Protect, feed, and educate 114 rescued children

A social worker and team of boys at Grandsons of Abraham Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre recently went on a rescue mission that Faustin the social worker describes as very successful. Below he shares what happened on that particular day, a mission that once in a while involves the children at the Centre, the social workers, teachers and even local authorities.

“When it comes to street boys, Grandsons of Abraham Rescue Centre Mikindani is the place to be…, but again doubts may arise on an individual client as to whether he is in the right place at some point. Psycho-social support offered in Mikindani (drop in facility) surpasses or equals a family life back home, but craving for street life, freedom and “goodies” which come with it forces some of our clients to go back to street life.

“The longing for the familiar is what made 24^th of April 2017 an extra ordinary day for Opre (9) and Kabwe (8) ( not their real names) and the whole Centre of Grandsons. It was a day of deciding and acting i.e. going back to proverbial Egypt, or the streets of Mombasa town. The two boys joined Grandsons Mikindani in January 2016 and were taken to Abraham’s Education Centre in 2017.  On this day, the two woke up early as usual, showered and wore two shirts each. They waited for security officers to move from the gate and then unnoticed they sneaked out of the compound and out into "freedom".

“Once outside, they took a different root but still destined to the main Malindi-Mombasa road at kwa Kadzengo stage. We realized they had escaped when they did not show up for breakfast and could not be located anywhere in the compound. On notifying the Sister in Charge, we agreed that we go after them and rescue them before they could get hold of drugs in the streets. In ten minutes Austin their care giver was at Shanzu, the nearest town centre. He had taken a motorbike to get there and started the return journey along the road hoping to meet them. But it was in vain.

“Next the whole Centre went helter skelter with children who all wanted to go out and look for their colleagues. The children have bonded so well that when one escapes all the others want to go on the rescue mission, even some who had escaped before and now laugh at themselves for even having craved to go back to the life in the streets. It is sort of a crisis that overtakes some of them from time to time, especially the new comers who may not be used to an organized way of life. With counseling they eventually settle down and concentrate on their studies.

“We started organizing how we would trace them in Mombasa town in the evening since they usually go to their “Base” or “Maboxini” – meaning boxes, which are make shift houses made of cardboard, torn boxes and sheets of used newspapers where street children are based.

“It was after two hours of frantic search that the boys were spotted on the streets in Shanzu by one of the boys from the Centre. It was the end of the road for the two, but a success story for all the other children and staff of Grandsons. The two two indicated that they had wanted to go and visit their “people” back in their rural homes. But it was not true. They later confessed to have actually missed street life. They are now under counseling sessions and we have promised to trace their homes and accompany them to visit over the holidays. They are very happy about this prospect.”

Faustin says that there are factors that force some new children at the Centre to escape. They include the following;-

1. Craving for certain drugs due to withdrawer effects.
2. Longing for free gifts and town freedom.
3. Muslim brothers’ escape during their calendar marked festivities.
4. Domestic misunderstanding with other boys in the Centre.
5. Actual longing to see and meet their long time friends in the streets.
6. Peer influence.
7. Committing a crime, a mistake or just wrong doing in the Centre and fear of being reprimanded.

Faustin concludes that “through counseling and guiding and more of activities together with the other boys, Opre and Kibwe have enhanced their resilience building. He is happy that his two little friends are now adapting well. They have made lots of friends and have become very popular among their peers. He thinks the Motto of the Centre, “l was a stranger and you took me in” now makes a lot of sense since all the children feel they are a family at the Centre. Faustin concludes that “You can not change the whole world but can make a difference in the life of one child”.