Help 24 Street Children in Kenya Return Home

When the staff of our partner project, Child Rescue Kenya (CRK), first met Winston on the streets of Kitale, he told them that his parents had died and that he was living with his elderly grandmother who wasn’t able to provide for him and his siblings. He was the 7^th child in a family of 8 children.

Initially, Winston didn’t want CRK’s help, as he was surviving by collecting and selling scrap metal. He did, however, agree to be taken home for a visit on the condition that the CRK social workers wouldn’t leave him there. At home, the social workers found that, contrary to what Winston had told them, both of his parents were alive and well and had been looking for their son for two months. Not only that, but his parents said that they had been providing for Winston’s basic needs and that he had been attending a nearby primary school.

CRK staff kept their promise and didn’t leave Winston with his family that day, but his parents wanted him to come home and told him that he would be welcome if and when he ever decided to return. Back in Kitale, CRK used a therapeutic approach to counsel Winston, and later he decided to go home on his own. He bid CRK goodbye and left for home, phoning CRK to let them know that he had arrived safely. Social workers have contacted his parents several times and were told that Winston was re-enrolled in school and was doing well. CRK will be doing frequent follow-ups to continue supporting Winston until he is completely settled back with his home and family.

CRK's vital work with street children in Kitale, Kenya, wouldn't be possible without your help. Thank you for your past support. Please continue supporting us as we work with some of the most vulnerable children on Earth.

P.S. Be sure to check out Retrak America's new website! 

Links:

• Retrak America's website

Those are the words of a six-year-old street child as told to a social worker from Retrak’s partner organization Child Rescue Kenya (CRK).  CRK operates the Birunda Rescue Center in the town of Kitale in western Kenya. Birunda offers children a safe place to sleep at night, as well as food, medical care, learning and counseling. Birunda is the first step in a street child’s journey towards a stable and loving family home.

Brian, age 4, was another one of the hundreds of children on the streets of Kitale, but fortunately for him, CRK was able to intervene on his behalf. He tells us his story in his own words:

"On our way to visit my auntie I stopped to look at some toys in a stall. I had never seen so many. After, all I could see was people everywhere but not Mama Brian. I was lost, I know my village but not it's name. I was taken to an office who brought me here [to Child Rescue Kenya]. Now Mama is here and taking me home today".

Thanks to the work of Child Rescue Kenya, children like Brian are getting off the streets and being reunited with their families. Thank you for supporting the work of CRK and Retrak. Please help us continue this vital work by making another donation today.

Links:

• CRK's website