Dignity for 60 street-boys in Nairobi

At this time of the year, when the boys who've participated in the 2011 program are beginning a new way of life, and we prepare to recruit more boys from the streets - those who are willing to change their behaviour - we thought you might like to read the stories written by two of the boys from the 2011 year. The first one is Amos Kariuki. Amos is 12 years old. He was born in one of the Mukuru slums called Ruben Village. The following is an extract from his story that he wrote in November: 

"When I was in the street I was using bhang and cigarette. We were sleeping under the bridge inside the sack....we were being disturbed by the police and the city council police........" 

Amos accepted the invitation of a Social Worker from the Mukuru Promotion Centre Rehabilitation Program to participate in the program, and at the end of it he wrote:   

"...now my life is really changed because people who have decided to help us to know how to read and write. I can say thank you to [the Rehabilitation Centre] for changing my life totally. I pray that others will benefit [from the rehabilitation program].

Stanley Adera's story:  Stanley reports that when he was on the street, and was approached by our Social Workers:

"At first I didn't trust them but I decided to wait and talk to them. Most of my friends disappeared......Six of us...accompanied the people from the rehabilitation centre.....after sometime I could wish to go back where I can make my money and sniff glue and smoke but my teachers encouraged me. All the other five boys went away but I am still here and I know how to make items from wood. I was able to be reunited with my mother after a long time. I thank God I made the right decision with the help of my teachers."