They laughed at us
When we roamed the streets
They scorned us
When we over turned the dustbins
They spat at us
When we passed near them with tattered clothes
And stinking bodies

They sneered at us
When we lay on the streets
In the cold nights
And heavy rains
They starred at us
When we sniffed glue
They never took notice
When we begged for food

But today
We design their clothes
We build their mansions
We dress their hair
We drive and repair their cars
We fix their appliances
We make their furniture

They no longer despise us
For we no longer stink
We no longer beg
We no longer sniff
We no longer starve
Our donors have seen us
We are reformed and refined.

Alex Mutiso composed the “Reformed” poem with Jitegemee’s vocational students.

It was during our school vacation, in August 2009, when the Director informed me about some visitors who were to come that year. The visitors were none other than architects Mark Palmer and Rayya Newman, board member Shu Kahn, her daughter Jenya, and husband Kevin, and teacher Emily Gasoi. These guys were led by dear Madam Farah. Their idea was to share with us about how to come up with a design for the new Jitegemee school.

A planning committee was formed composed of parents, staff and students. We met early in the morning to travel to Nairobi University School of Design where we met with professor Musau Kimeu. We saw different buildings with different designs, though they appeared to be very expensive. Professor Kimeu led through our discussion in coming with an affordable plan to our new school. It took us not less than two hours! Every point discussed was put down in paper for future reference.

Then we went to Catholic University where we saw a rainwater catchments system and very huge concrete tanks, so big that they could hold large amounts of water that could be used if a drought occurs. Both parents and students came up with such an idea so that Jitegemee can have such tanks—but these tanks seemed too expensive.

Then we were able to visit a solar panel shop. It was not encouraging because the solar panels were not very affordable. The day was coming to an end and everyone was tired. But the next day, we still had one more place to visit: The Limuru School.

It took us one hour to our destination. When we arrived, everyone was pleased because it looked affordable. We saw their program was just like Jitegemee. This was the kind of school we had been looking for. It had a nice and spacious library where kids could learn without interference, good classrooms, and plastic water tanks to collect rain. It gave us hope that we can have a school just like that.

It was an amazing and very important journey that was taking Jitegemee another step after many years.

Bravo, Jitegemee sponsors!

By Charles Wambua Kieti

When I was about seven years old, I went to the city of Nairobi. I used to take other people’s property and run away. One day luck was not on my side. I stole a woman’s bag but when I was running away, I was caught and beaten by a mob.

At nine or ten years old, I came to Machakos. I had nowhere to live. I had spoiled my respect with my friends, so I didn’t have friends. One day I met some children who talked about a program for street children. At first, I was afraid to go there, but then a man came to me when I was standing outside the supermarket. I was so afraid and I kept a distance from him but he told me that he was a teacher from the children’s program. I was happy because I had already heard of the place.

He told me there will always be githeri (corn and beans) and porridge and that there will no longer be child harassment. When I got to the place, I found children and one of the teachers. The teachers were so happy and were treating us like their own children. I was in this place for about one year and here my behavior really changed a lot and I became a responsible person.

After some months, we had a camping trip to Mombasa. Every one of us was happy about it. From Mombasa, my life changed so much from worse to good. My parents were happy about the change. Even in the village, I was again respected.

I am now fully at home. I cooperate with my parents and teachers and I think that’s why today I am like this. So thanks to all those who help Jitegemee and those who have that willing heart to support children. It is from that support that I have come all this way to this far.

Now, I am doing panel beating (auto body—learning to repair damaged vehicles). I am doing very well and I am expecting to start my own business after the learning process. I want also to teach other (street children) about my trade and my skills. Thanks.

By Mwania Musyoka

One of our sponsored children frequently hung out with a very jovial boy in tattered clothes. This boy, a smiling kid named Kivua Kiilu, appeared very comfortable in the streets. He did not have anywhere to go, anywhere to sleep or any one to depend on.

But Kivua looked healthy and kept smiling. Mandi Musyimi, one of Jitegemee’s former street children, introduced Kivua to the program. Kivua had been kicked out of the house by his mother before he was even eight years old. His mother, a single parent with other children, is a casual worker who often spends her meager earnings on a traditional brew. With no monetary or emotional support for his education, Kivua was unable to continue in primary school. Kivua stayed in the streets for four years before Jitegemee identified him.

Despite his circumstances, each time Mike Kimeu met him, Kivua shouted loudly “all I want is to go back to school. I left school many years ago but I am sure there is fun in school and a good future.”

Today, Jitegemee has sponsored Kivua and identified a guardian, who is not even a relative, for him to stay with. Kivua is now in class six at St. Mary’s Mixed Primary School. In the beginning, Kivua experienced a lot of problems learning the English language which he did not understand at all. But he adjusted quickly and within a year is performing quite well in school. Now, Kivua can both write and speak in English. Despite his earlier difficulties, Kivua is always among the top 20 in his class.

By Kivua Kiilu (through Michael Kimeu)

One day when dad came home seriously drunk, he raised a quarrel with my mother that ended up in a serious fight. She packed up her belongings and swore never to return to that home again. I followed her with my sister. By then I was in class eight (8th grade). After doing my final examination, despite of all the problems I faced, I scored a total of 414 marks out of 500. Unfortunately, my mother had been ill for years and the sickness was to its climax. She could no longer work to feed us and by the end of that year she passed away. No one could pay my school fees and my dream of becoming a doctor began cascading away.

I then moved to the streets completely to support my family. Life was not easy there; we looked for leftovers in the garbage. People hated us and when we tried to beg them money they mocked us. The police arrested us claiming we were robbers and thieves. In order to get money, we sold scrap metals and plastics which earned us very little. I bought glue and other drugs with the little money I earned and the rest bought food for my young sister.

One day as we were resting in our compound, two men came to talk to us, whom I later learned were teachers. They explained to us how they could help us mold our future and invited us to their working place. The next day they explained to us more about the job they do and that the program they work for deals with street children. Later they provided us with lunch and asked us to be going daily. Some of the street children ignored the idea but I went there because I knew there was help.

Soon I was enrolled in the vocational class as the time for continuing with my education had gone. This was in June 2005. I was so happy because someone had come to my rescue. In this class where my life began changing positively. I stopped sniffing glue and abusing drugs. I quit the street and became a disciplined and responsible person who can be dependable. All this was because of the lessons we learned and the counseling we received from our teachers. It is also in the class where I changed my dreams of becoming a doctor to an electrician. I chose the profession because I love the job and it earns a lot of money. I am so grateful and happy with the program for providing us with tools, which makes the job easy to learn. I also appreciate the lunch it provides for us so that no one starves of hunger.

My future plans are to be a professional electrician and to own my own workshop, which would earn me a lot of money, and then I would help my younger sister and my father. I would also help my friends who are still in the streets because I love them so much. I am so determined that I am sure I will make it.

By Michael Muthoka David

But when at first I joined the school my mother told me that I had no right to go to school and I deserve to stay at home. I was very angry and noted into my heart that I would not step in the school not even a single day. One day I said that I needed to learn and know how to read and write. So when my mother was asleep I escaped through the window and went to school. When I came back I found that my mother had moved from the house we had to another. I sat at the door and started crying.

When night came I went to look for a place to sleep, then my friend Njoki welcomed me into their house. I slept in their house and they took me back to school. They stayed with me for about two years and when I was in standard 6, the Jitegemee Program took over.

Now my mother had interest in me and took me and I went to live with her. I was very happy to see my family once again. Now in future I would like to go to a good secondary school and to be a musician.

I expect that my plans will succeed anyway. First I would like to thank the family that took me to school and secondly the Jitegemee Program very very much. I even went on many trips that I didn’t expect to go, places like Nairobi and Naivasha. May God bless the Jitegemee Program to help other children especially the children who don’t have good plans for their lives.

I am very grateful for everything.

By Agnes Kavita