Protect, feed, and educate 114 rescued children

When you arrive at the Grandsons of Abraham Rescue and rehabilitation Centre you are greeted by vibrant children of ages five to 18. They are all eager to know who the new comer is and how they are doing. If not playing, the children are busy helping in the kitchen, around the compound or in the farm. Busy fixing a broken tap would be one Hamisi.

Happy as they look, each child has a heart rending story that led them to Grandsons of Abraham. “ I hate being idle”, says Hamisi who at 17, tries his hands on anything that needs fixing or repair - leaking water taps, broken cell phones, computers and even dysfunctional power lines.   He says keeping busy helps him keep away from thinking of drugs and alcohol. that is a world he want to forget about.  At 17 he would now be in secondary school but he is not. He is in class seven. But he has a dream of making it to university and even becoming a doctor.

Hamisi ran away from home in 2007 after quarrelling with his mother whom he claims was always drunk. “I pray for her every day.  Even if she is an addict, she is still my mother. My father died when I was an infant and I have no recollection of how he looked like. My brother, sister and I were all fed up with my mother’s behavior. She would always be drunk and we could not go to school like other children. My brother ran away from home first. Then I followed him. I looked for him everywhere, in the streets but I did not find him”, says Hamisi. He does not know where his brother is up to this day. “Then I ended up in Grandsons, at first I could not stand the rules. One had to be tidy and keep away from drugs. I was counseled but I ran away several times. Then I was offered a chance to go to school. I promised to quit drugs and go to school. I had almost given up going to school and leading a normal life. This has all changed.”

Beaming with a smile he bursts out: “But my life is all another story now. I am able to go to school with other children; I have learnt important skills like cooking. I am also very good in music and dance. ” This he says with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Hamisi hates being idle and fills his free time with study, dance and acrobats. With his colleagues they use dance and acrobats to pass meaning filled messages to other young people. They visit schools and are invited to special events and gatherings of pupils where they perform to raise awareness on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

“Asante sana” (Swahili for “thank you so much”), says Hamisi.   Thanks to you our supporters who through Global Giving are enabling Hamisi and his friends continue to be an inspiration to other young people in Kilifi and its environs.

We will keep you updated on the progress of Hamisi as well that of all the children at Grandsons that you have supported, and continue to support.