Protect, feed, and educate 114 rescued children

When Kimwe agreed to move to the Grandsons Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Mikindani, Mombasa County, he had only one thing in mind.  To shower, eat a meal and then sneak back into the streets, where, according to him, there was more freedom of being himself. He had heard stories from boys who had been to the Centre that they were not allowed to be high on drugs at the Centre.  He could not also imagine an organized kind of life where he would be required to wake up at a particular time, do certain activities at particular times and even eat at set times.

“I could not imagine myself surviving a day without my favourite bottle of glue”, he says holding back tears with a smile.  Glue is the drug that most street boys use to remain “high” as they say. It kind of aids them in forgetting or dealing with difficulties in life.

“So when the Social workers who visited us often at our maskan (hideout), asked us to accompany them to Mikindani (the drop in Centre), I would always convince the other boys that we were okay here.  So I could not understand when some boys decided to follow them and even remain there.  I always told myself if at all I went, that would be for curiosity, but I would still come back to maskan”. 

He identified this place as his home since as he says, there was a lot of acceptance from the other boys despite the fact that life on the streets was bad enough. Now Kimwe is a changed boy.  At fourteen and in school, he dreams of setting up a big hotel near his former maskan, so that he can provide a decent meal to other street children.

“Now I can count, I can read, and I can even play football with my friends.  These were things I thought belonged to other privileged children but not me.  It is a miracle or a dream that is happening to me in broad daylight.  Not in sleep. So when I leave here, I will work so hard to earn enough money.  I will be able to count my money, then I will build a big hotel near maskan so that I can offer a hot meal to the children who will be there.  I will also bring some of the food to Grandsons Centre, my current home.”

So how did Kimwe end up, and even remain in Grandsons? 
“It had rained a lot one day.  Even our box houses were soaked in water and falling on us.  We could not find shelter anywhere.  The whole night I soaked in rain.  In the morning I decided to go to Grandsons.  Not to stay, but to see if I could get some food and maybe a dry shirt and shorts.  The clothes I had on were still wet and dripping with rain water. I thought they would not accept me since I had always refused to go there.  Instead, I was served with a hot meal.  Chapati, beans and a cup of tea. I showered and I was even given dry clothes to put on.  I thought it was a dream.  I did not want to turn back.  I decided to stay.”

“Later I learnt there were people who contributed money and other items to help us so we could be safe.  I just want to thank all the people who support us.  They do not know us.  We are not related in any way, yet they care for us.  They have a good heart.  They are good people.  I love them”, says Kimwe.

Thanks to you, our supporter, for donating to Grandsons through GlobalGiving.  It is through your support that Grandsons Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre is able to give hope to Kimwe and the other children at the Centre.