Nairobi Update
Experts estimate that 250,000-300,000 children live and work on the streets of Kenya, with more than 60,000 of them in Nairobi. We have long recognized the need to rescue children in Nairobi, a need that has only increased as the number of street children has risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, we were granted permission by the government to begin emergency rescues in Nairobi. Our street officer spent many weeks visiting Nairobi and getting to know the street culture so that he could begin to prepare boys for their Shelter journey. At the end of June, we welcomed our first group of boys from Nairobi, and to date we have rescued 18 boys. We are grateful for this opportunity to expand our reach and serve more boys and their families.
Welcome to our newest Shelter resident, a calf born earlier this week!
Fred* came to Shelter in February 2021. He had been running away from home and going to the street on and off for a few years, and it had been more than two years since he had consistently lived at home. His family would regularly go and look for him on the street, and always prayed he would decide to change his life and return home.
When he came to Shelter, Fred was ready to put his life on the street behind him and expressed his desire to learn to weld so that he could provide for himself and his family. While he was at Shelter, he and his family worked closely with our staff to ensure that he was ready to go home and stay with his family without running away.
In June, he moved back home and started training in a local workshop. Our social work team has conducted several follow-ups and each time, they have received glowing reports from his family and his trainer. According to the trainer, Fred is responsible, reliable, and hard-working. His family also reports that he is doing well at home.
For the next few months, Fred will continue his training, learning all he can about welding. If he continues to work hard, he will transition into a paying job later this year. We are so proud of him!
*At Naivasha Children's Shelter, we respect children's right to privacy. So while their stories are true, client names and images may have been changed to protect their privacy. Thank you for understanding.
As we continue to navigate this pandemic and keep all staff and residents safe, we need your help more than ever.
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Thank you!