Bernard and Emmanuel pass out in the heat!

Emmanuel and Bernard have just passed out! It was a hot, sunny day, but that wasn't why they passed out!

The two young men have just completed 6 month's military style training in Kenya's National Youth Service (NYS). Having successfully passed out, they will now continue to do several months of community service before receiving training (both want to learn to handle construction machinery).

Emmanuel and Bernard were both brought up at the Tumaini Children's Home and after leaving school, joined NYS. 

Their placement of the training scheme was organised by Anne Wanjiru who runs the Maisha Bora for Youth programme which provides talented young people from deprived circumstance the opportunity to achieve their dreams!

90 (former) street boys conquer Mt Longonot

The former street boys from the Sunshine Centre dance and sing for joy as they conquer Mt Longonot!

The mountain towers 9,000 feet above the East African plains near the Sunshine Centre. Over 90 boys, staff and visitors from the UK took part in the Mt Longonot Crowd Climb in October, raising valuable sponsorship which will help maintain the Sunshine Centre as a haven for street boys.

Ernest and Beth's new home takes shape

Thanks to the amazing generosity of many supporters, Ernest and Beth's new home will be completed very soon.

Many of your were moved by the story of how Ernest, the father of Sunshine Boy Dennis, broke his back in 2015 while working in a quarry.

While his wife Beth was spending time nursing Ernest at hospital, Dennis went to live on the streets where our staff found him and offered him a safe haven at the Sunshine Home.

When Footsteps trustees Martin and Mary Print visited Dennis's home and met Ernest and Beth last year, they were moved to tears (literally!) by the sad story. Ernest and Beth explained that the landlord wanted to take back the house they rented, so, with your help, we have provided them with a home of their own...nearly! 

Robert's performance is electric

When we met Robert he was working as a poorly paid washer-up in a hotel.

Convinced he could achieve more, he asked if Footsteps would sponsor him to train as an electrician.

Checking his story, we found that he came from a poor family of 18 children. With help from older siblings, Robert struggled through high school, but with poor grades, he had little prospect of finding a good job (which is why he ended up washing dishes in the hotel kitchen).

We were delighted to sponsor him and he has now completed his first year training in Electrical Engineering at Naivasha Technical Training Institute.

Robert did so well that he is progressing on to take a higher qualification which will give him an excellent chance of finding employment as a commercial or domestic electrician when he qualifies.

Pauline steps up a gear

 Pauline has completed her first term training to be a mechanic at Naivasha Tech and has now stepped up a gear - putting the theory into practice at a local garage.

We cared for Pauline at the Tumaini Children's Home in Mombasa for many years, then helped find a place at polytechnic to train as a motor vehicle mechanic. A local garage has offered her an opportunity to train as an intern to develop her skills before she returns to college next term.

The future is bright in ICT for Alex and Bernard

Alex and Bernard have have seized the chance of training in ICT at polytechnic in Mombasa.

Both young men attended Tumaini Secondary School, but, like many youngsters, were not sure what to do next.

They applied to join the Maisha Bora programme, and were accepted for sponsorship.


Following a shopping trip to buy the specialised tools they need for their course, both young men started their studies in May.


Bernard said, "Thank you for paying for my fees, giving me transport money and paying for my lunch. I am now able to attend my ICT classes and promise to do my best to produce good results!"

Alex wrote: "It is because of Maisha Bora that I will achieve my future goals, that one time I had given up. Thank you very much and may God Almighty bless you!"

Kenya Marafun - we made it!

2018 Kenya Marafun: fun and fund-raising

At 7.20 am on 19 May, 2018 over 200 runners, joggers and walkers set off to complete the challenging Kenya Marafun course through the scenic Hell’s Gate national park.

The former street boys we care for at the Sunshine Centre ran alongside students from the Naivasha Polytechnic, Bishop Wambari school and a team of 10 visitors who had travelled from UK to take part.

Although Kenya has experienced its wettest rainy season for over 30 years, the Marafun day was cloudy but dry - perfect for running, and ideal for the UK visitors)

The event was enthusiastically supported by Kenya Wildlife Service (who patrolled the park to keep the buffaloes at bay), and our Sunshine Boys came home in first, second and third places!

An arresting sight!

At first glance it looks like Tumaini house parents Charles and Mary are being arrested!

Actually, they are celebrating with Kevin as he graduates from police college!

Kevin grew up in our Tumaini Children's Home in Mombasa where Charles and Mary cared for him and more than 30 other children.

After leaving school, Kevin applied to join the Kenya police force. After a lot of hard work, he graduated at the end of March and is ready to be posted for duty anywhere in the country.

Ocean-side wedding for orphan Emily

We have helped care for Emily since 2001. She is an orphan who was one of the first children given at place at the Tumaini Children’s home in Mombasa.

 Emily seized the chance she was given, did well at school and then went to university in Nairobi where she trained as a nurse. Once qualified, she had no trouble finding a job as a children’s nurse back in her home town, Mombasa.

In December, she married Ignatius, a medical equipment engineer, in a ceremony held just a few metres from the Indian Ocean!

Christmas Chickens Make A Difference

A chicken makes a great Christmas gift - providing eggs (and chicks) throughout the year for a person in need!

We had a great response to our Make A Difference campaign which encouraged our supporters to donate a gift to help a needy child or adult, instead of spending their money on useless knick-knacks.

As well as chickens, our supporters donated life-changing gifts including education sponsorship, school uniforms, shoes, and medical checks!