Edward - from street boy to undergraduate

Edward Makori - 2004

In 2004 Edward Makori was living on the streets of Naivasha. Neglected and hungry at home, he dropped out of school and ran away to fend for himself on the streets.
"Things were not good on the streets," he recalls. "I survived by eating leftovers from the garbage and rotten fruit in the market places. The streets were very cold at night and during the rainy seasons sometimes I lacked a place to sleep. The police were not also kind to us and could arrest us and beat us or lock us up for no reason.

Edward starts university

But Edward's life changed when he was offered a home at the Sunshine Centre (top photo). He remembers the exact date! "On 2 June 2004 Sunshine was opened and I was among the first boys to be registered. I was very happy to find a new home with plenty of food which I didn’t have to either work or beg for. It was also clean food not like the leftovers in the streets. There was also a good place to sleep at Sunshine - a bed with blankets unlike the cold street verandas. I could sleep well without fear."

Once back in school, Edward did extremely well at both primary and secondary school, and, in September 2015, his hard work was rewarded with the offer of a place to study a degree in Economics at Masai Mara University (bottom photo).

Bonnie heading for football fame

Over the years that we have cared for Boniface ('Bonnie') at the Tumaini Children's Home in Mombasa he has had a passion for football.

Now, his dream of becoming a professional footballer is coming true as he has been signed up by Simba Sports Club who are currently riding high in 3rd place in the Tanzanian Premier League.

Bonnie, who is 19 years old, has signed a 3 year deal after impressing the Simba Sports Club coach during pre-season trials.

Footsteps is committed to supporting needy young people until they are independent. Bonnie has taken a huge leap forward!

Vivian leads village health improvement campaign

Vivian Amwayi is combining her community health skills and her natural acting ability to get across vital messages about healthy living.

She is helping educate the women who live in Mafungoni village near Mombasa how to protect themselves and their families against common ailments by adopting simple but effective measures such as good hand-washing and filtering water.

The photo shows Vivian giving a practical demonstration of effective hand-washing, which is very important in an area where there is no running water or sewerage system.

Vivian has been also been issuing medicines to treat worms and fungal scalp infections. Already this year, nearly 600 people have benefited from the campaign.

Footsteps has helped care for Vivian at the Tumaini Children's Home in Mombasa since she was 12 years old.

Eastbourne school links with Nairobi slum school

Children at Church on the Rock
school enjoy uji at break time

The class 4 students at Shinewater Primary School in Eastbourne are keen to find out how their lives compare with the children who attend the Church on the Rock school in Nairobi's Kware slum.

Martin and Mary Print have been asked to take three lessons at Shinewater school . The first will describe the people and geography of Kenya and the second will focus on what life is like for a child in the slums in Kenya. The final session will compare the children's lives, interests and hopes for the future.

The lessons build on work that Martin and Mary have been doing over the past three years with Southwark Park School in SE London.

New classroom...happy children (and staff)

New classroom at slum school

The children at Church on the Rock School in Nairobi's Kware slum are very happy - they have a bright, shiny classroom!

 It's a vast improvement on the old one whose tin walls had jagged edges which cut the children's fingers. 

The new classroom was made possible by a generous Rotary District Grant which was initiated by the Rotary Club of Bromley who have been great supporters of our work over many years!

The classroom is made of corrugated iron on a wooden frame, in keeping with the normal construction methods in the slum. 

The classroom will enhance the children's learning experience, helping them achieve the exam successes they need to get a good job which pays enough for them to leave slum life behind them.

Jo Johnson MP commends (and starts) 2015 Marafun

Newly elected Orpington MP Jo Johnson took time off from his ministerial duties to start the 2015 MarafunBefore counting down to set off this year's runners, Jo took time to congratulate the Footsteps team on their decade of success in caring for street children and orphans in Kenya, and boosting the education of some of the world's poorest young people.

Over 300 participants took part, running or walking in excess of 3,000 miles in total. All proceeds and sponsorship go to help sustain and expand Footsteps' work.

Fabulous visit to Kenya!

Martin and Mary Print are just back from a 3 week trip to Kenya! They say:

 

Thank you….

…for your help, support and encouragement. We have just returned from a visit to Kenya and have once again been inspired by the way that young people’s lives are being transformed.

Together we are making a difference…

…we have met and talked to: 

• 19 boys who told us about the hardships of living on the streets and how coming to the Sunshine Home in January had changed their lives;

• Former street boys who are educated and earning a living so they can support their families;

• Orphaned and abandoned children who are now grown up and taking on responsible jobs such as community health workers;

• Children in Nairobi’s slums who have achieved the grades needed to go to high school.

None of these would happen without the support of so many wonderful people!

To help our work survive and thrive, we always welcome:

•  Regular donations (don’t forget to occasionally increase your gift to offset inflation;

• Visitors (meeting the youngsters and staff has a huge impact on them and you);

• People to run, walk or help at the Marafun on 16 May and climb of Mt Kilimanjaro in October!