Educating street children in the Mathare slums

Schools are closed for the first holiday of the year, and am one happy parent. Many parents today dread the holidays, they have to work and cannot afford to have someone watch over their children while they’re away. Some do not know how best to engage their children over the holiday, children then become a burden to the parents, but not me. I am not worried about what my children will be engaged in for the next 4 weeks. Am not worried about losing my job or income because I have to stay home to care for my children for fear that something bad will happen to them. You may wonder why am so apprehensive, it is because my kijiji (village) has many gangs targeting school going children. Too many young boys and girls have lost their way; some their lives by engaging in gangs that sell drugs, and engage in other vices like alcohol and prostitution.

My child is one of the beneficiaries of Mathare Children’s Fund panairobi (MCFp) sponsorship program. For the last 5 years, all his school needs have been met including school uniform, school items and tuition fees. For my part, my household burden has been lessened. Beyond educational support during the school year, my son has an opportunity to participate in school holiday program at the MCFp Centre.

There is a library at the Centre and knowing this, I make sure that my son has completed his home work and school assignments in time. Additionally, while at the library he has access to a variety of books which are useful for increasing his knowledge. My son mentioned that they need new books at the library because of the curriculum change, I did not know this. Because of this information from him, I asked the team at MCFp during the parents meeting and they said that they are working to address this. The holiday program brings together many children, both from the sponsorship program and others from within Mathare. Besides using the library facility, they get to engage in sports and participate in various trainings to enhance their general wellbeing and capacity to address challenges they may face. As a result of these program, my son is no longer shy, he now speaks up on issues he likes, and questions when he does not understand anything.

The holiday program has been very beneficial to me, because my son get to have porridge and a hot meal at lunch. He also interacts with other children thereby they share experiences. So this is why am not afraid of the holidays, I know where my son is between 8am and 4 pm. I know it’s a good place, a place where he learns and plays.