Many children are living on the streets are driven by various reasons:  the loss of family, lack of financial support or difficult living conditions at home, peer pressure or dreaming of a new life. We reintegrated 121 children from the streets with their families in September 2020. We are highlighting 3 stories of hope.

BRENDA:

Brenda was 14 years old when her mother abandoned her and her two younger siblings, but their grandmother opened her home to them. She had completed primary school education and was already in secondary school. Living with their grandmother for a year was not easy. Brenda dropped out of school in form two. She found work helping traders in the market. She then left home and joined a friend. She was paid very little and often she would only receive left over food.

These challenges pushed Brenda into a relationship hoping to get married. But the man responsible for her pregnancy abandoned her.
She struggled throughout the pregnancy but a lady trader in the market took her to her home and supported her. When she gave birth, the lady told her to go back home to her grandmother. Brenda could not afford the ticket home. She stayed on the streets with a few weeks old baby until her reintegration with her family.

TKW team offered her the support she needed to get off the streets and back home in preparation for going back to school.  As we support Brenda, we have to work with her relatives to find out who could take care of her baby as she goes back to school.

ALVIN:

A week ago, Alvin was a child living on the streets.  He would often go for days without food. He spent his time collecting garbage and recyclables to make money to buy food.
Alvin joined the streets through the influence of his friend who had been on and off the streets. Life at home had become difficult and felt that his dream of becoming a teacher was being shattered. He had the desire of going back home but did not know what was waiting for him at home.  TKW team rescued him and reintegrated him with his family. 
Alvin is now safe at home receiving the support he needs. His mother is raising Alvin and his 2 siblings alone. She does casual jobs to provide for her family’s needs.  Her desire is to open a small cereal business to improve her income. Tumaini Kwa Watoto would like to support her to start this business to stabilize the family for Alvin and his siblings.

LEON:

11 year-old Leon had ran away from home and lived on the streets for a month and a half. His family was broken, his father was often drunk and there were regular domestic fights between his parents. This situation had driven him to the streets which he now describes as the worst time of his life. He was rescued from the streets and reintegrated with his family this month.
Before the journey home, we gave him a warm meal and a shower. The day was a new beginning for him. We traced his family and the reconciliation was facilitated.
Today he is at home in a safe dwelling place. We initiated counseling between the parents and the father has decided to change for the sake of his family. We introduced them to a community volunteer who will continue supporting the family.

Thank you for your continued partnership to support families like Alvin. Our friends and partners help us get the children back to school to start dreaming again.  With your help, Alvin’s dream to become a teacher will come alive. You have also supported the families to stand and hope for their future restored.

Wounds that time healed…

Many children we rescue from the streets come from broken families. These children are often carrying pain, bitbitterness and hopelessness. Many times, streets seem the safest home for them. But we are Tumaini Kwa Watoto, restoring hope through the love of Christ.

In July, 101 children were removed from the streets of different counties and this only means more families to restore.
We tell a story today, of wounds that time healed…

For year Elizabeth* endured physical abuse from her then-husband. She lived to shield her children from the violent man and many months at a time to leave, but ultimately having to go back because she never wanted her children to grow without a father..

She was financial unstable and the husband’s control kept her from gaining stability on her own and for her children. Her husband made sure he had cut off any access to money for her and any time she begun a small business, he would destroy it.

In reality, facing these overwhelming hurdles, Elizabeth never knew when these abuse would end or where to begin if she decided to separate from her abuser and hence  shelter, employment, childcare, safety, basic needs were her biggest cares.
Staying seemed easier…She could endure the abuse for the sake of her children. Once in a while the abuser would change to a good and supportive man but never lasted for weeks without a negative shift. He was alcoholic and this was his means of power and control over Elizabeth. She was stuck…

One day, the husband came home drunk and in his abuse tried to strangle her in front of her 3 children. This was the beginning of an end. The daughter who is in secondary school now, hit the abuser to release the mother. The husband turned his aggression to the daughter and that how Cynthia ended up on the streets- With no home, no family and no hope for the future. Was she finally ready to ask for support from someone?
Yes, it was time for Elizabeth to quit the relationship, safe her children from the abuser and relocate to begin a new life. So she left the relationship feeling broken and full of pain. While the daughter 14 years old was at large, she went to different offices to report a lost daughter. And God connected Cynthia with TKW team while on the streets. The mother was traced and reunited with her daughter. This marked the beginning of Elizabeth and children healing journey. Through follow ups, counseling, prayers and financial support, Elizabeth wounds were healing. Her daughter, who had spent a few months on the streets, was returned home, back to school and connected with a supportive system to keep her focused.

HOPE: For families pushed to the edge

Loss of income is devastating families in poverty, without work and no food on the table, making it hard to comply with government health advice. Most families depend on casual, low paid or unstable work and when a crisis like this happens, many have lost their jobs and have nothing to fall back on.

Sadly, some homes are not always a safe haven, in times of financial stress.   Many children as forced to join the streets and that is why we keep going and keep calm in this storm because every child matters.

During this covid-19 crisis, we have been there to support the poorest household with food and some cash to boost their livelihood. For children forced to study from home, we have bought educational materials for them. With this initiative we ensure that children, the most vulnerable family members are stopped from returning to the streets, safe and protected.

EVERY CHILD HAS A STORY…

92 children have been removed from the streets and reunited with their families by community volunteers.

Here’s a snippet….

Mwai says: ‘I have been in the streets for 2 months. The main reason that brought me to the streets is money. I wanted to look for money but didn’t find any. Life on the streets is not easy and we end up getting only a few coins for food. I am happy to go back home although my parents may not have money to give me, they could be looking for me.’

Mwai was rescued and reintegrated with his family this month. As he had feared, his parents were looking for him and had reported his disappearance to the local authority.

“I know that education is important and that is why I would like to go back when school opens,” Mwai concluded.

Julius says, “I came to the streets because a friend introduced me. I have found life is hard here. We wake up in the morning, and walk begging for money from passersby in the streets, shops and any place that we think we might get help.

Life on the street has not been good as my friend made it to be. One has to always be weary of police officers and county council officers who constantly arrest children on the streets. I have been brutally beaten many times and left to nurse injuries. The lock-down in Nairobi has stopped me from going back home”.

Elsie says, “I love my mother very much and that’s why I’m not afraid of going home. I want to go back home for this is not a life I would wish on anyone. I have failed my mother and despised her with my behavior. If I get a chance to go back to school, I want to excel in my studies so that I can support her when I get a good job.

Thank you, our friends and partners for walking with us. Tumaini Kwa Watoto team together with community volunteers in different Counties have related, rescued and reintegrated 92 children with their families in June.  Together making a lasting difference to the lives of children and their families!

REFLECTION…

How many times do we walk down the streets and judge others based on their looks, supposed poverty, smell, clothes, or presumed state of mind? But why must these judgments exist in everyday society? We are called to spread the pure “Love” of God, but we get held back by our own prejudices.

As TKW we are always challenged to make sure our hearts are open-wide and welcome every person that we meet especially children on the streets and their families because Jesus afraid of the homeless.

There are many children in the streets right now. Many who have been locked in the city due to the current lock down. Their desire is to go back home and TKW team has been meeting with them for a relating time, a meal and prayers to keep hope alive as they await their removal from streets once the lock down is over; hopefully soon.

Ochieng is one of the young men TKW met. He is 15 and knows the streets too well, as he has lived there for over 7 months. His reason for being on the streets was disagreements with his parents.

 “I used to be very cunning and my parents kept on warning me about the behavior. “One day I met with some old friends who had dropped out of school and we left for the city. ”But in the streets life has not been easy. To survive, I have had to look for odd jobs to do…Before this crisis “I used to wash clothes for a friend of mine who was a shoes trader and he would pay me so coins to allow me to eat. Now, I just want to go home. I would love to go back to school.

He was previously in Form 1 at a secondary school in Western Kenya.

Chattering words 10-year-old Cynthia* says:

“I do not know where my mum is, but I know that she is still alive. At times we have slept without food but I cannot complain – to whom, anyway? My father is working hard and I cannot discourage him. I only pray to God that one day my mother will come back so that we can all be a family again.”
I want to learn a lot of things in school and to get an education. But now schools are closed…Who knows when they will open? I would like to become a doctor or a teacher and help other people especially children to get a happy life.

As TKW team we pray the one day we shall come to meet Cynthia’s mother and ask her hard questions for her daughter…How could she as a mother walk away from her children? Were her children not embedded inside of her to an extent of abandoning them?

Distressing Call from a Mother, Pulled Lurky Back Home

“Hello, my name is Juliet . I have been given your contacts by a lady whose child was on the streets and you rescued them. My son got lost 1 month ago and I have reported the case to the nearby police station.  I hear he could be in town because he has always wanted to go to his grandmothers’ place.  Kindly his name is Lurky aged 11 years old… If you happen to find him on the streets please contact me. I shall be forever grateful…”

This was Lurky’s mother distressing call to one of TKW team member. Her request seemed impossible as the team meets many children on the streets. Most of these children change their name to protect their identity bearing in mind that Lurky could have been in another town too. But the search was on.

For a month, Lurky was nowhere to be found but as the team diversified the search; Lurky who is 11 years old was rescued from the streets by TKW team. Fortunately, he had not changed his name nor was he sniffing any glue. God had protected him. A Good Samaritan with a food kiosk in an open market in Nairobi had given him a place to sleep and food to eat. Lurky would sweep the kiosk daily and this earned him peace.

(more…)

Street Championing, and TKW is leading the way

One by one, we have rescued 50 children from the streets in April. With the help of the community volunteers in different Counties opportunities continues to emerge.

In Nairobi where movement in and out of the County is ceased, many affected street families are facing uncertain times with their inability to effectively self-isolate, get food and other basic. Children in Nairobi County streets who come from other counties around the country cannot be repatriated. We have seen an opportunity to offer psychosocial counseling, informal schooling and also feeding where possible.

Joel*, a teenager on the streets of Nairobi and comes from Eldoret, shared. “We get food when there are many people opening businesses here but nowadays most people stay home …We have no stock for ourselves and it is even hard that going back home is not possible… For a survivor like me on the street your store is your stomach…

We have chosen not to focus on the challenge right now of accessing the streets of Nairobi so that we can continue to operate. The window of opportunity to reach out children on the street is NOT shrinking.

Mwangi* a young boy in Nyeri County was rescued last week by a community volunteer after being on the streets for 2 week abandoned by his mother. The parents separated and the mother had nothing to feed her children on. She left him on the streets. He was reunited with his family and family supported…

***

Adults can persevere hunger for a day, but for a little child like this, he can’t. We have opportunities not to watch them stay hungry on the streets and whatever it takes, return them to safe habitation in their families.

WHAT NEXT?

As you can see, TKW team are busier than ever, and it will take more than a lock down to keep them from giving support to the children and their families who are relying on them at this frightening time. That said,

We are so grateful to all those who have so generously contributed toward TKW work!!!

Being there in Such a time as this…

Children on the streets and families are part of vulnerable groups right now. We are prioritizing children who want to go back home. Larger Numbers are being rescued and repatriated back to their families.

Children’s homes and government rehab centers are overwhelmed and looking for TKW team help in reintegration of children since there is no school, no government support and no funding from private companies.

There are also new cases of mothers and children flocking the streets to look for food since small businesses and casual jobs are unavailable.

Many families are sleeping hungry. For every season, God is working and in TKW we succeed in what we do – redirecting the destiny of hopeless child, restoring them into God’s order. 

Our work around the Counties

WE are making every effort within our means to help when children need us most while taking greatest precaution. We continue to work with community volunteers in the counties.  We have cut down all local travel. 

Communication is mainly on phone to update ourselves on what is happening with children that we have reunited with families.  Those in need of basic provisions are assisted through mobile money.

Whether children are at risk due to current crisis or not we make sure we aim to provide all we can to ease their suffering and help them to recover.

How can you help children and families now?

There are so many ways you can support TKW. You could donate to this specific appeal – to repatriate children in larger numbers to their home counties/ and families.

You could also choose to support a family with basic needs like food, as a one-off gift, several months or longer.

We are grateful for the work we have done in the counties restoring families, but also recognize we have a long way to go...

TUMAINI NEWS- February 2020

HOPE- For Every Child, a Journey of Faith…

Removing children from the streets it is everyone’s responsibility to make it successful. No child should ever be harmed by those who have the duty to protect them.

While children should not be forcibly removed from the only home they know (streets), Tumaini Kwa Watoto serves everyday not to leave a child exposed to danger with no protection or recourse to justice by tracing their families and reuniting them. We also work together with their families toward their stability no matter the crisis that befell them.

Working with families and the community volunteers especially well known to the children has helped in preventing their return to street life.

This only means that as children living on the street come from different regions of the country, we have to work hard to raise a supportive system for them once reintegrated back into their communities.

A Journey of HOPE- Nyandarua County

Tumaini Kwa Watoto team works in all 47 Counties in Kenya But current focus is strengthening the work of Community volunteers in 5 counties namely- Nakuru, Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu and Nyandarua. This does not mean that a child on the streets from other Counties is left unattended, we rescue them. Tumaini Kwa Watoto defends children rights and helps them fulfill their potential from childhood through adulthood

In February our Meet, Greet, Share and Pray Initiative happened in Nyandarua County- the Journey of Hope. We met with our friends in the county, main agenda being to bring prayers together through prayer walks around the main town concerning the needs of children and families. We reaffirmed our commitment in children protection, healthy and education hence working together to give children a fair chance to fulfill their potential.

We later took a break to visit Thomson’s Falls – a breathtaking tourist site.

 We are Tumaini- Hope for every child. And we never give up.

HOPE– Calling into being things that are not…

Already 100 children from the streets and vulnerable situations around our Counties have been reunited with their families.

Working in the Counties involving the Community Volunteers to see children settled into transformed families and into Gods order has been our best decision. This year you will see more of this.

Tumaini Kwa Watoto commitment to seeing every child on the streets restored and back into their families started well this year 2020. And …As our Busia County Director of Children’s Services said recently…“If people stop giving alms to street children they will be discouraged from living in the streets.”

Out of the children who completed primary education in 2019, 12 boys and girls were admitted into secondary school through Tumaini Kwa Watoto sponsorship program.

From our 2019 Secondary school candidates, 9 were invited for a one week life skills training to prepare them for colleges/universities toward their career path.

Our first Meet, Greet, Share and Pray initiative with County volunteers also began in Nakuru where we had a day of prayer for the children and families. There was also sharing time and prayers walks around the major town.

We are excited of what 2020 has in store for us and we invite you friends to be part of this. Would you join us in helping these children get off the streets and back with their families? Your donations will go a long way in helping us change the life of the more than 1000 children living on the streets of Kenya that we plan to reintegrate in 2020.

• We are grateful to our friends and partners around the world for their generous support and walking with us in 2019- 403 children were removed from the streets.
• Because of your giving we have been able to expand our work in the counties by training and equipping community caregivers who are helping in rescuing children in their counties and walking with them and their families because they are on the ground.
• Because of your generous giving and support 114 children sat for their primary school education, 23 sat for their final secondary school education and end of 2019, 33 students are being supported through high school by end of 2019 meaning this No may increase in January.
• We have had many opportunities to make a real difference to the lives of children and families because you prayed and supported us in 2019. Thank you and May God refresh you!!

A sustainable way to rescue children from the street is through re-integrating them back into their family and community. And Tumaini Kwa Watoto ultimate goal is to rescue and reintegrate children into their families and communities.

It has often been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Children need a chance to grow to their full potential in life, and it is our job to help raise children and give them the ability to rise to their true prospective. For every child removed from the streets, there is always a need to raise a volunteer care giver who walks with the family in supporting the child.

We have Volunteers who are categorized into two categories: Primary who include biological parents, children in the family and relatives; Secondary volunteers who include teachers, spiritual leaders’, health workers, law enforcement officers, children officers, Voluntary community workers and social workers in children homes/institutions, organization among others. The categorization is thus, not rigid. It only helps us note that biological parents have the basic bigger role in raising the child which they should not assume someone else will play.

Our team accompanies the children to reunite them with their families and communities and support them if difficulties arise. The parents receive assistance to cope with family-related problems and child-rearing skills. In addition to helping parents, our team paves the way for children and young people to receive education and/or vocational training.

***

Partnership in the Counties

NAKURU COUNTY

Nakuru County became a main focus due to the influx of children in the streets of Nairobi from Nakuru County. This was also due to post election violence in 2007 which scattered many families and children were greatly affected. This brought in the idea of training the community and churches on the plight of children especially those scattered in the streets. They could receive care from the community once rescued and prevented from joining the streets again.
In June 2013, the training Community Volunteers in Kenyan counties begun in Nakuru County; One pastor who heard about rescued children by Tumaini Kwa Watoto invited the team to train the congregants on how to restore children from the streets into their families. For this first training, 22 parents and pastors attended.

After 2013 training, we took time because the outcome was not as we were expected because we needed to raise people who could work with us but the first training turn out to be an awareness meeting. Second meeting January 2015 with a new strategy was conducted, this time community workers, pastors and volunteers from Nakuru were invited. A total of 57 participants took part in the training. Ten of these people were really interested and willing to work with Tumaini Kwa Watoto in streets of Nakuru. 7 children were rescued and reunited with their family that year.
From 2016, to November 2019, 47 children have been rescued and over 60 follow up of the reintegrated children done by the Tumaini Team and the Community Volunteers in Nakuru County. One key person in coordinating the work in Nakuru County amongst 4 other volunteers is Mr. Hillary who has remained consistent and committed to Tumaini work in this County.

NYANDARUA COUNTY

Tumaini Kwa Watoto goal is to continue making a difference in the lives of children, families and communities.  Tumaini Kwa Watoto cannot achieve this goal alone; we have therefore incorporated others on the ground to support the children and families when we are not there. In Nyandarua County we have been actively engaging Children Officers and Volunteers. One specific care giving volunteer is called Eunice. For the past three months through training and practical work in the county, 26 children were rescued, 17 went back to school and 9 will be joining in January. Through Eunice, counseling, spiritual guidance and family empowerment has been offered.

NYERI COUNTY

Meeting Phyllis was not a coincidence, she was already known as a volunteer, counseling and praying with children in the streets of Nyeri town. She had tried to rescue several children on her own but had no knowledge on how to go about it. Tumaini team connected with her and introduced her to their vision. They walked the street of Nyeri town together relating with children and for the willing, a rescue was planned. In the family, the children were reintegrated. And Phyllis was introduced as one to follow up on the cases. It has been journey of 4 months, and 28 children have been rescued, 21 went back to school and 7 will be joining in January. 1 family was also empowered and several others needing help. Phyllis has followed up most of these children through Tumaini Kwa Watoto facilitation.

KIAMBU COUNTY

Kiambu County is a town itself and has several other towns in it.  For it to be our key focus was because there are other major towns linked to it. A number of children from the neighboring towns have come to the streets. There are slums like Kiandutu which is a home to children who visit the street and return to their families at night.
TKW entry to Kiambu County town was to create support systems for the children rescued in that county and a care giver from the community was required. Through networking Mr. Njuki was found to be the best community caregiver volunteer. Tumaini Team trained him practically on how to relate with children on the streets, how to prepare them for reintegration, tracing the families, bringing reconciliation and follow-ups. Together with Mr. Njuki- caregiver in Kiambu County, 15 children have been reintegrated back into their families and 10 have already gone back to school.

EMBU COUNTY

A year ago, a team member from Tumaini Kwa Watoto rescued a child from the streets of Nairobi and the children family was from Embu. During reintegration of the child, the team member met with a Sunday school teacher called Susan who the child family forwarded to know the child. Susan work in the church and church school was known in the locality and her passion was her testimony. She inquired how she could get involved with Tumaini and it was a perfect way to train and practically taken to the streets of Embu town, related, prayed with the children.

Some of those who wanted to go home, reintegration was facilitated and over time of building trust in the families, Susan was introduced as our community volunteer who the families could reach out to first in case of a follow up, guidance and support.

The team works hand in hand with the families and the community care givers to make sure the child have a community around them. So far 12 children have been removed from the streets and back into their families. 8 went back to school and 4 waiting to join in January.

***

Community Volunteers are a vital link in Tumaini Kwa Watoto 4Rs Reintegration model. (Relate, Rescue, Reintegrate and Restore). The well-being of these Community Volunteers who are supporting children and their families is important and Tumaini Kwa Watoto is committed to equipping them. They are helped to remain healthy for effective service delivery since this is a challenging work that requires a lot of support.
Many life changing and restoration stories of children in the community are made possible by people like Hillary, Phyllis, Eunice, Njuki and Susan who are volunteering their time and energy with Tumaini Kwa Watoto. They believe it is time to bring hope to the darkest places in their Counties. Every child who passes through our hands has a story. You can learn more about this work, these children and the people we serve by visiting:
www.kenyachildrenofhope.org

In Tumaini, we have over 70 students sitting for their final exams this week and into November. It is through the empowerment of an education that these children will grow up and bring a positive change in their communities and the nation at large.

The month of October has been a success. We have had very many activities take place; from rescues, working in the Counties, children in schools and now having our students that we have walked with for days, months and years, both primary and secondary schools do their final exams.
Education empowerment provides hope for countless generations and for every child removed from the streets by Tumaini Kwa Watoto, must get an education.
The end of primary and secondary school marks an important point in the academic years of many Kenyan students. And this means that the end of the school year, students take the pivotal Kenya Certificate of Primary/secondary Education exam.  

Like many children removed from the streets by Tumaini Kwa Watoto team… John* still recalls with a shudder how he narrowly escaped death on the streets. He narrates:

“I became a Chokora (street boy) and started eating from dustbins and sleeping in ditches. It was better being on my own than seeing mum suffer,” He says, adding that street life gave him insight into human meanness.
“I thought about the best way to end my life when life got tough. I entertained the thought of  hanging myself or climbing a nearby high-voltage electric post and getting electrocuted. But then I imagined myself dying…. I eventually realized I did not have the courage to go through with such self-inflicted pain,”
“My tears rolled down my cheeks many time, but a day came, I don’t know how to explain this, but God used good people to rescue me. I completed my secondary education, went for training and now I work with the youths. I use my story to inspire them”…

And as our Minister prayed to kick off this exercise, We in Tumaini wish all our children the best…

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Prayed for all exam candidates in Kenya

“…Of all things dear Father, we thank you for the wonderful gift of these children that you have given us. As they start their exams this morning, we pray for them, that you commit them to your careful and loving hands that you may grant them confidence that they may understand that exams are nothing but part of what they are doing in schools as they move on with their education. We pray that you will grant them success Father,”
AMEN