Housing for Boys Facing Trauma and Stigma

Osupuko Village is one of Kenya’s remotest places that where Lifesong Kenya runs its Keeping Boys in School Program. Despite being just 10 km away from our Halfway House and offices, traveling to and from Osupuko Village requires nerves of steel. The roads are rocky, uneven, bumpy and are notorious for breaking small cars.

One of our main worries when we first started conducting our Keeping Boys in School Program was a convenient means of transport. We did not have to worry for too long, thanks to cycling.

Incorporating bicycles into our After-school Program is Lifesong Kenya's innovative approach to community engagement that is yielding significant benefits. Not only are we now able to access Osupuko Village, boys from our Halfway House are now part of the program.

This report delves deeper into the positive impact that using cycling is having on our work.

Climate Change Mitigation

By opting to use bicycles, Lifesong Kenya is significantly reducing its carbon emissions, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment. Since bicycles operate silently, cycling is one of the best ways to maneuver through a heard of cattle, sheep and goats peacefully.

Promoting Wellness

By cycling regularly on weekends, boys at our Halfway House are showing less signs of stress, anxiety, and depression. This has reduced their need for weekly counselling, thereby reducing their reliance of outside help and support. As a result, they are now capable of making informed decisions and self-dependent.

The introduction of cycling has also made is easier for our boys to go to the market to buy supplies, a role that was initially reserved for our staff and volunteers only. By cycling to do shopping, the boys are now becoming more responsible, enthusiastic and actively engaging in activities at our Halfway House and in the village.

Social and Economic Benefits

Cycling as a group is leading to shared cycling experiences that are fostering a sense of community, belonging and camaraderie among our staff, volunteers and the boys. Using bicycles is also providing a cost-effective and reliable mode of transportation, reducing expenses spent on transport.

This money has been channeled into skills development in terms of coding, programming and learning valuable ICT related skills. Since every individual responsible for the bicycle they are using, our boys are learning how to maintain and repair their bicycles, thereby learning valuable life skills.

Cycling is also offering our boys a sense of independence and freedom that comes with exploring the local hilly and breathtaking surroundings and environment.

Conclusion

By integrating bicycles into our programs and activities, we are demonstrating our commitment to sustainable and holistic development. The benefits of cycling extends beyond transportation, positive impact on the environment, improving health and the social well-being of boys staying at our Halfway House.

As we continue to expand our reach and impact, the power of cycling undoubtedly plays a vital role in shaping a brighter future for the exceptional young men that Lifesong Kenya serves. Thanks to your continued generous support, we have been able to invest in buying bicycles that we are now using in our After-school Program.

Bonus News: we are working on getting volunteers across the world who can help us in collecting bicycles and shipping them to our program. This will enable us to continue developing a cycling hub where children and youth will learn how to repair and fix bicycles, as well as receive bicycle donations for those who need a means of transport to school.

Just a few months ago, our team introduced soccer as part of our After-School Program. This attracted more interest from the boys who were now enjoying our usual reading, writing and snacking during our weekend programs. After meeting the first 10 boys at the beginning of this year, we begun meeting at a nearby church on Saturdays. 

Like most boys in Kenya and across the world, soccer is one of the biggest sources of joy. And so when we introduced soccer, the numbers shot from 10 boys to 40 within the two weeks after we introduced soccer to our program. To date, soccer is helping us to score progressive goals.

Not only has our numbers grown, the boys are more attentive during our weekend reading and literacy activities, they are also more focussed on their studies in school and more responsible at home. Despite not having enough equipment for training and playing soccer, the boys are now requesting for friendly matches with other teams across the country. 

In addittion to this, the boys are now engaging in conversations with each other, our staff, volunteers and easily share their aspirations, feelings and opinions concerning issues in their lives, family and school life.