Surviving on the Streets
In Nairobi, an alarming estimated figure of 60,000 children and young individuals call the streets their home, a number that continues to rise. The majority of these street dwellers reside in informal settlements like Kibera, Kawangware, and Eastlands. Their daily existence often revolves around scavenging, begging, and rummaging through refuse for survival. Faced with discrimination and marginalization, their integration back into society becomes increasingly challenging. Abandonment, domestic conflicts, or extreme poverty at home are common factors that lead many to the harsh reality of street life.
The allure of drugs exerts a powerful influence, and substance abuse is rampant among street children. Many resort to solvent abuse as a coping mechanism for the overwhelming hopelessness they experience and to stave off hunger. A significant portion of these children lacks official identification, rendering them unrecognized citizens without proper protection. Consequently, they fall prey to violence, harassment, manipulation, and exploitation. Malnourishment is widespread, and the combination of poor sanitation, drug abuse, and exploitation heightens their susceptibility to illness, including the risk of HIV/AIDS.
Grace Empowerment: A Path off the Streets and a Beacon of Hope
Through the Grace Empowerment Programme, International Needs is paving the way for young people on the streets of Nairobi to envision a life beyond the harsh realities of street existence. Currently, the program extends its support to 66 children and young individuals, providing two substantial hot meals each week and addressing three crucial areas of assistance:
- Supporting their Rights:
- Facilitating the acquisition of legal identity, health care, and legal aid for street children, who often struggle to access these services independently.
- Assisting them in obtaining ID cards, a pivotal first step toward transitioning away from street life.
- Pastor Joshua, serving as a guardian for those lacking legal representation, ensures they receive emergency health care and supports them when unfairly treated by law enforcement.
- Pastoral Support:
- Acknowledging that rehabilitation involves more than physical removal from the streets, the program focuses on eradicating the negative impacts of street life.
- Providing crucial support such as counseling, mentoring, and pastoral guidance from Pastor Joshua, a figure trusted by many street youth.
- Building a New Future:
- When individuals express readiness to leave the streets, Pastor Joshua facilitates accommodation at halfway houses.
- Connecting them with vocational training, education, and resources to pursue formal employment or initiate their own businesses.
- Tailoring the approach to individual aspirations, be it education, artisan work, or other endeavors, with Pastor Joshua offering unwavering support.
Pastor Joshua’s Vision
For over eight years, Pastor Joshua Kirani has dedicated himself to working with street children in Nairobi. Possessing extensive experience and a profound connection with street boys, he envisions the establishment of a rehabilitation center tailored to the specific needs of the children and young people he passionately serves.
