A living chance for street children in Kenya

Mary was just 8 years old when staff at Hope Community Centre in Naivasha, Kenya, found her living by herself on the streets. Today she loves going to school and hopes to become a nurse when she is older.

Mary’s friend and classmate is Jonathan. When he was 5 years old, Jonathan’s mother died and the boy became the sole breadwinner for his family. For the next 5 years he took care of his younger brother and sister. Today, thanks to the love, care and education provided by Sister Lucy and the staff at Hope Community Centre, Jonathan has big plans for his future.

I would like to become a teacher. I would like to teach and support children who are less fortunate in life - just like I was.
Jonathan

Almost all of the 161 children at Hope Community Centre used to live on the streets in Nairobi and surrounding towns, left to fend for themselves under appalling conditions. Many had lived on the streets for years with no hope of ever having a normal life again. To have a life that many of us may take for granted - a home, clothes, food, someone who cares for us - was for these children a mere dream.

Many of the children that Sister Lucy finds living on the streets initially find it hard to believe that anybody cares enough to help them to change their lives.

I did not like my life on the streets. I felt hopeless and lonely. One day I heard that there was an open air meeting for us street kids. We agreed to attend; maybe we could get some food. When we arrived at the meeting, children were singing and I got worried and wanted to run away but my friends told me to stay. After many children had shared their past life experience, we were asked if there were any street children that would like a family, to go to school, to be fed and to be secure. I decided to come with the Hope Community Centre staff. I didn’t trust anyone but after I saw that everything I had been promised became real I started to trust people. I want to study hard so I can become a nurse. I like to take care of people.
Mary

Thanks to Hope Community Centre and the inspirational work of Sister Lucy who runs the centre, children like Mary and Jonathan can now enjoy a roof over their head, food, clothes, education and knowing that someone cares for their well-being.

To protect identities, names have been changed.