of big sisters or big brothers to the younger generation in our society. A mentor can make a lasting contribution to someone else’s life as well as their own lives. TKW school outreach program helps the children develop communication skills, feel valued and explore opportunities.

 

After the session, teachers and the pupils had this to say: Amina, a class eight pupil commented after the session, ”I have to practice these things I have learnt and one day I will also come to talk to young people like me in this school…thank you for talking to us today, I am happy!”

“We really looked forward to this weekly visit to our school and were happy to hear how much the children enjoyed the session as well,” Mrs. Ochieng, the Deputy Head teachers remarked as she received footballs from TKW team.The pupils are so excited!! These sessions are very important. I have seen them lift the spirits of many children involved and I believe this will improve their attendance at school,” Mrs. Wainaina, Peter Chege’s class teacher. (A boy TKW rescued from the streets this year). 

 

It is a very rewarding experience and a great way to make a difference in a young child’s life. It is also a unique opportunity to contribute your time and effort to a great cause and give back to our community. Thank you” Mr. Gichuki, The Headmaster concluded.

A TKW team member added, ”It was a great opportunity of interacting with class 8 candidates at Dr.Aggrey School in Nairobi County. I liked the confidence they had that they were going to pass their exam with flying colours! They looked well prepared as our team shared tips on how to handle questions, the issue of drug abuse, and as we discouraged the pupils from listening to the lies that taking certain drug was going to help them recall what had been taught.”

What is the key motivation behind TKW school outreach mentorship program? The need in the communities we’ve visited.  As we visited different communities for the first time we found a huge group of school going children who were not in school. With our support, most of the children got their first real chance to education. But when they start, many of them especially those who have been on the streets for a long time are several years behind their peers. Without extra support, these children might not get back on track. This is where TKW school outreach mentorship program kicked in. It has given the children a real chance to catch up with their peers in school.

TKW school outreach mentorship program needs volunteers of new and existing partners to engage with us. Partner with us and dedicate one hour a week to the children in our local primary schools.  It is a great way to meet the children, see them learn and hear them shouting “Education is my friend.” It will most certainly make you smile. “We believe we can achieve this and together we will.”

 

 

A Journey of Restoration

Nicholas’ story is an amazing testimony to God’s grace and the work that the team of TKW does on a daily basis. We went to see Nicholas back in November 2011 on a follow-up visit. A follow-up visit is a way of monitoring and following on the progress of a child that had been rescued from the street life. It is a regular practice at TKW as it gives us a glimpse into the life of the child after the adaptation back to family life. At the same time it always us to stay connected with the families and when possible help them with  school fees , parents training, food, etc.

Nicholas was rescued in 2010 and brought back home to his father. Unfortunately his mom was still nowhere to be found as she herself left home some time ago and was still living on the streets. 

Nicholas missed his mom but had a very successful reintegration in the family  and also back in school. As you can from the video things have significantly changed for that family and we are delighted to share with you that success story.

We are especially happy to tell you that Nicholas family has a home now.  After building a 3 roomed house for them, we had thought the family was complete but God works in ways we couldn’t understand. The news travelled fast and the long lost wife and mother who couldn’t be traced heard the news… She came back!!

How else can restoration be viewed? An elderly Peter, bringing up his 15 years old son with challenges.  They both needed a woman, a companion, a wife and a mother to strengthen them and support them at home as well as bring a mother’s touch.

Nicholas’ joy of having his mother was clearly evident.  ”I have my mother here and this is one of the best things that have happened to me now. We have a big house with rooms for us all.  I thank God for Tumaini Team who has always been there thinking of me and my father…May God bless you”. Nicholas said.  We thank Truro Baptist Church family for raising funds for this house.

In her heart, Nicholas’ mother had connected with Tumaini Kwa Watoto even before meeting them and when they met for the first time, she warmly welcomed them saying.  “You are my other family, my people that I have never known.  When I heard about you, I longed to meet you and say with my own word, Thank you… (Asante kwa kubariki familia yangu)” Nicholas mother said.

We sought to know why she was separated from her husband (Nicholas father) for so long and she said…”I decided to go back home to my mother because it seemed there was no hope for me here with my husband.  The house was small, we couldn’t fit and it was like we struggled over everything.  Though other struggles are still there, at least there is space for us to develop as a family. I will do my best and this time I am here to stay.”Nicholas mother’s remarks

Nicholas father at 75 years of age is a happy man growing old gracefully knowing his family has a home. ”You can never understand the joy you have given me with all your support.  Life has been hard for me, trying different things to make ends meet but all seemed in vain.  My  aging body gives me pain many times but since my wife is back there is hope for me and Nicholas.” Peter said.

Nicholas is in class 6 and though he is a slow learner, teachers and parents are committed to see him complete his primary school education. He is undergoing teenage challenges and needs a lot of support from people who love and understand him.  The family still has challenges of paying for his termly school requirements due to lack of stable income. He is often sent home from school to get the fee and this affects him very much. His father tries to pay what he can but this challenge never ends. Nicholas needs £5/Kshs.500 per month to cater for his monthly school requirements. As we celebrate this process of Peter’s family restoration, join us in supporting Nicholas with this school requirement until his mother stabilizes to look for casual jobs to complement Peter’s monthly income. 

“Together Everyone Achieves More”

 

 

If you would like to help Nicholas with his school fees of £5 per month, please, Contact us or leave a message in the form bellow. It will make all the difference for this boy and his future. Thank you!

Error: Contact form not found.

 

 

What are doing to our children? – Stanley was ‘’Rescued in the nick of time.’’

Stanley said ‘My names are Stanley Mutua Kariuki. ‘’I was on the streets for less than a month until I was rescued by the Nairobi County officials.’’ Good people, “Look at the state of this child.”  A few years ago, I boarded a bus in Nairobi with a child that we had rescued from the streets who looked just like this boy. People were looking at me questioning, “How come you are smartly dressed and your child looks so filthy?” Stanley looked frail and emotionless as he limped to his seat because he was nursing a wound on his right leg after a car accident few months ago. Stanley and his brother had been living with his dad since his parents separated due to irreconcilable differences.   

 

Stanley told us that he got lost at a bus terminus when he was heading to his rural home with his older brother and cousin. He could not negotiate the streets of the city.  Fear gripped him as he got separated from his brother and cousin.  He however got a reprieve when he was rescued by the city authorities and taken to JK rehab centre. 

How saddening to see increased cases of broken families in our society leaving the children to bear the brunt as they lack parental love to emulate and nurturing which would help them become responsible citizens!

We rescued Stanley in August and reunited him with his mum.  He didn’t wanted to go back to his dad for fear of receiving harsh punishment. Stanley’s mother received the team well embracing her son joyfully like a prodigal son. She planned to contact his dad to inform him that Stanley was safe with her.  Stanley was readmitted to school in September as his mother had promised. We have planned meeting to try and reconcile Stanley’s parents at the same time monitor his progress.

 

During a recent follow-up, Stanley’s mum was elated to see the team who she appreciated for keeping their word.   She reported that she had reunited her son with his dad after contacting her husband.  Stanley’s dad said he had also been looking for him. She also reported  that she has sought the help of her relatives to visit her former matrimonial home where they had a cordial meeting.  They are working toward reconciling Stanley’s parents for sake of Stanley and his siblings’ safety. The process of restoration begins from the streets and continues in the communities.  It is crucial to equip and empower the parents and their communities.

 

Stanley got lost while caught between visiting his mother leaving his father behind.    Let the fathers’ hearts turn to their children and the  hearts of children turn to their fathers.  Only then will the nation experience the real Jubilee blessing.  Children get their identity from their fathers. Where does Stanley belong? 

Stories like this bring tears to my eyes as the photos tell the real story of poverty and struggle. Let’s arise together to restore the family for the sake of the future generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Thank you so much for this gift’, says Karanja, grandmother

 

It was over a year ago when we rescued Joseph Karanja.  He looked weak and sickly, but very happy to be going home. He was excited to be served ‘real’ food and sleep in a comfortable bed, after sleeping on the streets for months. He had a persistent cough at night and we assumed it may have been caused by exposure to cold or allergy while on the streets and so we bought him antihistamine tablets.  

The journey home was smooth and but there was no one to welcome us home.  Some kind neighbours quickly offered to send a child to go fetch Karanja’s grandmother.  The joy of having her grandson back home was evident.  She said that she’d been Karanja’s guardian since he was three when his mother died of HIV/AIDS.  She added that Karanja had the same condition and that’s one of the reasons why she was worried about his disappearance to the streets.

We visited Karanja recently to check how he was doing. The great news is that he is back to school. His teachers say he is changed and working hard. Karanja is focused on his future but he expressed his challenge of living in a small and dusty house.  They needed a room for him. Together with our partners, they now have a three bed-room house. Karanja’s family lived in the mud built house to the right…. but they recently moved to this…Lifting their reproach and shame in the community.

Thank you so much for this gift, says Karanja’s family.  With partnership we go further.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored run 

Swansea Bay 10k on Sunday September 22^nd

 

Edwin of TKW is walking three boys home and that’s what the TKW does week in week out.  You can walk one more child home with them.  Returning one child back to their family means bringing hope to one family, one community and one nation.  It takes one to engage in the process to help one child walk home.

Walking another child home from the streets is a race we must win together.

Over the past year Heddwyn (66), went to the gym at least 2-3 times a week to prepare to take part in Swansea Bay 10k 2013.  Why would hewake up early to be in the gym before 7 am? He has a reason and a purpose. This is a race with a difference.  It is a race for life – walking one more child home to his family is matter of life or death.  You say, ‘I can’t run’, but you can sponsor them as they run to walk a child home.  Since January 2013, TKW team in Nairobi has reunited more than one hundred children with their families, but they were devastated to hear that one boy called George recently died on the streets without finding his way back home. That’s one child too many.  Their cry: “Come run with us for this is a race for life we must win”.

 

One race for life for one more child, one family and one community.  Isaiah Murimi has had many challenges since returning back to his family, but he is adjusting and helping his grandmother with shores on their small farm.  He is back in his community where he belongs.  We continue to monitor his restoration process which doesn’t happen overnight.

Go, go Heddwyn, Shiru, Wale, Go!  There is a huge crowd of people cheering you on. Come one!  Come all.  Walking another child home from the streets is a race we must win together. Let’s make this race for life count as we raise hundreds of pounds to walk 100 more children home before Christmas.  Heddwyn is still collecting his sponsorship money. He run for 4km and his knee started hurting so he walked the rest of the way and sprinted at the end.  He has raised nearly £600 while his target was £1,500! One race for life for one more child, one family and one community.

 

Jimmy’s story is beyond what words can express.

Who would have expected to see such joy and pain mixed together? As we got off the bus at Kangemi stage, a suburb of Nairobi Jimmy led the way through the market to his home. He is a quiet, calm, thirteen year old boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo. As we followed him, there was a sudden shout by the women “Hi young boy, stop there and do not try to move. Where have you been? Furaha (means joy) has been looking for you everywhere.” The voice of one woman sounded like Jimmy had committed a crime before running to the streets. We calmed down the gathering crowd and sought clarity. Briefly one woman explained that Jimmy’s mother Furaha was one her regular customers.  She said that Furaha one day broke down in tears as she narrated to them how she had walked everywhere looking for her son.

We requested one of them to accompany us to Jimmy’s home. It was a long walk, but these two ladies accompanied us and pointed to a poster bearing Jimmy’s details and contacts. As we entered the gate, Jimmy’s mother sprinted towards us. She was crying, screaming and calling out his name! Jimmy stood still, terrified and filled with confusion because he did not expect this kind of welcome.   Furaha embraced her son and both fell to the ground. Jimmy’s father came out crying as well and picked Jimmy up from his mother as we tried to calm the parents suggesting to them to thank God for Jimmy’s return.

Jubilation, singing, prayer took place. Jimmy’s parents shared with us how he left home. As a team, we were greatly encouraged to see the family embrace their son and prayed for total restoration of their relationship. This was very refreshing especially to see the joy of the family on receiving their lost and found child.  This kind of joy is what takes us back to the streets again and again to rescue another child – every child needs a family.

 

Here is a video that captured the reaction of Jimmy’s family when they first saw him.

Warning, the video might be distressing for some viewers.

 

‘Never again’, said Samuel

Have you ever lost a child?  We lost one of our boys when he was five for five long minutes in London.  It’s an experience not to be repeated.  If you are lost, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve been lost for a day, a week, a month or a year.   That’s why Jane, a hard working mother could not help asking Samuel, “My son, why would you run away to the streets while I am still alive?” with a voice filled with deep agony. But the question on Samuel’s mind as they got closer home was, “What will my mother say when I return home?” These are heart searching questions with no easy answers.  A week on the streets is a long time when this is not your lifestyle. He told us, “I have always obeyed my mother but I was influenced to go to the streets by one of my best friends”.

Jane, Samuel’s mother was glad to see her son alive and well, unable to fight back the tears of joy trickling down her face. She had enlisted the help of the entire village of Thingati to help her look for her son.

Shesaid, “I was sick with worry as I agonized over the loss of my child.  Now I need to move on and get Samuel into vocation training”.  Jane is a hard working mother who is able to cater adequately for her family.   Her first born is joining university while the second born will be doing his A levels exams this year.  Samuel is a bright young man who is determined to study hard to get the technical skills that he needs become a blessing to his family and a responsible citizen. We pray that God will establish and restore Samuel to his family.

 

Fear of punishment led him to the streets:

Klein Oketch

disappeared from home because he could not explain how money disappeared while he was playing with his friends in his house. Klein panicked took to the streets leaving his father, Mr.Oketch searching for his son every night after work but all in vain.  All that Klein needed was someone to accompany him and plead on his behalf. On arriving back home, he found that his father had forgiven him and wanted him back home. Klein’s father has financial challenges so we pleaded with the school head-teacher to allow Klein back to school who waived part of the school fees making it easier for Klein to resume school. Klein and his family are working on the way forward.

Samuel & Klein say, ‘Street life, never again’.  For the process of restoration for Samuel and Klein, we require a minimum of 3 follow up visits spreading over 3 months which will cost Ksh 8,000/£80/$12.  Klein’s family will need support to keep him in school.  Together we can do it.

Catherine is 12, alone and lonely having lost both parents, grandparents and Aunt Rose whose addiction to alcohol led her to the streets.  We had to snatch her from the streets to a safe place.  “…caring for the orphans…in their distress…” leading to purposeful living.  Will you?

Catherine was born in Siaya County, near Lake Victoria, an only child of Boniface Odhiambo and Evelyn Achieng. She lost her father in 2010 at a tender age of nine years.   Catherine’s mum decided to go to Nairobi in search of greener pastures, leaving her daughter under the care of her grandparents.  Evelyn had promised to come back for her daughter when she got a job but this was not to be, she did not return home.

Catherine continued with her education while living with her grandparents who soon died leaving her under the care of various relatives.  But soon help was at hand. Her aunt Rose Otieno came to her rescue brought her to Nairobi and took her to a good school. But Aunt Rose lost her job leaving her very desperate this led Rose to seek solace from drinking which developed in to addiction making her abandon the responsibility of taking care of Catherine. Under all these circumstances, Catherine was no longer enjoying being a child like all other children. She would cook for herself and her aunt when food was available.  Without a job and alcohol addiction, Aunt Rose was no longer able to pay Catherine’s school fees.  Catherine dropped out of school and ended up on the streets to escape her aunt’s beatings.

We found a sad looking Catherine on the streets of Huruma estate in Nairobi in a desperate state. She was ready to go back to her relatives in Siaya.  We rescued her and travelled to Siaya.  There was joy and jubilation when her uncle’s wife saw us after an overnight journey to Seme, Siaya, she could not believe that her niece was back. They embraced each other “hello gamano nyasae” meaning thank you God.  Catherine was back home where she belongs.  One follow-up visit to Siaya will cost Ksh8455/=/$100/£80. Five people giving a monthly gift of £8/Kshs 1,200/$10 for three months will enable TKW Team to monitor Catherine’s progress. Educate a child.  Empower him/her for life. “…caring for the orphans…in their distress…” leading to purposeful living.  Will you?

Week 28 July 12, 2013

 

 

This could be your child – just like that, he disappears without any trace for months and then strangers bring him back!  Joseph Omondi had left home without arguing with anyone and without permission, influenced by his best friend.  Listen to Joseph’s mother’s reaction as we approached his home. She emerged from the main house screaming and running towards her son. We were startled at first at the gesture since we thought Joseph’s parents would be angry with him. Joseph’s mother embraced her son as she made ululations as tears streamed down her cheeks. ”Nyasaye 

Nyasaye Nyasaye ber ber…. (God, God, God you are so good),” These were her words as she looked closely to make sure it was truly her son. Joseph was clinging tightly to his mother’s embrace. He was definitely happy to be home.  As this was happening Joseph’s father had such a sparkle in his eyes, his son was back. “You must be angels sent to answer our prayers,” said Joseph’s father. Joseph asked for forgiveness from both his parents.

Everything came to a standstill.   Joseph’s siblings sat gazing at him and when their eyes met Joseph’s they would smile. They told him how they had missed him and urged him not to leave them again. Joseph promised them that he will not leave home again.  

Joseph’s dad ushered us into the house where Mr. Owino their church elder was seated. Arriving at Joseph’s family home at this time was not a coincidence because they had called Mr Owino to join them to pray for their son’s return. They rejoiced that their son had returned home safe and sound.  It was a thanksgiving day and the family was happy to receive their son and Mr. Owino their church elder offered to be Joseph’s mentor.

 

We thank God for this happy reunion. Many children like Joseph desire to go home it costs Kshs.10,000/£80/$120, especially if a child has come from as far such as Western Kenya.  A small price to pay to make so much difference – Only Kshs1,000/£8/$12a month when 10 people get together. Together we can bring joy to many more families as lost children return back home.  Happy people are productive.  Let’s together to restore joy to our communities, one family at a time.

 

A sign of hope – family meeting

Remember our recent story of a 10 year old John who felt he needed to take up a father-figure role to support his mum. As TKW Team we believe in building support systems for the sake of every child’s restoration. After listening to John’s mum, Gakenia, we felt the need to call a family meeting that would include the community leaders.  John’s mum had high expectation as the outcome for this day.  For Gakenia this was a sign of hope that her husband Peter will take up his fatherly responsibilities.  She put on her best outfit as she anticipated her husband’s arrival.

On their way back from school, John and his siblings skipped on the hills of Kangaita village, Nyeri because they had heard that their dad was coming back home.

 

“It has been more than six months since he visited us,” said Gakenia in a sad tone to TKW Team. TKW Team understood that Peter, John’s dad had neglected his fatherly duties of providing for his family.  This family meeting was called to address these identified needs including Peter and Gakenia’s separation and provision for the family.  Suddenly, there was pin drop silence then we saw the children running towards the gate as they screamed, “Daddy, daddy!” Peter was carrying a bag which he dropped to embrace his children John and Njoki.  Gakenia went to embrace and welcome her husband. Peter was given time to settle down because he had travelled from Nakuru where he worked.  Gakenia’s pastor opened the meeting with prayer and then the purpose of meeting explained from Peter’s absence from home, support for his children to an agreed strategy for an income generating activity. John and his inseparable sister were out playing and we could hear them giggling.

Peter agreed to send regular support to his family and that other matters would be addressed gradually. The community leaders agreed to rally behind this family to make sure that Peter put his family into order. We hope to see Peter & Gakenia reunited and family restoration.