Mentor-ship Camp
Our environment shapes us in one way or another…the shaping could be permanent or ill-fitting that many times it is difficult to “break out” unless we get out and into an enabling environment to break free from the past.

As students- our teens often attend school year with the same peers, which can lead to labeling and being stuck into a particular perception. Some of them may become known as serious or quiet, when really, they can be lively in another setting. Going to this mentor-ship camp, our young people meet a whole other group of people in a different environment. Most of them have a traumatic past and this categorization is mostly broken when a camp is given the chance.

This Camp was planned to help our teens to break out. The mentors gear them towards fellowship, bonding and discussing issues affecting them. It also serves as time away to pray and draw closer to God outdoors. The teens engaged in a buzz of activities during their April school holiday Mentor-ship Camp. Teens take part in daily teaching sessions, where Biblical principles and stories are interlinked into the camp theme, and taught in a way that is fun and relevant. Mentors also lead daily devotion within small group setting, to reinforce the teaching session and to give teens the opportunities to ask questions in a one on one setting.

Why Mentor-ship Camp?

Mentor-ship camp is important because it offers a structured opportunity for young people to grow. These teens go from home to school to extra- curricular, with each environment contributing to their development. Mentor-ship camp, then, is another unique venue for growth, allowing them to become independent and self-confident, while socializing and making new friends, and even learning new skills. For our young people who are in high school, Mentor-ship camp helps them build a unique interest toward their future while still growing in faith. It offers them distraction-free option, allowing them time to kick the tires and learning from different environment.

As our young minds absorb the benefits of the School holiday Mentor-ship Camp experiences there are plenty of feedback to draw from and report on one mentor-ship Camp alone.

REMARKS

“This camp has changed my life. There are things I was struggling with, I couldn’t ask for counsel from my mother and these questions were answered here”. Thank you for giving me this opportunity…

 “My experience at the camp was the best…having mentors to talk to and listen to us. It was one that I shall forever remember.”

“This was a camp with a difference. I thank God I was part of it. I wish this could happen every school holiday!”

“If it was my wish, I would want to come every camp whenever we close school. Could I come to the next one? Please consider me.”

To You Our Partners

On behalf of our teenagers, Tumaini Kwa Watoto wishes to express heartfelt gratitude for your help in financing this Mentor-ship camp…. Special thank you to Alastair and Sandra– With your assistance, 15 young people were able to go to camp and learn. God bless you!

Great challenges Resolved- When we all work together

One of the biggest myths is that children in centers are there because they have no parents. This is not the case. Most are there because their parents simply can’t afford to feed, clothe and educate them. But, with the right kind of support, most families would be able to keep their children. And when it’s just not possible for a child to live with his or her parents, there are other family and community-based options where they can be cared for and protected.

In Tumaini Kwa Watoto, Child comes first even as we work collaboratively with local authorities and community members.

We believe that every child should grow up in a transformed environment and this can only happen where supportive structures are working. This means that a child should not be kept away from their families hence not in a children’s home/institution.

With experience of many years, Tumaini Kwa Watoto has realized that supporting families and communities so that they can look after their children themselves might seem more complicated in the short term but in the long term, it pays immensely.

Not only are children more likely to grow well and go on to be better parents, they are more likely to contribute to their communities and to their country’s development.

We at Tumaini Kwa Watoto have witnessed this through our work with governments and local community that are already putting it into practice.

FACTS

• More than 80% of children living in institutions have a living parent. We make every effort to reunite these children with their birth family, in all possibility.
• We actively collaborate with governments, other non-profits and local authorities to strengthen family- to transform systems and give children a voice.

Even the greatest challenges can be solved when well-meaning people work together.

BUT YOU DO NOT GIVE UP

Whenever we see a child or family on the streets, we can tell the pain and agony these precious people go through. We love them and remind them of God’s plan for their lives. Their rescue however, comes with tremendous challenges. We do not always share success stories because some children end up on the streets again or some die and others end up in Jail.

About four years ago (Sept 2016), Tumaini team met a boy on the streets who had a broken foot. We befriended the 13 years old Josee* and got him out of the streets back into his family.

At home, his foot was treated and discharged out of hospital. The family was stable to cater for Josee’s basic needs and his father was actually a pastor meaning that Josee’s spiritual growth was also taken care off.

First 2 years after his reintegration, he was in school but life on the streets and its enticement kept sidetracking him. Severally we would be called to go counsel him and after our last visit, we were assured of Josee’s great progress.

Little did we know that he was not intending to continue with education at some point and he even disappeared from home. He went back to the streets and his father rescued him again but Josee truancy continued. He was later arrested with stolen goods and was taken to jail where he is serving his two years term. From our recent follow up, his father insisted that his son should stay the whole jail term for not listening to his parents and community. Josee’s case highlights few of other case of children rescued but later chose their way and some are in approved school. Resistance is real. Redemption comes from God and If one of them is unwilling to shift, we don’t force them. We continue praying for them

But not always do children get side tracked…many of our reintegrated children are progressing well toward their restoration. Many are completing primary schools and desiring to join high [dropcaps] 1 [/dropcaps] . Others are completing secondary schools and looking forward to joining universities, colleges and vocational training… Every child on the streets deserves a second chance. Many have genuine cases why they were once on the streets. So where is the help?

In a case like Iren*, 15 years old girl, after struggling through primary school with a sickly mother, as a first born she learnt to support her father in taking care of their needy family. Many times she would miss classes but not one time did she drop out. Her father was also overwhelmed for most of their family resources ended up in her mother’s treatment. In all this, Iren managed to complete her final primary school exam last November and she did her best given the circumstances that had surrounded her. She got 237 marks which was a good score to secure her a place in a secondary school. With 4 siblings behind her, that was it for Iren.
It can be very difficult when a parent is unwell for a long time. Iren’s family was overwhelmed by the cost and hence had no hope of ever joining a secondary school.
As a first born, she found work at her tender age to work as a shop attendant away from home and earning 4000Kshs, the whole amount went into supporting her mother and other family needs. When the team met with her, she wanted to go back home and had no means since she had been dismissed from work unfairly. “But I have come to realize education is important if I wanted to succeed in my life. If I am able to get education I could do better things and become a better person and help my family better. I wanted to go to school but I just don’t have the chance. That why I request to help me to go back home to try my chance again….”
Iren desire and hope is to go to secondary school and supporting her with school fees, it is empowering her family.
She has an admission letter a Girls secondary school but the fee is what is hindering her from being in the school.

LIGHT AT LAST!
Caro worked hard in primary school and scored 325 Marks out of 500 in her final exam. This was a year ago. As a total orphan and an only child remaining after losing her two siblings while toddlers, Her parents also died and Caro had to move from her paternal home to maternal grandmother. The grandmother who was very poor could not help Caro join High school. She could not raise the school fees. The girl had no option other than working as a casual laborer in their village to help put food on the table.

In June 2018, Caro traveled to Nairobi to look for house girl’s work. Though she succeeded in finding work, life was not easy for her as the lady of the house mistreated her. Caro was later chased out of the house at night. She met with a woman who housed her for that night and the following day she was taken to a police station where TKW team met her.

TKW team reunited Caro with her aunt who was happy to host her and had a desire to see her niece rejoin school. Though she had no help at that moment Caro stayed at home as the family looked for ways to help her join high school in 2019. In January 3^rd 2019, Caro’s aunt informed the team that Caro had joined school through the help of their Church.

She is now in Form one at a girls’ boarding school.

LIVING HER DREAM...
Suzy’s aunt, took the responsibility of educating her. She enrolled her in a rural boarding primary school and through a sponsor paid for her school fees. When she completed class 8, she scored 295 Marks. The sponsor could not pay for her high school fees and the aunt who is unemployed could not do so either. In the plan to help herself, Suzy ended up on the streets in such of better life.

The team met her and during relating, a tracing of her home was done on phone. She wanted to go to her grandmother and thus was reintegrated. Suzy expressed her desires of becoming the best hair dresser but had no one to enroll her into the course and paying her school fees. the team encouraged the family to try their best to see Suzy in vocational training.
When  the team visited her in January 2019, they were happy to discover that she joined a hairdressing course at the local community Polytechnic.  Suzy is now pursuing her dream. she had braided peoples hair during the holiday and this enabled her to pay part of her fees securing an admission into the Polytechnic. What a zeal!

THROUGH THICK AND THIN

Linda* is the second born in a family of four children. Her mother, a single lady and does casual labor to sustain their family. They live with Linda’s grandmother.
Her grandmother is unmarried and living in her own home. However she gave birth to Linda’s mother and her siblings out of wedlock; Now, Linda’s mother also unmarried lives with her mother with her children in the same house.

Linda* was rescued by police from the streets from what was seen as a child who had been lost. They were on their way to school with the mother and as they were closing the busy roads in the city, Linda was left on one side by the mother who proceeded with their journey on the busy streets without knowing the child was not behind. We met Linda at a police children’s desk and accompanied her home.

Linda’s mother narrated to the team how she went back to look for her daughter in vain. She went back home a distraught mother; but rejoiced when TKW team brought the girl back.  Linda is at home but still struggling with school fees. This term alone (Term 1) she needs Kshs 20, 500. The mother is trying to raise it and she needs our support

Breaking OUT of the Shells- discarding the labels

After closing school, two of our boys (Humphrey and James) called to request if they could be included in the group that was going for the holiday camp. They had attended a last term camp and the thought of missing another was not something they anticipated… the impact was great and they pleaded to be included. However, there were new young people who needed such a life transforming introduction and the camp was organized.

To give our children a safe place to learn and grow, a camp does that. Camp allows children that were previously on the streets but settling in their families the opportunity to escape from labels that might have been created in their previous setting, such as life on the streets.

When it happened…

Tumaini Kwa Watoto considers it important the kind of experiences children reunited with families get especially during school holidays. This come with a faith based one week camp that at least 10-15 boys and girls attend.
The camp encourages spiritual growth through a bible-centered environment, allowing children to focus on their relationship with God. I At the camp, inclusion of counselors allows children to break out of their shells in a conducive environment while still providing a strong sense of mature supervision.

All this happened in an environment that was accessible and away from their home creating memories and life transforming experiences. This camp was held on 11^th – 17^th November and 14 young people in high school attended.

 Camp teaches them how to get along with other people both their peers and adults.

Petro – Lack of basic needs led him to the streets. He comes from a poor family which appears to be disadvantaged by forces beyond their control. With his father’s inheritance being taken by his elder brother, he was left in a state of helplessness and no place to build a home for his children.

Petro is one of four children, two boys and two girls.  His is a casual worker whose income hardly meets the family’s needs. They live in one rented room. He is raising his family from hand to mouth and at times well-wishers come to his rescue. He is willing but is not able to educate them at all.  He is unable to provide privacy for his teenage sons and they try to find alternative accommodation.

These boys are eager to pursue their education, but they can’t afford books and pens to do their homework and they often steal from others.  They go to school in tattered uniforms and shoes with gaping holes. Their self-esteem and performance has been affected. Are you willing to restore human dignity to these children and by strengthening his family?  This family needs a plot of land to build a home and regular provision for basic needs for at least six months.  A monthly gift of £50 will give them a fresh start.  There is hope for Petro and his family because good people continue to do good.

For Adrian, peer influence led him to the streets: This boy needs a hand up not a hand out.  He was reintegrated with his parents who are peasant farmers in 2017. He came with his friends to the streets of Nairobi to experience city life but alas life was harsh and unbearable.  He longed to return home to rural western Kenya where he belonged.

He’s continuing with his education. His parents and teachers are very supportive but recently the TKW team received a message that he needed school uniform and a pair of shoes. ‘I have talked to his parents, but they haven’t been able to buy these items because they have five other children in school.’ Said Adrian’s teacher.  The other children laugh at him because of his tattered clothes affecting his self-esteem and academic performance.  Austin is an example of many children reintegrated back home but lack of basic needs slows them down.  A gift of £50 will provide these basics and enable such a child to continue with their education and move on in life.

‘I need help’ – Christoph came to the streets to find someone to help him access education because his grandmother is not able to educate him.  He is an orphan who was left in the care of his uncle who later abused him and kept threatening to throw him out of his house.  This is one of the challenges often faced by orphaned children.  He came to the streets to escape from his uncle.

On 12^th June 2018, TKW team reunited him with his grandmother who says, ‘I love my grandson very much, but I don’t have resources to provide for his needs.’  Working in partnership with the school administration, Christoph is now back to school and catching up with his peers.  He needs regular education support and to meet his basic needs.  Will you give Christoph a lift to access education?

2013 was a fruitful year with 145 young children reconnected with their families. It is said that a tree matures in its fifth year.  With this wisdom we recently set out to check the the progress of children who were removed from the streets five years ago.

We received mixed reactions: disbelief as well as joy that our concern was still warm and annoyance that we were reminding families of a difficult time they would rather forget.  Overall the outcome was encouraging that we sparked positive change and brought hope to reluctant young people to return to school, absent parents to be more available and distant relatives to engage with struggling families.  A few children gave up and returned to the streets while others dropped out of school.  A few didn’t make it at all and are now dead and buried.  We are glad we were there to offer hope when it mattered most. Thank you for your partnership.

CELEBRATING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS!

‘’ I thank God for Tumaini Kwa Watoto for supporting me throughout the past five years. When you took me home I thought it was the end of it. When you told me that you will visit me home again, I thought that you just wanted to convince me to go home.  And yet you kept your word. You came when all was well. And you also came when I had joined bad company and was almost dropping out of school. My mother, a single mother of five children did not care whether I went to school or not. She was busy as the sole provider in the family. Dropping out of school reduced her financial burden and sometimes I had to work as a casual labourer to get money for school fees. It was at this point that I joined bad company and even started taking drugs. I did not see myself going through secondary school. At that time, TKW team visited me and paid my school fees. My life turned around and I improved in my performance tremendously.  The head teacher allowed me to remain in school without paying school fees. This helped me to study without interruption. Today I am grateful to God and TKW for making my dream come true. I got a B+ in Kenya secondary Education Exams (KSCE) and I am joining University in September.  Thank you.’’ said Richie

Njau had initial challenges after rescue but he later enrolled for a catering course in a vocational training centre.  He acquired some life skills and he is now helping his mother to manage a food kiosk as well as run errands for their small business.

Joe was a product of absent parents who were out hassling to provide for their children.  Without parental supervision, Joe continued to join other children from the slum to go to the streets to find food.  But in in 2016 he went to his grandmother’s home and continued with school. After his father’s death in 2017, Joe dropped out of school while in secondary form two.  Joe is at home helping his grandmother on their farm.  Though Joe did not complete school, his life is much better that it would have been on the streets.  He says that his main goal is to see his siblings go through school successfully.  This is what motivates him to keep farming.

KEVO struggled with life after his parents separated. His mother left her three children with their grandmother. He soon run away to the streets to make a living for himself engaging with various activities like beginning, collected metal for and working at roadside café.

On rescue, we reunited Kevo with his grandmother but also contacted his dad to engage with his children.   Shortly after, his father picked Kevo then17 years old, from his grandmother.  He became an apprentice in his father’s metal workshop and he is now skilled in metal work.  Whenever the father travels, Kevo is left in charge of the workshop. He is now a responsible adult and is surrounded by his family. 

 Never quit

Keith’s case was one that we had to persist with the unwavering support of his mother.  He was rescued in May 2013 and we embarked on a long journey of eight hours to Western Kenya.  His mother received him well in spite the rejection from her community.  She tried everything with Keith to keep him in school. But five years down the line we got a sad report that the Keith dropped out of school and he is working as a casual labourer looking after livestock. It was disheartening because we had great expectations and we had invested much into his life – those long journeys (over 350 kilometres) to encourage and counsel but now he is only earning little pay.  That’s life, we never quit or give up on any child!

Life for Etemesi was shattered.  When we rescued him November 2013 because he was afraid of meeting the person who had abused him in his mother’s absence.  But today he is preparing to sit for Kenya Certificate Primary of Education (KCPE) exams.  He lives with his grandmother and his extended family has been very supportive.

Etemesi is motivated to work hard because he wants to become a doctor. His mother still works overseas but she is in regular contact with her children.

When I could not find him…James Mugambi, 11 years old

The journey was long, the road was dusty and the matatu (minibus) was overloaded. The team could not wait to arrive at James Mugambi’s home. They were anxious to find out what made the 11 years old boy leave home and travel over 350 km to an unknown place.

He was crying as a pastor from a church in Nairobi met him at the church gate. He still broke into tears as the team met with him at Kamukunji police station where the pastor had brought him. He said that his reason for going to the streets was his teacher who had abused him verbally and physically. He had then sent him home to bring his father to school. He was scared of his father and what he would do to him. And that is when he made a decision to run away from home. He had some money with him but he walked most of the journey.

After getting home, his father was specifically happy that his son was back home. He expressed “When I could not find him, I passed by our church to pray. Our pastor said that someone is going to bring our son home. I could not believe my eyes when I saw you coming with him” Said James Mugambi’s father.

James is back to school and the issue with his teacher was sorted. We thank God for saving the life of this young boy. Who knows what would have happened to him, in the city full of predators, ready to destroy, traffic or kill innocent boys!

My mother would understand me…

Paul Makau is in class seven but he had been on and off school.  He was later transferred to a new school because the family thought he will not settle in the previous school due to pressure from both teachers and the pupils. The family did not share his history during reintegration with the TKW team but nonetheless they encouraged the family to enroll him back to school and urged Paul not to let his past negative behavior determine his course.

After first follow up, the team was given a positive report on Paul’s progress at home and in school. They also found out that Paul was in the streets due to his parents’ separation. He had been left under the care of his father who later remarried. This actually confirmed why Paul insisted that he wanted to go live his mother during rescue.

The family later had a meeting and Paul was left to live with his mother and taken to school.  He is settling well at home and in his community.

Determined to do better

Alex Wambua:  During our home visit he was not at home and was not in school but he was herding family cattle. He had been sent home for some money that was arrears from last year when he left school. The family needs to pay Kshs 4,000 for Alex to return back to school. Despite all these hurdles, Alex is settling well although his grandmother has observed that Alex’s father is very harsh toward him. The team did not meet with his father at that time but during the next follow up visit we hope to counsel his father on best ways of disciplining Alex. Alex has changed and has stopped hanging out at the shopping center. He is also going to church with other children in the family.

Alex started going to the streets through negative influence from his peers at the local shopping center. His grandmother found him in the midst of his friends smoking and because he feared his father, he ran away ending up in Nairobi where TKW team met and rescued him.

Mentor-ship camp- Empowered to Transform

Proverbs 22:6:“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

***
Our young adults love school holiday camp and these young people embraced last holiday’s camp. They are enthusiastic about the opportunity for positive interaction with other young people because many of them would just stay at home. We thank our partners for sponsoring these 11 young adults to this camp. There are many temptations for young people to forget God, their creator. (Ecc.12:1).

The campers had this to say:

John “Thank you for enabling me to attend camp; Attending camp was a wonderful experience as this was my first time to go camping for a week and one that I will never forget. Thank you Tumaini for sponsoring me”

James: “One goal that this camp helped to achieve is becoming better than last term where knowledge of gospel is concerned. I honestly say this was my best time. I have never been to any other camp before and I wish I could get another opportunity like this every school holiday. I learnt a lot and met many friends who we shared a lot”.

Mwende: “I really appreciate getting to go to the camp! The counselors were really helpful! I learned systematic ways of reviewing the gospel which was very beneficial to me and talent knowledge. Thank you so much for a great holiday experience!”

Atito: “I loved the camp! I would have to say that this was the best gift this holiday. I learnt how to live peacefully with others and also made new good friends. Another lessons was on how to make right own choices and learning how to keep myself and friends safe. No matter where I go or what happens in my life, I will always have these things to remember”

Kago: “Thank you for giving me this chance in the camp. I learnt in this camp may God bless you”

Hannington: “The holiday camp was a good adventure.  I have learnt a lot through group discussions and all the pastors were friendly. I want to thank you from deepest part of my heart for this and if offered another opportunity I shall grab it with two hands”

Nduku: I have attended other camps before but none could compare with this one. Thank you Tumaini…

Humphrey: Thank you for sponsoring me to attend this camp.  I learnt many lessons. I came without faith in God but now my life has been changed as I have faith in God. I can choose good friends too who influence me in the right ways. May God bless you! Please may I have another chance next time?”

Mercy: My week was amazing. I have a lot; about God, talents and made new friends. This was such a beautiful place and I hope to come here again. The food was great, pastors and mentors were friendly. We played lots of games and discussions were helpful”

Maryann: “This camp was one of a kind; learning about God, activities that were mind opening and fun. The food was great and rooms comfortable. I had a great time here and may God bless you…

 Victor: “The mentors were amazing. They were like our older sisters and brothers that some of us do not have. They had so much wisdom to share with us as young people. I hope that I can someday grow to be like them. Thank you and God bless you for giving me such an opportunity”

***
Lesson we learnt. These young people in high school were empowered to transform. They were challenged to remember their Creator while they are still young. They studied His word and also His World as it should apply to them. They were equipped with knowledge of how to make right choices and how to balance the changes that they are going through has young adults.

       You have invested into the lives of the next generation!!!

For families slaving under the weight of despair, TKW brings Rays of Hope. Many parents struggle under the weight of responsibility. The children take the blunt of this inability to cope with life.

Rays Of Hope

In Nairobi, they scattered to different parts of the city and tiny Tony found life tough. Thinking of life back home with his grandmother gave him no hope. Therefore, he opted to find refuge on the streets though he was often worried about his grandmother.  Soon he met with TKW team who offered to walk him back home.

12 years old Tony was abandoned by his single mum and left under the care of his elderly grandmother who could not provide for basic needs. Tony dropped out of school and went collecting scrap metals for sale to get money to feed himself and his grandmother. His search for food in his local town was fruitless.  He connected with other older boys during his casual labor on the streets.  They ventured to the big city of Nairobi in search of a better life.

Tumaini team’s appearance with Tony was met with mixed reactions. His grandmother was happy to know that her grandson was alive, but she openly refused to welcome him back due her failing health and age. “How could you dare bring him home and you can see I have nothing to feed him?” Please take him wherever you want. Look at this wound, I am unable to take myself to hospital and my own sons who should be taking care of us are both married to alcoholism”. An angry grandmother shouted.  One of Kevin’s uncles offered to foster him, but his wife was not willing.

In consultation with a local leader, Tony was placed in a children’s Center for shelter and protection. Tumaini team is following up Tony’s case to find a secure family for him.

Laura- Sense of Loss and Rejection

Family is who we look to when we need help. We expect our parents to raise us, our grandparents to love us, and our brothers and sisters to always be there for us. They are our blood and we depend on that connection. When family members don’t live up to our expectations we feel abandoned.

16 years old Laura, was only 6 years old when her mother died after a short illness leaving her and young sister under the care of their grandparents.  Her father was known but not offering the support they needed. When Laura’s mother died, her father disappeared completely. Their grandparents and other relatives became their caretakers.

Laura struggled with being the older sister to her sibling; often going without school items. She started stealing from her neighbors and her grandparents. This behavior continued and her grandparents couldn’t cope anymore. They sent her to live with her aunt (mother oldest sister) in another town, but there too she continued stealing.

At one point her aunt reported Laura to a nearby police station where she was disciplined. She was moved to live with an uncle then another aunt, but the behavior continued – nobody took time to ask why she was doing it.

Laura was lost in a seemingly caring family.  Her self-esteem was low even as she completed class 8 exams. No family member wanted to host her.  She didn’t like the high school they chose for her. Laura decided to leave home and never return.

Tumaini team met her on the streets and after listening to her story, they realized that Laura was still struggling with a sense of loss.  She needed love, acceptance and a sense of belonging. She shared how her relatives could tell her off in public calling her names which made her miss her mother. She said stole to get attention and not because she was needy.  She wanted them to know her pain of living without a mother. Laura is undergoing counseling. There are many Laura’s out there and we shall continue to pursue them…

Child labor pushed him to the streets

14 years old Sylvester was sent to his aunt’s home to repeat class 8 when got poor grades. He is the first born among 4 siblings and he was living with his single mum when his aunt (mother’s sister) offered to host him to support her sister. He soon realized that his aunt wanted a house boy and not a nephew who needed help.

“My aunt treated me differently from her own children in the family. I did all the housework and was beaten if I didn’t finish.  I found it difficult to focus on my school and do the jobs given to me by my aunt.  I persisted with school for a while because I knew that was why I was there.  Life became tough and I decided it would be better to live on the streets than suffer abuse from my aunt.  I had decided not to tell my mother, so she knew nothing about it…Sylvester spent one month struggling with the street life, trying all sorts of things to survive. He often thought of home with his sibling and his mother which was better. Tumaini team rescued him from the streets, walked him to his mother was waiting. She regretted sending him to his aunt. Sylvester’s road to restoration begun after his experiences at his aunt’s home and on the streets; Life is changing for him as he is sure of a plate of food every day, comfortable sleep and most importantly able go to school. “I want to become a business man in the future, so that I can help my mother and siblings out of poverty,’’ 

Kevin: Mother rejected by in-laws after husband’s death

One parent dying is devastating; especially when the one who died was the provider. This is Kevin’s family’s story after his father committed suicide. Kevin’s father had built them a home, on the land he had inherited from his grandfather, but after his death the family rejected them. They asked his mother to vacate the land and get married elsewhere because she was young.

Kevin’s mother said: “I thought of running away to escape the wrath of these in laws, but I could not. My husband had told me not to move from the home he built for us because it was Kevin’s inheritance. It pains me that these in laws waited for my husband to die to reject us. I don’t understand why this is happening to me and my children. Whom did I wrong, or does it mean our lives are doomed?  Who and what do I have in this world to rely on? Life is very hard”. Said Kevin’s mum in tears.

However, their peace was at stake as every night there were knocks on the door from strangers. This instilled fear in Kevin and his family. His mother found a small room to rent near their home, but the knocks and threats continued. Tumaini team had rescued Kevin from the streets knowing only one side of the story why Kevin was on the streets.

“I want to go back home, but our family rejected. They told us to vacate their land and leave our home. My mother does not want to want to leave because that is my father’s land and she doesn’t want to remarry,” said 11-year-old Kevin.

Kevin had been sent home from school due to lack of school fees.  When Tumaini team rescued in 2017, he had been on the streets of Nairobi for 3 months. We are following Kevin’s case to see them settled and accepted as a family.