By Vicky Ferguson | Chief Executive Officer
To All Our Fantastic Supporters,
We were overwhelmed by everyone's generosity at Christmas to support our young people and we are so excited to share this update with you all! We currently have12 young men in our Transitional Home but we want to tell you about one... Steven.
Steven is 20 years old and hails from Western Kenya. Both his parents passed away during his early childhood. He dropped out of school in 2007, when he was11 years old, a year before he was going to finish Primary School. Soon after he dropped out of school he ran away from his guardians and made his way to the streets of Mombasa
Steven spent the next 8 years between different centres, in school and ton the streets of different Kenyan cities. In mid 2015 Glad’s House began to work with Steven through our initiative Street Soccer. When we met him, he had given up hope of an education or a positive future. Steven was surviving by parking cars along one of the main roads in Mombasa City Centre. He began to built a relationship with our Street Workers, and they were able to identify the support Steven needed to change his life. Steven was then supported off the streets and into our Transitional Home.
Steven is now working hard with Glad's House Teachers to prepare himself to return to formal education. Despite his age Steven has set his mind to returning to Secondary School and finish his education. He has big dreams to achieve great things. Steven has also been able to work with our Social Worker to work through some of the trauma he experienced at home and whilst on the streets. He has developed his communication skills, life skills and coping strategies to equip him for a positive future and to realise his full potential.
Without your support, Steven would still be living on the streets, parking cars to survive or worse, committing crimes. Steven would still be misusing drugs. Because of you Steven has been able to totally change the course of his life. In short, you have given him a dream to chase.
We asked Steven about his hopes for the future, he told us,
“I hope to study harder to pursue my career in accounts. I hope to fly abroad after my school to study more. I want to remain part of Glad’s House to work together… so that I would help those who will not have achieved their goals or those who will have not completed their goals. I wish to live an interesting and comfortable life in the future with a family (wife and children)”
On behalf of all if us at Glad's House and on behalf of Steven, I want to say the BIGGEST of Thank Yous, Steven has a bright future and is a lot closer to achieving his dreams. We couldn't have done it without your generosity. This is just one of the lives you have impacted because of your support and in the coming months I'll let you know how Steven and some of his friends are getting on!
Thanks again
Vicky and the Glad's House Team
*Names have been changed and face hidden to protect Steven's identity
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