Feed 100 Kids Daily: A Year of Hope

We have achieved some wonderful things for our Kenyan family living on the street in the last Financial Year. Below please find some of our key impact statistics and some stories from Rafiki Mtaani which you can also find in our Annual Report.

In FY25, our key statistics for Rafiki Mtaani were:

- 33,083 meals delivered

- 24 children reintegrated home

- 118 children in our Mtaani family

- 373 people trained

STORIES FROM THE STREET: Voices of Resilience | Stories of Change

Every so often, a story unfolds that reminds us of the profound power of hope, persistence, and human connection. This year, our Rafiki Mtaani team was privileged to be part of one such story: the incredible journey of a man named J, who was reunited with his family after spending three decades on the streets.

J’s life took a turn in 1991 after the devastating loss of his mother. He and his siblings, all still young, ran away from their grandmother’s care and began a life on the streets. Despite their family’s best efforts to bring them home, the pull of street life was too strong. For over 30 years, J remained disconnected from his roots, his family never giving up hope. His aunt, in particular, held on, pleading for his return year after year.

Recently, something shifted in J. Whether it was the toll of his declining health or a renewed desire for the warmth of family, he was finally ready to go home. When our Rafiki Mtaani team approached him, he agreed. And so began the emotional journey back to the family that had never stopped waiting for him. The reunion was a moment heavy with emotion and relief. J’s aunt, his last surviving adult relative, was overcome with joy seeing him again. She had fought for so long to bring him home, and with the support of our team, that day had finally come. For J, a mix of sadness for the lost years and profound relief washed over him as he recognised the face of his aunt, who had never lost faith.

This reunion is a powerful milestone for our Rafiki Mtaani program. It is a testament to the fact that no one is ever truly lost, and that with dedicated support, pathways home can be created. J’s story is a beautiful, tangible outcome of our reintegration work—removing one more person from the hardship of the streets and returning them to the love and care of family.

J's journey of healing is just beginning, but this new chapter is one filled with hope. His story is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do, and it is made possible only through the generosity of our supporters who believe in second chances.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF A CHAMPION

We are celebrating Gavin, our Mtaani reformation champion. He even calls himself 'Gavin the Reformist'. When we first met him, he was a scared and often volatile boy, getting into fights without a thought for the consequences. But as his drug use decreased, a calm settled over him. He began to recognise his past mistakes and, though he sometimes stumbled, he always found the courage to apologise. Today, Gavin sells second-hand jeans in town, supported by his family. His journey is a powerful testament to the fact that change is always possible.

A COMMUNITY OF CHANGE:

Our team is always greeted with beautiful smiles when they meet the boys on the street. It’s a chance to check in, to hear about their night and what’s been happening in town. Recently, one boy told us he had been very sick over the weekend. In a powerful show of solidarity, the other boys had taken him to the hospital themselves, ensuring he received treatment and medication. After our daily check-in, we brought the boys to our centre for a chance to bathe, play games, and connect through activities like draughts and football. It’s a simple routine, but it’s built on a foundation of trust and looking out for one another.

A FIGHTER FROM DAY ONE:

Our hearts are captured by a little Mtaani angel, baby Em, who is just over a month old. It’s heartbreaking to see a baby living on the streets, but he is a strong little fighter. Both of his parents are HIV positive and are part of our program, receiving the Anti-Retroviral medicines they need to stay healthy. Em is also on this medication and will continue until we can confirm he is negative. His mother, Nia, is only 17 and an orphan herself. At Mtaani, we support Nia by ensuring she has food, supplies, and the medicine she needs, and that she attends all her clinic appointments. She is a dedicated mother doing everything she can for her son.

A BUSY DAY OF HOPE:

Today was a busy one at Mtaani, filled with the many ways our program offers support. We began the journey of tracing a family for one of our boys, a critical first step towards a reunion and reintegration. We met with his cousin and followed a lead to find contact information for his family. Later, we helped another boy get to the hospital to visit his mum, who had broken her leg. The day ended with us distributing donated clothes to our Mtaani family and others in need from the nearby slums. It was a day of logistics, care, and connection—the very essence of our work.

Links:

• Rafiki Mtaani
• FY25 Annual Report