“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…

 

 

 

 

‘Home before Christmas ’ – 11 boys rescued in November 2012

Patrick Mutuma is a 16 years old young adult and hails from Chuka, in Meru which is in Eastern part of Kenya. He has lived in the streets for about 3 years, and as he puts it himself, it wasn’t easy. When we met him he was ready to go home and nothing could deter him from his decision.

Patrick’s desire is to help his mother with farming as he a waits to do vocational training to help him acquire some basic life skills.

When we go home, we met Patrick’s mother who narrated to us how Patrick had stressed the family with his truant behavior. However, she kept praying for him to reform wherever he was or at least come back home a changed person. His parents divorced when he was still young so he grew up with his mother. We had a reconciliation meeting with the family in the presence of community members and Patrick was received back with gladness.

 

 

‘If only I get another chance’, said 12 year old Dennis

Life has been tough for Dennis since he was born because his mother abandoned him at the tender age of one. His maternal grandparents brought him up, but when life became too hard, he ran away to the streets.  On 20^th November 2012, we rescued Dennis JK rehab centre and travelled with him to Kinangop an hour’s journey from Nairobi with his grandparents.

On the same day, Dennis’ mother had abandoned his other 3 siblings in another village and his grandmother had planned to go and rescue them. We also learned that Dennis had been to several children’s homes without settling.  His grandparents were not too pleased to see Dennis.

As always we pleaded with his grandmother to give Dennis another chance which she eventually did.  We pray that this boy will find rest, be established and give these elderly grandparents strength to give Dennis and his siblings a secure home.

Simeon 13 years old, the lost brother has been found

As we approached the house we could see that the door was locked. Disappointment was written all over Simeon’s face as he realized that the warm welcome he had hoped from his sister was not going to be. After inquiring from a neighbor, we found out that Simeon’s sister had started a small business in a nearby town. So we sent a neighbour’s son to call her.

She came running and started to weep the moment she saw her brother. We spent some time talking with her over some issues.  She readily agree to give her lost brother Simeon a home and promised to talk to her husband to take him back to school next year.

Peter Swahili 16 years old took time to remember the direction to his home. 5 years ago he left home and couldn’t recognise the buildings and infrastructure that has come up since he left home.  Five years is a long on the streets.

Peter used to live with his grandmother, Hannah who is a pastoralist.  He left home when he was a very small boy thus, his grandmother could not recognize him. Who is this man? Asked Peter’s grandmother. It took a little introduction for her to recognize her own grandson.  Peter and his grandmother looked at each other.

The family, like any other typical pastoralist family, has very little or no value for education.  So we talked with Hannah about the importance of education for her grandson and she agreed to take Peter for vocational training. All in all Peter was happy to be back home again before Christmas.

Ian Kemboi, 14 years – desiregranted. We often pray that God would prepare a safe dwelling place for every child we plan to reintegrate with his family. Over the years, Ian’s father lived an irresponsible life of drinking and gave his children harsh punishment causing Ian to regularly run to the streets which made it very difficult for him to settle.

When we took him back to his home in Kitale, we found a transformed father who had committed his life to Christ and now attends church with his family. With hope in his heart, he received his son and is willing to gradually work out their father-son relationship. Ian on the other hand asked for forgiveness for leaving home without warning and causing his family much pain.  We thank God for Ian’s parents who love him in spite of what has done.  They are ready to support him and help him settle at home.

“Taking me home would be the best Christmas gift”, said 14 years old Anthony Mabonga

Ululation filled the air at Moi’s Bridge when Anthony entered their homestead and began calling his grandmother in his native luhya language.”Kukhu Kukhu!” His grandmother’s voice was heard in one of the huts. We followed as Anthony led us, in seconds they were locked in tight hugs and there was more ululation. Anthony was under the care of his parents who lived near Kenya-Tanzania border. He had been asked to do some house chores but went to play and forgot.  He was afraid of being punished and ran to the streets where we met him a few months ago.

Anthony’s family was very happy to receive him.  He will enjoy Christmas with his family as he had desired while preparing to join class 5 in 2013.

Looking for a place to belong is 13 years old Dennis Kiarie driven to the streets by his parents’ separation, ‘Finally I am home’ said 14 year old Joseph, whose only hope is his uncle’s family as well as Wycliffe Nyange, Titus Mosota, Henry Nyambuto, boys who come from Kisi in western Kenya to just get a glimpse of the city’s tall buildings.   All reconnected with their families.

Having rescued these boys, the real task of restoring them and their families has just begun.  We however, rejoice that their desire to be ‘home for Christmas’ has been granted.  Rejoice with that eleven (11) children have been rescued and reintegrated with their families – the place where they belong!

Tumaini Mass rescue