Updates

We are almost done with the first quarter of the year. Team should be getting together soon in departments to see what goals have been achieved thus far.
We are currently registering our older students who are sitting for the national examination issued by the Government. The kids in total are 28. Joel and Phillip are working on getting those that do not have birth certificates  in order to ease the process of registration. Plus it will be an addition to important documents that our kids need.
The computer lab for the literacy class is has taken shape, side benches that the monitors sits on are complete and the first set of N-computing are out in place...we plan to have a total of 22 students in that lab. Thanks to Darren Wilson for making all this possible.
Lucy Akinyi has already moved out, and gotten an attachment in a salon called Hope line salon in Buruburu  we are still helping her with her kids. Collins will still attend our children day care center until we formulate a definite plan for both of them. Lucy has finished her sponsored training in Hair dressing thanks to the Cedar Rapids through Larry Hagerman Group. Joel will write a summary of his progress with the exiting students.
The entire school is getting excited on starting a series book called the Story. It will be launched on April 7th with the Coulstons teaching and training.
Florence Aoko too is an exiting student, she too got an attachment at the same place Lucy is at.

In liaison with the government office, the area local govt managed to donate to us bags of rice and cooking grease. This compliments our diet and help with the monthly budget. Thankful also for additional meat from the farm department. They managed to slaughter for us 200 chicken.
Last week our kids got the chance of going shopping to get new school shoes. As fun as is sounds, haggling and bargaining for shoes can be an uphill task. Successfully all the kids managed to get new shoes.
Since the rain are here, we are in gear to plant for more harvest. In different zones within our farming zones different crops have been planted.

Kens' story

NAME: Kennedy Owino

AGE: 18 years old

 (An essay written by Ken, pictured is George and Ken receiving towels From Larry Conway)

BEST EXPERIENCES IN MITS

My first experience in MITS was in the year 2006, it was my first time to go on a camp and I really loved it, because where we were camping at was in the middle of the jungle, and it was in Nakuru and it was really fun to be there.

So every came out of the bus pitch tents prepare dinner, ate and slept. The next morning we woke up went to look for water that we will use for making chai/tea, and then while we were walking suddenly we heard a sound from a far, and so we decided to walk after it and we found that it was a water fall.

Everyone was happy and excited about it, and by the way it was very clean, and with no waste of time we fetched some for making tea, lunch, and dinner, and then from there some washed their clothes, shoes, bed sheets, towels, and everything, and some even went ahead and washed themselves from it because of the long journey that we had that day. The lunch was ready, and we went to eat, it was very delicious that I can’t even let a piece of meat to go off my plate.  The cooks that we had at that time were very good in cooking, they were imported from China and others U.S.A.

 

It was afternoon everyone is full and just relaxing, then few minutes later Mr. Mbuvi requested everyone to get on the bus, then we took a ride into the other areas to watch the wild animals. On our way Mbuvi drove across lionesses and he stopped the bus, everyone took a good look at them, and again we asked Mbuvi drive a little closer so that we can watch them nicely.  They were five of them and big ones, Mbuvi hooted at them and even went ahead to a point of getting his feet out of the bus to see if they can do anything about it. But by good luck these lionesses were full so they did nothing to us. 

But the point of all this was just to hear them doing the roaring, but unfortunately nothing happened. So Mbuvi was disappointed.

So we drove back and kept watching giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, buffaloes, and others. So the night came, and everyone was happy about what they saw during day time. And then we prepared everything that was needed for dinner, then we started telling stories about what we saw on other side away from the camp.

After some time thirty minutes later, food got ready and we were cold to eat, so they served us and everyone started eating.

Now everyone has finished eating, and some have gone to sleep, so we remained like ten people, so we decided to make coffee for the remaining guys which are there. And then after that, we started telling stories again but this time it was funny things that we did in Kamulu. Then suddenly we saw shiny and flashy things like torches, and everyone was like what is that person doing over there, and I replied to them “those are not people with torches, those are lion’s eyes.”  We are running for the sake of running because we are confused and don’t know whether to get in the tents or bus, so all us decided on the bus. And remember these lions are the ones that Mbuvi disturbed during the ride that we took on the day time. So it’s like they were revenging.

Note: Ken is at the stage of exiting...he was computer skills training. One of his talents is drawing, designing. We have used his various artistic designs on some of our t-shirts, and labelling of signs for MITS. pray he get a good placement on intern ship and starts his life spiritually and with contentment. He is always enthusiastic about everything. 

John in class

John Wambu is our foreman here at Made in the streets. Meaning he was there at the very beginning, helped secure most of our property out here at Kamulu. Well since John was and has an interesting in history about how he met the church of christ, I decided to invite him to my History class. He started by giving his life story and of his past.

So he starts by explaining to the class that he was a gangsta, and am like YEAH! Awesome!...which reminds me that, he understand the background from which our kids come from...He organized crimes all over Kenya, he once was a wanted man, dead or alive, moved from hotel to slum area a lot to hide out from other gangs or the police. He says the law back then was, kill or be killed. He combines this historic periods of his life with the Church, which is kind of cool. It was the church that turned him from his wicked way.
He explains how life was like back then in the 70s and 80s...how the economy was still tough but manageable. John gives a randon salary would go for KSH.800(USD10)...rent would go for like KSH 75 - 100(USD 1)...this meant that one was living the life.
John also touched on some historical figures, the first president and how he ruled, the second president and his tenure...but did some sort of damage to the country, but John was still positive that despite the hardship and his lifestyles, he still had the church to fall back to.
So he winds up encouraging the class that despite hardship, we should not let our terrible past determine what we are to become in the future. But still learn from the past and not make similar mistakes...because God is watching and determines our destiny by how we serve Him.
A student asked John at the end of class, "How come you are almost light skinned and, what in the world happened to you leg?",...John smiled and said, "now that is a story for another time"...Sweet!!!

Exit Students Report 2013

I would like to thank all the team members, sponsors and other partners for the support that they gave us in 2012.
Last year we were able to achieve the following:-
1.       Able to get approval for re-registration from the Children’s department, involved in the creation of a new Charitable Children Institution Association that will advocate and network CCI dealing with children.
3.       Was able to exit most of the 22 students who went out and got places for attachments, training and jobs. (Jackline Njoki, Mary Muthoni, Mawanahawa Sumaiya, Anastacia Njeri, David Mutimbi, Benard Kariuki, Nicholas Muiruri, Mary Wangui, Elizabeth Wanjiku, Florence Aoko, Fredrick Otieno, Duncan Mwangi, Abdi Isaac, Paul Zakayo, Charles Kimani, Veronica Wanjiru, John Dennis Kamau, George Omondi, other will be exiting this year)This was a great improvement from 2011 because all got places this time around and the ball was in their court to prove and maintain those opportunities.
4.       Created awareness and increased relations with the Children’s department and other organization dealing with children.
5.       Held trainings for the team to be aware of the new laws and rules coming in concerning child care.
6.       Improved and restructured the boarding department to better take care of students.
7.       Helped the exiting students get relevant documents for IDs and job/internship opportunities.
8.       Held VBS and Sunday school for the community children. last year we were able to have 388 children attending.
This year’s Goals:
1.       Help our students doing KCPE exams get their birth certificates and also committal documents and lastly those needing IDs card.
2.       Attachments/Jobs for Exit students this year we have
·         Peter Mwangi:- Catering and Food production( ID, Attachment and then Job, housing )Possible opportunity at the Arte Caffe at the village market.
·         Titus Musyoki:- Hairdressing and Barbering ( Attachment and Job, housing). Glad to say he has an opportunity a Narcisse salon at Sarit center.
·         Cecilia Mwinza:- Dressing making and Tailoring(Job hunting, housing )
·         David Mutimbi:- Auto-mechanics ( Housing, Job at 4wheeler Garage )
·         Ken Owino:- Computer ( ID, attachment and then job hunting, housing )
·         Florence Aoko: -Hairdressing and beauty(ID, attachment and job, housing )
·         Anthony Githinji:-Auto-mechanic( attachment, ID and then job, housing)
·         Joseph Nderitu:- Auto-mechanics( attachment, ID and then Job, housing)
·         Mary Wanjiru:- Catering ( ID, Attachment and then Job, housing)
·         Clinton Otieno:- Catering (ID)
·         Joseph Mbithi:- Catering (ID)
3.       Help those going for outside schooling, this year we have
·         George Mwenda:- Computer Graphic and computer languages and then help out at MITS during weekends.
·         Edward Muhea: - a part-time class KIPS and then helps Musa with beginner’s computer classes at Kamulu.
 Lucy Akinyi:- still has 3 months  hairdressing school and then job hunting.
4.       Do more networking with other organization for the exit students and do a lot of following.
5.       Reforms in the Boarding program in terms of supervision, food and communication channels with students like having suggestion box etc.
6.       Push for the implementation for some of the suggestion from the children’s dept e.g. improves security, education for our students, child friendly environment.
7.       Continue with 4.30 Business classes, Saturday classes
8.       Do more community programs like Sunday school and VBS this year.
9.       Interact with skill teachers to better equip and pool ideas.
 Improve our students recording system to comply with the government standard set.
 Work more with relatives and parents of the exiting students as an integration process.
 See how alternative cares with fit with MITS especially foster care.
 Do more of the team building training for our team.
 Improve on our certificates, letters for exit students.
Start our graduation program, to be held in October.
 
 by Joel Njue.

Month one down

Team managed to meet and review last years goals and went through those achieved. We also had time to read out and evaluate achievable goals for 2013. All departments read out theirs mostly geared towards making our kids better and more prepared for life and spiritual life.  Much was discussed about the future of the ministry and our vision and focus.
With a lot of the kids joining skills training we were faced with the challenge of dividing the kids evenly in all the skills areas. Rashid felt he wanted to pursue hairdressing but we had put him in woodworking. The entire team felt he would thrive well in woodworking so we did some mentoring through Robin, he was uncomfortable at first but is doing well.
 We now have kids in Auto-mechanics, woodworking, and hairdressing. Theses skills did not have student last year.
We recently bought new chicks to help supplement our diet.  We now have close to 300 chicken that are all layers.

All building projects are ongoing, the Sewing building is almost done, the new comp lab is finished, only electrical fitting remains.
Philip has started his school in Daystar university  he is doing his degree in Mathematics. Irene is almost finishing with her degree in psychology and counselling. Joel Graduated with a degree in Business management.

Terron Talley from North Carolina, Asheville,of Biltmore Church will be an  intern that will be staying with us for the next one year. He will be teaching Bible to the literacy classes,  Latoya Moore is also with us for the next five week, she is a student at Pepperdine University studying Education and Psychology. She does one-on-one classes with our newest and basic literacy students learning to read and to write.

Up and Running

 Well, it a new year, tons has happened the past year, especially during towards the end of the year. I don't like being the bearer of bad news, but different area in our properties got broken into, the computer lab again, the nursery, the catering class, the church building. Despite all these and losses, the team is not deterred to work, and be there for our kids. None of us got hurt during all this.
We had parties to celebrate the birth of our Lord, we took our kids for a shopping trip, we had parents and guardians of our kids come over to share thoughts and a meal together, we ushered in the new year in style, by singing and praising God all night. it rained heavily, probably signs of immense blessings to come. We went to a water park at a prestigious part of town known as the village market. It has been our tradition to open the year by water sliding and splashing. We took over the swimming pools and slides. You could tell MITS was there. Laughter, screams, chattering of teeth from the cold. The weather condition did not stop us, NO way. Priscah Kerubo who used to be one of our student, was with us, she was reintegrated back to her family. Priscah joined us during the holiday, other students who are also on internship or working also made time to come spend the holiday with us.
Now we are back to whats more essential to our starting this ministry. Education, training, loving, committing  correcting, forgiving, remodeling, restructuring, letting go. All that a family does to make a living organ. We started by cleaning out the learning center because John had been constructing two new computer labs, re-carpeting the classroom floors, the courtyard. He was hard at work during the holiday season as we all enjoyed ourselves.Now we are only remaining with painting the two new rooms, for use by the computer skills students and the other room to be used by literacy computer classes. (Any ideas of paint color a comp room should be?).
Other construction that are on-going are the girls' dorm and Jacktons' new sewing plant.
This year a good number of students have moved from literacy classes into skills training. Excitement is always there, mixed with confusion as students get to decide what they want to pursue for the next two year before leaving us. With the new computer room constructed, we can now assign specific room at the learning for all the subjects being taught there. This will help reduce the traffic that contributes to time wasting and give teacher and students easy time in terms of access of resources.
Exiting students are also by the number, I will ask Joel to keep you updated on their progress. Students who exited last year have shown promise. John Dennis, has secured a job at a local gospel production house GNPI, (where our other former student Anastacia Njoki also works), Pius Musyoki also got full time employment at the prestigious well to do salon at Sarit Center as a hair dresser. Others will get the chance of furthering their education in colleges,such as George and Edward.  Alex Atema is doing great at the theological bible school. Mary Waithera is also doing great at the Art Cafe'as a chef. Joel will give a full detailed report on these students and where they are currently.Lucy Akinyi who was the only girl who to decided take on Auto-mechanic as a skill, had to change her skill because of medical and health reason. Her back was causing problems and was advice to change her skill by her doctor. She took on hairdressing. She received a scholarship from Cedar Rapids, Iowa church to help her pursue her skill through attending a college. The money will cater for her logistics and needs while in school.Cedar Rapids church will be offering every year scholarship money to the best student chosen by the team, who deserves the boost.
We have lots planned for this year, in this regard the team will meet this Friday the 11th, to review the year 2012, and its successes and check on places and loop holes that need amending. We will also structure goals for 2013.


This is Monica, our newest addition to the staff. She will be training the Hairdressing skills students and help supervise the girls in their residents halls. She has worked with street youth before and has had experience as a social worker.



The kids are ever vibrant, ever willing to learn, curious, charged and waiting on all encouragement to face this life with your kind words. So please find it in you time to write those you sponsor or are close to, and remind them that you care and love them.

moving to the next level

We are always happy when we see our students making progress and also being excited about what they want to do in life. This week we had several students moving to the next level;
Joseph Nderitu and Anthony Githinji started their attachment at Excell Auto garage which is situated in a place called South B Nairobi. They were excited to start yesterday.
We also had Elizabeth Wanjiku move to a new job in Embakasi area next to the Tuskys supermarket that is opposite Jomo Kenyatta Airport. She works at a place called Pearls Salon and Barbershop as a shampoo person. Lets keep this students in prayers as they start and continue with their lives outside of MITS.

This week I was able to follow up a case of a young girl called Miriam from the slums of Kayole just next to a big quarry which is one of the areas in Nairobi where child labor is a big problem. A lot of the children from that area are being lured out to the streets and the quarry to be involved in all sort of evils like prostitution, working at the quarry breaking the big rocks and also in social crimes.
Miriam is a case which reminds us of Priscah Kerubo, who would run away from her parents and go out to get friends in the streets who would involve her in such evils. Miriam's' parents love her so much but they are not able to meet her basic needs and they stay in the slum which is in Kayole North, Kiandururu areas. The father is a garbage collector and the mother sells vegetables to put food on the table. That previous week before I visited the family, Miriam had stolen her mother's savings of about 250 shillings (USD$ 3)which she had set aside to expand her business and went out spend it on buying drugs and glue only for the money to be taken by young man that Miriam had met that night in the streets. The parents are scared for their child that something bad like being raped or maybe getting murdered at night when she goes and stays out in the street. The area is a dangerous place for young girls. Her parents had at one time chained her at home so that she does not go out. Its always had for children from the slum areas not to get influenced to negative things. Lets keep this young girl in prayer as we work with the Eastleigh team in looking  up a place for her before its too late for her. As for Priscah we praise God that she was able to overcome this and go back home and continue with training in catering.

Joel