Reports from Easleigh and plans

SINGLE MOTHERS
In August last year we had seven mothers from the slums in Mathare and Huruma (suburbs neoghbouring Eastleigh),who we found through networking with other NGOs in those areas and social workers. This year the team will face great challenge of searching for the mothers (single) who are only found on the bases. So far we haven’t found any, the mothers we find are married and overage. However the year is still young and through God's help we will find them.

BASE WORK
The team visited some old bases and also discovered other new ones in Kayole and Ngara (these are suburbs) respectively. In Kayole we discovered two bases and after introducing ourselves and sharing the word of God, they were invited to M.I.T.S center in Eastleigh. In Ngara we also discovered two bases and the first one we saw five boys and one girl. They all promised to visit the center. The second one had two boys,they told us the rest have gone to the city center for games. So we promised to visit them next time and come a bit earlier.
Jam street base caught fire when all its members were all out doing odd jobs and trying to make their ends meet. Since this is a base that is so close to MITS for a long time, the team decided to help in the rebuilding of their base.

GIRLS' PROGRAM
We had experienced a shortage of young street girls towards the end of last year. Plans have been made for Augustina, Jane Paul and Jane Njeri to visit the bases in search for the girls. Kennedy suggested that, we should reconcile young girls and boys to their parent if that option is available. It has been observed that a big number of the mothers that attend the program are not from streets. In this regard we have made a phase-out program of issuing cards only to the streets mothers to show at the gate of our center. The rest can be assisted to start small scale business.

COLLEGE STUDENT
Fifteen students were selected to join college at P.C.E.A. from January 2010 (this is a college a few minutes walk from our Eastleigh center). Eight were selected from our mothers’ program, two from the girls program and five from the older men living on the streets.
Last year we had cases of some of the students sneaking classes for as long as a whole term. We have made plans for all the students to come to the center and report that they have attended classes that week.We will also be in constant communication with the assistance manager of the institution and also makes visits to check on the students. The team decided that we give the students thirty shillings each for lunch and a weekly supply of cereals instead of hard cash.

COUPLES MEETING
On 27th Jan 2010, we organized a couples get-together consisting of youths from the streets. Twelve people attended, four couples were among them. This being the first couples meeting, the turn up was encouraging and they were very happy even to share their experiences and the problems they face as parents in the bases and street life.
The mothers were advised to be visiting health clinics with their children. Men were advised to be responsible people morally and guide their families in a Godly manner.

NETWORKING
Last year we were able to achieve some of our goals through networking. This year we plan to enlarge our boundaries by having exchange program with other local C.B.Os and N.G.Os, which will promote our growth and enhance development and empowerment.