Rescuing boys and building leaders

Charles was recently elected by his classmates as school's president.

Charles came to the Shelter when he was only three years old. He was rescued by neighbors and brought to the Shelter after he was abandoned by his mother.
For years, Charles struggled with his studies. At age 12, he still struggled with reading and writing. He was a shy boy, and had a difficult time making friends outside the Shelter.

But recently, Charles has made huge improvements in his studies and has proved himself a leader among his peers.  This year, Charles, with the help of some other Shelter boys, ran a campaign to become president of his elementary school.  In Kenyan schools, students in fourth through eighth grade are allowed to vote on a school president. On voting day, Charles, who is only in sixth grade, was overwhelmingly elected as the school's president!

According to Charles, some of his roles include ensuring that discipline is maintained, ensuring that all pupils participate in cleaning the school and reporting any concerns raised by pupils to the head teacher.

Charles credits his teachers at Shelter with helping prepare him to be a leader.  "My teachers at Shelter are very supportive and have taught me how to be disciplined, honest and hardworking, which are qualities of a good leader," Charles said. 

Because of your support, Naivasha Children's Shelter is rescuing boys and building leaders.

Donate now to help us raise up leaders like Charles from the streets of Kenya. 

Teach a boy to fish...

Ronald, 18, graduated from the Shelter carpentry program in December and now works in a carpentry workshop in Kenya's capital city. The skills he learned at the Shelter allow him to support himself. 

You know how the old saying goes: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Ronald learned how to fish during his time at Shelter -- but he also learned how to build. 

When Ronald's mother died in 2011, poverty forced  the 13-year-old boy to the streets. Living on the streets, he spent his days begging and searching for food. For years, he lived in constant fear of hunger, and of the beatings he would often receive from the local police.

“I started using drugs because my friends were using them,” Ronald told a Shelter social worker, “then I was able to sleep and not be afraid.”

Eventually, Ronald was referred to Naivasha Children's Shelter, where he chose to pursue carpentry. Ronald lived at the Shelter for two years while he learned all the skills he would need to support himself. 

Immediately upon graduation, Ronald was offered a job in Gikomba--one of Nairobi's largest markets. Now 18, he spends his days in a busy workshop making furniture, and is able to support himself. He has rented a small house in a neighborhood in the city. 

"I learned from Shelter how to be independent," he told Shelter staff who came to visit him at the workshop.

"I'm so grateful for the education I received and the tools they provided."

Six boys will graduate from the carpentry program this year. Would you consider partnering with us to give one of these boys the supplies he needs?

A one-time donation of $100 can provide one of our carpentry graduates with a set of tools that they can use to begin their own business.