Projects

There are thousands of kids living rough in appalling conditions on the streets of Kenya today. According to UNICEF, there are currently over 40,000 homeless children in the capital, Nairobi. Often thrown out by their parents, they have no resources for food, medicine or shelter. They are the forgotten ones often living with no hope, no future and no family.

International Needs is working with kids living on the streets of Nairobi. Led by a Kenyan Pastor, we are taking steps to help these young boys and men.

Maina’s Story

Until two years ago, Maina lived on the streets in the Westland district of Nairobi. To earn money he initially ‘hustled’ people onto buses making sure commuters would travel on his friend’s bus rather than anyone else’s. For that he got 75p per day. It was hard, dangerous and illegal, but it is all he had to earn an income for his family, and keep him off the streets.

As Maina grew up on the streets homeless, he has no papers and is regarded as stateless by the authorities. Last year the police rounded up the ‘hustlers’, including Maina, and threw them into prison for 12 months.

Maina is now 23 years old and with help from our partner in Nairobi, Pastor Joseph, has come off the streets. He is married and has a child and is living in a small rented house in Nairobi.

Maina (pictured in the middle wearing a black shirt, surrounded by other ex-street boys needing our help) returned to his family in September 2010 and when Peter Staley, INUK's National Director, met him it was clear he needed help. He asked Peter to help him start a small soap making business. This would enable him to provide for his family, get an education for his child, apply for his papers and stop him being harassed by the police. This we have now been able to do through the generosity of our supporters.

There are many others like Maina still living on the streets of Nairobi and we want to offer them a chance to change their lives, get off the streets and into work that will enable them to live secure dignified lives. Together we want to offer these forgotten kids help and hope for the future.

If you would like to donate to this project then please get in touch with us by calling 01883 331332