Stories of ‘LOST AND FOUND girls’.

What happens to the girls on the Streets?

Tumaini team has removed 224 children off the street since January 2017. We aim to rescue another 176 before end of this year making a total of 400 children…

It costs us Kshs 30,000/- (£220) to rescue one child from the streets as well make four family follow up visits. Our success rate is very encouraging – for every 100 children rescued from the streets, 96 will remain at home, join school or take vocational training and some who fall back will eventually return home.

Be part of the next rescue story…#TheNextRescue# Visit our donation page: www.kenyachildrenofhope.org

14 year old Ndisya Nduku says, “I was at home doing nothing because my family could not afford to pay my school fees. I had not planned to leave home but an urge to look for work and help myself pushed me. I ended up in Nairobi, lost on the streets and desperate. Tumaini team rescued me from the police who had arrested me on the streets and reintegrated my back with my family. They promised to find a way to keep me in school. Thank you Tumaini team for rescuing me and giving me hope”

Ruth Nasimiyu, 13 years old: An argument ensued between Ruth and her mother because of her step-father. Ruth was angry and she took Kshs 3000 (£22), joined a friend on a journey to Nairobi to look for her relatives. But this was not to materialize. Before even settling on the streets of Nairobi, a Good Samaritan forwarded her case to Tumaini team. She did not know where she was going to find her relatives. They rescued and reunited her with her family. The family had already reported to a police station near their home that Ruth was missing.

Sometimes it’s a case of Justice withheld!!

Sarah is the fourth born and a first born among the girls. She is a beautiful girl which made her vulnerable to fall into the hands of bad people.

She was sexually abused by an uncle who left for the dead. She was bleeding profusely when a neighbor found her in the bushes and rushed her to the hospital. She was treated and a court case was filed against her uncle. After the second hearing, her mother conspired with the uncle and he was released on bail. This was against the set law on rape case in Kenya and due to lack of proper legal support, Sarah’s justice was withheld.

Sara has both set of parents and 7 siblings but they lived in poverty. Her father worked as a casual laborer with a pineapple growing company away from home while their mother stayed at home with the children. They lived in a two-roomed house which is too small for the eight of them. Sara could not settle at home after her uncle was released on bail. Her father was helpless because his own brother who had raped his daughter was already conspiring with his wife. Sarah’s relationship with her mother was broken, and the uncle also kept threatening to kill her if she continues to appear in court as a witness.

A neighbor hosted Sarah for several months but asked Sarah to move out before school closed for August holiday. Since Sarah had nowhere else to go this neighbor sent her to Nairobi to look for her father. Sarah did not know about the big city. But a lady who was in the same bus with her offered her a place to sleep for the night as they looked for her father the following day. Tumaini team found a lost Sarah on the streets and they helped her find her father. He reported the case to a district children officer who promised to find a secure placement for her as they reopen the case.

Sara is currently in a children center where she is secure while her father and the District Children Officer are continuing with her case. Join us as we follow up this case until Sarah finds justice. Justice withheld is justice denied.

10 year-old Grace Wanjiru, had traveled from her upcountry home to visit her sister who lived in the city. She was excited about spending time with her sister in the city since this was her first visit. But her first weekend ended in a disaster. Her sister needed to meet up with her boyfriend as they were going to get married. They met at a nearby public park where she paid for Grace to enjoy a boat to the ride as her sister waited for her boyfriend. When Grace came back from her boat ride, her sister was gone and did not return. As darkness was quickly approaching, Grace was still there waiting for her sister to come back in vain. She broke down into tears as she had nowhere to go.

A policeman who was passing by approached her and asked her why she was out at night. Grace shared her predicaments and the officer took her into the children’s custody for a secure night. The police station contacted Tumaini team the following day who came and assessed her case. They found that Grace came from a dysfunctional family but her mother was contacted. She was very happy to receive her daughter back as she was not aware what had happened to her during the visit to her sister. Grace was reintegrated with her family where she is safe once again. We are monitoring Grace’s progress and we will keep you updated.

Veronicah: A desperate search for her mother led 13 year-old Veronica to the streets after stealing Kshs. 2200/-(£20) from a teacher. She had stolen 5000 (£38) but returned Kshs.2800 to the teacher after being punished and suspended from school.

Veronica lived with her grandmother who was required to pay back the remaining amount to the teacher. They did not know that she had hidden Kshs 2200/ (£ 20) to travel to Nairobi to look for her mother. She had not seen her mother for a year. Her adventure went horribly wrong. She got lost on the streets while looking for her mother. When Tumaini team rescued Veronica from the streets, her desire to find her mother was even stronger. With the help of the police, Tumaini team traced the family and found a mother was married elsewhere and moving on with her life. However, it was a great reunion for the mother and daughter. Veronica’s grandmother had already informed her that Veronica was out there looking for her. Another girl snatched from the perils on the streets!

Mary Nduku – Suffering from rejection and looking for acceptance

For 11 year Nduku, her mother gave birth to her when she was still in school and her grandmother brought her up to allow her mother to complete her education. However, the mother was not in a hurry to take up her parental responsibility for her child. It is 7 years since Nduku’s mother completed school, moved on, got married and now has three other children. She chose to forget her daughter.

Nduku did not know she had step siblings as she had been led to believe that her mother was dead. But one day a relative shared with Nduku that her mother was alive. This threw her off balance and wanted to know her mother. She wanted to meet her and get answers to many questions. However, the relatives were not ready to let her go, which led Nduku to sneaked out of the home at night with a few items for her long journey in search of her mother. Unfortunately, her journey ended on the streets where Tumaini team met her. Her home was home and relatives were found. They were already looking for her.

Her grandmother and family were happy to receive her and promised to continue taking care of her as they had done for 12 years. Tumaini team encouraged the relatives to find and connect Nduku with her mother to satisfy her desire for identity and for her mother to answer her many questions especially why she is not involved in her life. This will prevent Nduku from disappearing again.

Who am I? A question that the lost, the lonely and least of these children ask often. Tumaini team continue to monitor the progress of each one of the children rescued. Restoration and transformation of lives is what we are after. A family gives a child a point of reference and identity.

“Education means everything to most children.  When I was in primary school, I couldn’t get enough reading materials. Finding books to read was a challenge.  I would borrow books from other pupils who could afford them and read around the fire late into the night.   I wanted to work hard to join a government funded high school.  When my dream came true, I couldn’t afford the school fees.  Every new school term I would go back to school crying.  No pocket money and no school fees….my father had spent school fees money on his addiction to alcohol and smoking.  O how I thank God for my dear mama who did everything to keep me in school!  She would come and plead with the head-teacher to allow me to continue to study while she went to look for school fees.  I long to see every child access education.  Education has opened many doors for me”, writes Lydiah

Rose, a child taking care of younger siblings …..For over 7 years she took care of her siblings after her parents separated and her mother remarried.  Her father also disappeared and started another family far away from home.  Home alone, she became a bread earner overnight.  She still managed to do her KCPE exams while employed as a house help.  She was going to school during the day and working in the evening.  She enrolled in form one the following year and paid her school fees. Talk about resilience and determination right there!

As things got worse, Rose had to think of ways to earn more money.  A cousin found her a job as a house help in Nairobi.  The promise of more money didn’t materialize.  She found herself on the streets, alone and vulnerable.  Her employer has chased her without paying her for her hard work.   TKW team met Rose at a police station where a Good Samaritan had taken her. Her relatives couldn’t believe their eyes when Rose arrived with strangers. Yet they were grateful as they welcomed Rose back home.

Jacob, Rose’s paternal uncle said, “As a family we feel ashamed for watching Rose suffer, drop out of school and travel to Nairobi to work as a house help. As a community we have failed for we did nothing to help, blaming her irresponsible father. Today you have opened our eyes, you are strangers and have helped Rose who is not related to you. We will work together to see that Rose is back in school.”

“Thank you so much TKW team. I cannot believe that I will go back to school. At last God has heard the cry of my heart’’, said Rose as she cried for joy. Rose needs school fees and upkeep to join school next year.

Thank you for listening to the genuine cry of children like Javan …somebody, anybody, please be the answer to their cry.  You will be making an eternal investment and changing a life forever.

Javan said, “Please, Sponsor me: I need school fees but my mum is unsettled financially and my father is ill.”  Javan’s father was working as driver for years and faithfully provided for his family, then he had a mental breakdown.  He has not recovered and that threw the family to chaos.  Javan had to drop out of school and his mother sent him to his uncle (mother’s brother) who works as a night guard in Nairobi to look for help. Unfortunately his uncle was unable to help and slowly Javan’s hope of going back to school vanished.  He started going to the streets to find odd jobs to supplement his uncle’s income.  One day he was arrested by city council officials and taken to Bahati government rehab centre where we met him.  He agreed to go back home to his mother.

His mum said, “It is humiliating to admit as a parent you are not able to pay for your child’s school fees.  Every term I would ring Javan’s teacher to share our challenges. Teachers were kind to Javan and I.   This support was priceless but it soon came to an end.   Javan had to drop out of school for school fees arrears.  Please help him to get back to school”.   Javan needs Kshs 12,000/100 pounds per term to keep him in school.

15 year old Irene Wambui says, “I NEED SCHOOL FEES” She is the firstborn in a family of three children. She was attending St. Francis Secondary School in Gilgil where she lives with her family, three hours’ drive from Nairobi. She had scored 301 marks in her KCPE exam that enabled her to join Form 1.
Irene had only stayed on the streets for a week before TKW team rescued her. She shared the difficulties at home and of living on the streets as a girl, “every street boy wanted to be my friend. I really regret running to the streets and now I want to go back home.”
Irene had a fee balance and her parents sent her back to school without any money. The school admin wanted the school fee balance paid before admitting her back to school. She was sent back home but Irene came to the streets to look for help instead of going home.
TKW team took her home and encouraged her parents to present their challenge to the school administration. She was allowed back to school but school fee arrears of Kes 36, 000/= or 300 pounds is still outstanding. Irene aspires to be a doctor and promised to work hard.

TKW team rescued Eric Muturi in 2014 and reunited him with his mum in Kasarani, Nairobi.  She worked nearby but had a mental breakdown.  She walked away from her son, left him on his own in a rental house with no rent and no food.

Eric is another child who found himself on the streets out of desperation. He now lives with his grandmother but he needs school fees and upkeep.  He is sitting for KCPE this year and hoping to join high school in 2017.   He will need sponsorship to access further education.  This is our child fallen on hard times…

 

 

 

 

I thank God every time I remember you.  I always pray for you with joy because of your partnership…” Phil 1:4-5

Just a haircut 

Vivian is a 12-year-old girl who was scampering around the streets; dirty feet from picking up dust along unpaved streets and an empty stomach. And yet, she walks, runs and plays without a care in the world.

Vivian comes from a stable family.  She does not take discipline positively and this time she was on her second week out on the streets. Her mother had shaved her hair to bring correction for keeping bad company.  But neither poverty nor parent separation that bring most children to the streets could have contributed to Vivian’s disappearance from home to the streets.

We found Vivian’s family in a concrete home in the Embu County. Her parents have had their share of hardships but that hasn’t changed their belief that with a lot of hard work and opportunity, their daughter can have a better life.

“We were trying to track Vivian’s whereabouts and right now we were going to post her photos in the nearby town. This is a miracle that just happened, Vivian is found. Maybe we have been hard on her but now we will love and try another form of discipline.”  Vivian’s mother promised.

We got a report a week later that Vivian has settled into her family and she is bonding with the other children in school. TKW will monitor Vivian’s progress for the next three months. Will you enable us to restore broken relationships?

Will the ends ever meet?

10 years old, Vanessa Wanjiru has a dream of becoming a doctor yet she was on the streets begging for food and money to go back to school.  No mum and no food, Vanessa and her two younger sisters have to survive while dad does casual jobs to make ends meet.  Will the ends ever meet?

A timid 10-year-old Vanessa says: “We lived in Nakuru up to late last year, 2015 with our mother while my father worked in a farm in Thika.  Another man often came to our home without my father’s knowledge. He would often come drunk, beat us and tell us to go find our father.  One day we decided to run away until my father came back.  My father came h0me as he did every month and didn’t find us at home. My parents had a heated disagreement.  My father was very angry and separated with my mother.  It is four months since my mother left my two younger sisters and me under the care of my father. “Vanessa’s father took charge of his family and move his three daughters from Nakuru to Thika where he works.

Vanessa was on the streets begging for food and money to supplement her father’s income as well as to pay for school requirements. It was her first day on the streets of Nairobi. A friend from the streets of Thika had brought her to beg and then go back home in the evening. We took Vanessa home to meet with her father to understand their challenges. Her father was out working, we phoned him and he shared his challenges but admitted he had no idea that his daughter was on the streets.  He promised to find his daughter another school although he is financially challenged.

Vanessa concluded “My father works hard but sometimes we go to sleep without food. I pray to God that one day my mother will come back so that we can all be a family again.

Will you help me get education?  I would like to become a doctor or a teacher and help other people especially children to get a better life.”

Vanessa needs– new school uniform and other basic school requirements like books. All these will cost Kshs.10,000 (£80). Will you partner with us to move forward Vanessa’s dream of becoming a doctor?

Adventurous 14 years old Dorcas said, “Follow me to the city.

 Dorcas shared with 11 year old Susan about their exciting venture.  “We will leave before dawn, so dress up in a pair of trousers and put our school uniform on top so that no one gets to question us.” Dorcas shared in whispers to Susan the night before and said that she knew Nairobi well. Dorcas said she had an auntie who could host them while in the city.

Both girls come from the same area, from single parents and humble background. Dorcas in class eight wanted to explore city life and needed someone to go with her. She appears confident and managed to influence 11 year old Susan, a class four girl who is shy.  “She influenced me to leave for the streets!”  11 year old Susan exclaimed. When they got to Nairobi, they couldn’t find Dorcas’ auntie. They survived for two months begging to get food, but they were still reluctant to return home for fear of being punished.

As we related with them on the streets, their hearts softened and they asked us not to leave them on the streets. “Please take us to our parents in Embu County. We know they are looking for us and they will care for us.” They said. The girls still had their books and lunch boxes as this was a plan to distract their parents.

On reaching Embu County, we found that their parents had reported of the disappearance of their children to the police station. They prayed and hoped that their children would be kept safe. The villagers streamed in to see their girls’ return.  What a joy and shock that the girls would leave their safe homes and go to dangerous places unaccompanied! “I could hardly eat nor sleep.  My heart was troubled that I might not see our girls again.” Dorcas mother tearfully.

Dorcas’ mother was grateful that the girls had been found by loving people. The girls asked to be forgiven by their parents. They were willing to resume school.  TKW team will monitor their progress for three months and seek to restore relationships with their families and community.  Your partnership is greatly appreciated.

Thanksgiving and prayers: We give thanks that these girls were removed from the streets before they got sucked to life on the streets.  Pray that they will settle back home without any huge challenges.  Pray that we will identify the right people to support them and their families.

Elvis’ experience on the streets left him thinking through his future. When TKW team met him, he always seemed to be in deep thought. Then one day, Elvis Mathaai said, “Mwalimu (teacher) I ran away from home because I didn’t really like the new school my mum transferred me to at the start of the year.”

 

As a form 2 student, Fanaka High school was not Elvis’ choice but his parents felt this new school would help him improve his performance. Unfortunately Elvis and his parents didn’t discuss the transfer and Elvis attended school for the first term without raising any suspicion. Some children just need a bit of convincing that the decision their parents make is in their best interest. Elvis benefitted greatly from the counseling we gave him as we befriended him on the streets and plans to walk him home were put into place.

Negotiating a child’s future is part of what we do at TKW. Elvis asked to express to his parents on his behalf that he was ready to settle at Fanaka High School and focus on his studies.

 

Two weeks after we reintegrated him back home, we visited Elvis at home and school. We were glad to meet a transformed Elvis and with a changed of perception concerning the school. His mother made these comments: “My son has not been a truant and my wish was just to see him again and listen to what his challenges were at the school. He is a bright boy and I am sure that he will excel in his studies. Once again Thank you Tumaini Kwa Watoto for bringing my son home safely because another person could have taken advantage of him.”I also thank God for answering my earnest prayers to bring my son back home, she continued.

 

Elvis & his parents are in a new place working through their challenges. Negotiating the future of each child is important. Empowering the child to negotiate his future is means impacting the next generation. Passing on negotiating skills to the parents is what TKW does through Equipping Parents Community Program (EPCP). Crucial partnerships are needed to expand this important program because it’s benefitting children, families and communities. This must mean only one thing, a more secure nation. Will you partner with TKW to equip more parents and impact more children and their communities?

My Grandmother would be very happy to see me…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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