Teens raising babies on the Streets

When a couple become parents and get their first child, most of them usually don’t have a clue on how to raise this young baby that they have been blessed with. We experienced the same when we got our first child, my daughter Naledi. We were and still are overjoyed and ready for the challenges ahead. At that time we would ask ourselves how hard can it be, we have helped in raising some of our relatives child so clearly we know what we are doing. Honestly! Half of the time is guess work and following advice from 20 people, all with their own style.

This week I got an opportunity on Monday to visit the streets and met a lot of different people. In one of the bases that we visited, we met Mercy with her baby James. When we arrived at the base, they were all gathered around a carton boxes that were also being used as plates. Food had been collected from the trash pile that was just next to them. Sitting under a tree nearby were two babies one of whom was around 2 years and then a younger one of 8 months whom I later James. James had something on his mouth and was choking on something that he was trying to eat. When I went closer to check him out, he was trying to eat a piece of dirty sugar cane that his mom had given him.  He also had a piece of meat that he was choking on. I asked who the baby belongs to, a young girl in her mid teens came up. I told her to remove what the baby what eating. She removed a piece of meat from James' mouth and what struck me was...she did not realize the danger she had put her son from choking to death. When she told me James’ age, I realized that he was the same age as my daughter, 8 months and I just was sad and wondering what kind of life baby James had gone through,  how many miss-haps he had gone through because his mum did not have any clue on what is to be done, how many days he had gone without food, sleeping in the cold etc.

 Another sad thing was when we came, Mercy (James’ mum) had a glue bottle in her mouth which meant that most of the time she was high on glue and was not paying attention to mothering responsibilities. Does she have a clue as to what James needs; does she take him to the clinic for regular check-ups as required? So many questions going through my mind. If Naledi has parents who still need to learn a lot and sometimes don’t know what to do or

have to consult, what about James growing up in the hands of a teenage mum living in the streets.

By Joel.

From the base to wood shop and gratitude in Kamulu

Joseph Kamau is a street boy whose base is Gaza base at Riverside  close to down town Nairobi.  His story is that he ran away from home 4 years ago when he was 9 years old. At that time they where staying in Naivasha town which is about 100 km away from Nairobi. He stole Kshs. 2000 (USD 20) from his father and that made him run away from home. Ever since his parents got separated. His father lives in Nakuru Town while his mother still lives in Naivasha town. He is now 12/13 years old and still a street boy at the Gaza Base. He told us that he would like to go back to school and learn but he can't go back to his parent because they will beat him badly for stealing money from his father.  We informed him of the Tuesday program for the boys of which he said that he will come. The challenges that he has is that the local authorities and police are on his neck because they don’t want street children around down town. This pushes him to do odd jobs at night and during the day sleep and hide himself in  abandoned construction site. We found all this out on Friday when the team went to Eastleigh,  for base work. Our thoughts are, we will have lots of younger street children on the streets.

By Jackton

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Busy week for wood working students, its their week for practical exams.
Our students are working on several small book-shelves and each of them is working on individual project. Each of them started out with only materials for working on their projects.

While doing their practicum, they should be able to use the table saw and the routing machine, the finishing should be done with water base paint.
They have all the measurements required for there projects after that we will grade them, then they will have their projects to keep!

 by Robin



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Thanks also to the Conways for their love and contribution through their friends and family for making life a lot better and beautiful for our kids. This shows they really care about the well-being and comfort of our kids at the farm. We have bought equipment and resources that help the team serve the kids better. The Skills Departments and Residential Halls both for boys and girls really appreciate these gestures.

Grown up so quick!!

1. Peter Mwangi:- Catering and Food production :- we were able to finish his skill training at MITS, got him an ID card and also Secured a job at Naked Pizza place in Westlands. Currently moving out this month to stay with possibly George Mwenda and maybe Ken Owino.  We are still helping him with some fare, food and housing.

2. Titus Musyoki: - Hairdressing and Barbering: - Secured an opportunity at Narcisse salon in Sarit center (an upscale shopping mall) and he is doing very well. MITS has stopped providing him with any financial support.

3. Cecilia Mwinza:- Dressing making and Tailoring:- Was able to secure a job in Gikomba (second largest open air market in Africa) at sewing place there, stays in Huruma (average living suburb)we are still helping her with some transport, food and housing. Plan is to get her son Eric this month as part of the children moving out to start staying with their parents.

4. 

   David Mutimbi:- Auto-mechanics :- Secured a  Job at 4 wheeler Garage in Wester side of city center. Started out at a slow pace, has moved to stay in Ngara. We stopped supporting him.

5. Ken Owino:- Computers:- We finished helping him get an ID, was able to secure a job at Sams' place (a deaf school on the south-west part of Kenya) the opportunity was lost due to lack of proper preparedness, the next step is to exit him to stay with Peter Mwangi and George then he will we will help to secure a job for him this month.

6. Florence Aoko: -Hairdressing and beauty:-  was able to secure a job in downtown Nairobi in a salon called Excel Salon, MITS is still paying some of her transport, food and housing . Stays in Huruma.

7. Anthony Githinji:-Auto-mechanic:- finished his  attachment which was for 3 month , ready to move to the next stage of enrolling into a auto mechanics wiring school once we finalize on that and also see if he can get an opportunity at 4wheeler garage. Still staying at MITS. He turns 18 years this month.
   

   
   

8. Joseph Nderitu :- Auto-mechanics:- finished his  attachment which was for 3 month , ready to move to the next stage of getting his ID this month and then start the process of job hunting.

9. Mary Wanjiru: - Catering: - She was able to get her ID card, still looking for an attachment opportunity and then secure a job. MITS is still paying her transport, food and housing. Stays in Mathare area.
10. Clinton Otieno: - Catering: - Just finished his training at MITS, working on his ID and then the next stage is attachment. Still lives at MITS currently.

11. Joseph Mbithi: - Catering:- Just finished his training at MITS, working on his ID and then the next stage is attachment.Still lives at MITS currently.

12. Lucy Akinyi:- Hairdressing and Beauty:- finished her training in Ayana college and moved out from MITS, got an attachment in a salon in Buruburu (average living suburb)now we are still helping her secure a job. This month we will be moving out her son Collins aka Teddy to start living with her.

13. Indale Guyo (Ambush):- Tailoring and Dressmaking:- though he will be turning 18 in December 2013, we  were able to get him an opportunity at Blue Sky place in Westlands place following his successful interview last month. The remaining of this year, he will be receiving job training from Blue Sky as he waits to start probably at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. He still dreams of pursuing school for designing clothes
    Students receiving training outside MITS
    George Mwenda:- Attending training at Aviation College in Information Technology (IT) moving him out this month to start staying with Peter Mwangi. He will be finishing his schooling in June 2014.

14. Edward Muhea: - Attending training at KIPS college in Mass Media and Journalism already moved out to stay with Pius Musyoki in Gachie area near the Village market. In school he will be finishing in June 2014.
15. Alexander Atema:-2nd year at Nairobi Great Commission School this year, this a theological school. He will be finishing his training in December 2013. Staying at home with his mother.

    
    

    
    
    
    
    ***All pictures are of our students like after a month after joining our program, in 2010. They have all grown so quick!!***
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

Reports from Eastleigh, the Wood Shop ,Orchard and updates

On Wednesday we took five boys to the Kariakor Registrar so that they could fill the Identity forms. (Moses helps older streets youth to acquire the Naitonal IDs, which comes in handy and helps the youths attain jobs to help earn a living, plus helps lessesn harassment form the local authorities.) 
Four of the streets guys are from Dornholm base and they got the waiting cards which mean that they will have their IDs in a month’s time. The names are Alex, Joseph and Simon Anthony Njuguna (juju) from jam street base went to collect his ID card from Kayole where we had applied and filled his forms. They really thank God and Made In The Streets for the support and help. Most of the people from streets do not have the documents required by the Government for them to be given the National Identity Cards. Therefore we negotiate we the Government officials on their behalf to prove that they are Kenyans.
On Thursday I also took Priscilla Wanjiru (mum to our Mary Wanjiku-Conje and Lucy Wairimu - Lucy A) to Nyayo House for vetting to prove that she is a Kenyan and that she is a reformed street woman and reached passed the age of 18 years when one is required to apply for the ID.

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Last week the woodworking team was working on repairs at girls place replacing locks for cabinets. We also added some tables. The woodworking kids also helped put some wire mesh on the windows in the intern house located besides the girls' complex, to guard against  mosquitoes. We did other repairs at the
Learning Center. We helped repair some desks, benches and tables.
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At the Orchard James has  been working on the removing weeds, watering trees and spraying medicine on the trees. Now we are expecting oranges as mango trees are flowering.
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The seminar for the team conducted by Steve Sherman and Patrick Chappel was awesome and fruitful
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DLU is having fun with classes and a small time medical and craft camp with our kids.

Reports from Nursery...

Erick and Kehl have improved so much in  their reading and have very good memory for the things they learn in class. . Our kids discipline is to the standard and they are so easy to interact with, including Sylvia who joined and could not even sound a word.  Raphael and Dennis are just perfect for the activities of their age they are having fun. 

Dennis and Raphael had been on and off from the hospital because of diarrhea  Dennis was diagnosed with ecoly which is a bacteria; they both got their vaccination against polio. We have encourage their parents to practice cleanliness since this is the only medicine for their problem. 

Base work, am so thankful for the great love and how MITS ministry expresses their love to the people still living on the streets. This is what drives me to continue going to the base work, just seeing the faces as they are ready to meet us, no matter how hard their life conditions. I met Tabitha’s brother in mtindwa base.

What a lovely groups we have had this month lots of goodies from Clothes, and crafts and soccer kits and jerseys, and so much more fun  activities. It was a wonderful time for us at the children center. The Malibu Group, Decatur, and now the David Lipscomb University group. 

We at the children center have been enjoying and learning a lot, the story of Solomon, David and Goliath were their favorite. They also loved coloring and skits.

We have also been reading the five copies treasured tales and Moran graded readers it involves morals, all this makes our kids be able to speak fluent English hence stories have always made a big improvement as far as learning is concerned. 

Briefs from Eastleigh

On the first week of the month, we went to bases at Liliput, Marie stope, Mlango kubwa and Deliverance people were well although they were high on drugs. We have also helped about 26 people to acquire IDs. These are youths from bases in Eastleigh, Donholm. Mutindwa and Town areas.

 On Tuesdays we have been teaching boys in class and we have interacted a lot. And we have realized that they are willing to stay off the streets if offered the opportunity at Made in the Streets. They are a maximum of 58 young boys attending the program at Eastleigh. The camp for the teenagers was also very instrumental to the increase of the number of boys attending the program. The camp was put in place by the Aggies For Christ.

During the second week we also held a camp for the young teenagers with the help of Hung Le and the Malibu. The boys were very happy because they were taught practical lessons about King David and King Saul and played interesting games.

I also went to Phyllis’ home visit with the company of Joel (Student Affairs) and Jane [Residential parent] in Kuresoi in Nakuru County. We explained to the parents about the situation of their daughter and they understood the issue although they were worried that we were going to stop supporting her, but we told them that we also had teenage mother’s boarding facility and program. Phyllis has been in MITS for the last months. A pregnancy test was done at the time of intake, but was Negative, after 3 months this is when we realized that she was pregnant.

During the month we have also worked for the documentation of the two new students namely Beatrice and Sharlene. We have conducted home visits for the two girls, took them for age assessment and medical checkups.  The two girls are currently in Kamulu, joined classes and their teachers say Beatrice has had some form of schooling because she catches on fast, for Sharlene, with time she will get to a level where she can read and write with ease.

We are doing some follow-ups and  have  conducted a home visit for a 14 year old girl in Riruta Satellite in Karura slum, a referral case from a Children’s Home in Kahawa west[Familia ya Ufariji]. The mother of the girl is HIV positive and has four children. The youngest is almost one and a half years and the oldest is a girl between 14-15 years. The father of the children died of the same disease.

Reports and progress

Computer classes are going on great. The kids keep showing so much interest to learn more every time they in the Lab.

The advance is done with the introductory and use of MS-Word, they can now work comfortably around the Office suite Next month we will be starting on MS-Excel. Caleb Nthiwa and Dennis Kamau are really excelling very well; they at times assist me to teach other students who encounter difficulties.

Middle class has really improved with their ability to work around the computer environment.  We have also covered the basics and some aspects and commands in MS-Word.

The Lower level class, is a little bit slow, but they are understanding.We are using more of computer games available to assist them in their keyboarding skills and reading/writing/typing skills. Some are slowly taking on writing.typing and with time they will be able to put sentences together.. Paul Njane and Sylvester Ouma had difficulties using the keyboard but now they are comfortable and are doing a great job with their typing speeds.