New dorm, placement exams.

John has been working extra hard to finish up the new dorm at the skills training property. The new dorm will house mainly male students who are in skills training. The dorm has 9 rooms which will house two per room. Inclusive is a staff quaters which has a toilet and bathroom.

Right now plastering of the rooms is being done, wiring and plumbing. After, it will be painted, bedding and necessary furniture put in. It also has a kitchen area for the boys to prepare their meals. The kitchen area is big enough to house a lounge area. (pictured above is Moses Mwangi and Patrick Saulo, who work with John is all construction work).
The Agriculture/welding building is done.

New students have been in an orientation period for the past two weeks. They met with almost all team members, mostly those that handle skills training classes, and the

administration. So they got to ask all question they had and exhausted all their curiosity.

Yesterday and today were exam days for them. This is to help the literacy teachers know where and what level to place them. A couple have never had the experience of a classroom, but a good number have been in a formal school before running to the streets. Philip, Irene and Fiona have already come up with a timetable which fits current and new students.

Tribute to Eastleigh team

Reaching the gates of Eastleigh center we find Evans coming back from an emergency, that early morning a street youth had been brought by other streets youths, pulled in by a hand cart. The injured guy had been in a fight that night and was injured. Evans' shirt had blood stains on it.

Moses has established close contact with the older youths of the streets. Despite the many intolerable conditions they live in, he always joins them in a small time meal called 'jombi', as he and the street families fellowship together, they don't fail to share the common but nostalgic memories of their past lives before joining the street life. Their stories start like this.... 'once I was living with my parents....'and it goes on.

Jane Njeri constantly with the women and girls, sharing and encouraging them. They also haves stories to tell. of their alcoholic husbands and of their arrogance. Them being left hungry and defenseless against the cold night during those night they are thrown out. Girls talking of near rape cases they had and what they have to do to fend for themselves and have a warm place to sleep. Same girls talk of other girls who have done things and stuff like abortions, suicides, early marriages that we here call 'come we stay'.

Augustina's constant daily meals has fed hundred if not thousands. The meals she cooks known as 'pilau' has given some street youths hope and some thing to always look forward to. The youths have always left their plates clean, and you cannot fail to hear some appreciation from those that have starved the whole night.

Teacher or ticha Jane handles all the young ones, those that we count as joy, though malnourished, she plays games, sings and gives them a nap when their parents are having classes with Jane Njeri. Ticha, also helps feed the young ones.

Joseph the guard also chips in by monitoring the students who come into the programs that are held in Eastleigh center. He helps to the secure drugs, such as ndom, biere, kalalu and any object deemed as a weapon. He also controls the use of the sanitation and water use. The street youths come to the center to bathe and do laundry. Joseph also help control time and teaches the youth time management by coming to the program on time, or else they miss out!
The team has been working extra hours since November last year for succession of the intake for the new students. It is because of them, that we now have 29 new kids join us two weeks ago. They made sure we had all requirements.

Where would our current students be without the team in Eastleigh battling with everyday challenges like insecurity, filth, abuse, distance due to followups and visits of bases, lies, internal base conflicts, accusations and the sorts.

It is them who make our program in Kamulu a success by first believing in the kids they make contact with.


*jombi is a collection of foods put together. The foods are collected form hotels or garbage heaps.
*kalalu is a form of liquid that is sniffed, it is a substitute of glue which helps drive away hunger and cold during the nights. It is more destructive than glue.
*biere is glue that the streets kids sniff the help managed hunger.
*ndom or bhang is local name for marijuana
*pilau is spiced rice mixed with meat and pudding on the side.