Celebrating Opportunities

Ben and John (names changed for privacy reasons) grew up in Ukambani, a dry drought prone part of Kenya. They lived with their father, mother and two younger siblings. Though they were poor, they managed to get by with their small farm until their father fell ill, could no longer work , and eventually died.

By this time John had complete primary education, which is free in Kenya. There was no money for secondary school fees so John travelled the 100 km to Nairobi. There he lived on the streets doing small jobs like cutting grass and collecting scrap metal. Life on the streets was miserable and dangerous – John does not like to talk about it.

After about six months of such terror, John heard about a place called Emmanuel Center, where street kids had a place to live and a chance to go to school. After a bit of searching he found the centre and presented himself at the gate, asking for help. He was admitted and enrolled in secondary school.

The following year Ben finished primary school and also made the long trek to Nairobi in search of work. When he arrived he looked for his brother on the streets and so too learned about Emmanuel Centre. Though the centre was nearly full, space was made for him and he too enrolled in Secondary School.

Both boys did well in their studies in different ways. John was a social student (sometimes a bit too social perhaps) but worked hard. Ben was much more quiet and studious. When John graduated in 2007 he was supported by a generous donor and enrolled in a catering and hospitality diploma, which he finished in 2010. He is now working at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi.

By the time Ben graduate in 2008, their mother had fallen ill and was unable to take care of herself or their younger siblings. Ben travelled back to Ukambani, where he enrolled her in an HIV/AIDS treatment program. He got a temporary job as a teacher in a rural school. The salary of approximately $35/month helped him support his family, but he desperately wanted to continue his own studies.

In early 2011, a qualified teacher was hired for his position and he lost his job. Luckily, the HIV/AIDS treatment had greatly improved his mother’s health and she was able to take care of his siblings and the farm. John was sending money home for his job at the Hilton.

Ben seized the opportunity and travelled back to Nairobi were he began researching academic programs. He decided he would like to complete a Diploma Business Information Technology at the Presbyterian University of East Africa.

Which brings me to the present day and point of this story . . . . to celebrate my Birthday, and all the amazing opportunities and learning experiences I have had over the last 30 years, I’m trying to raise the $1250 needed to cover Ben’s first term of university.

If you would like to help me meet this goal you can either donate online via the Squamish Rotary Club (write in the note section that the money is for EBRC university fees) or contract me to get bank account/mailing details.

THANK YOU!

Reflecting on 5 years with Emmanuel Project

My first visit to Emmanuel Project

I’ve been involved, one way or another, with Emmanuel Project in Nairobi, Kenya for over five years now. Emmanuel Center provides education, shelter, health care, etc. to street children, and it has provided me with never ending learning, inspiration and joy.

However, the work has never been easy and journey has had bumps here and there. Sometimes it is hard to see that we are making a difference – when you consider there are 250,000 street kids in Kenya, for example, and we are only able to directly help about 40 a year. And sometimes the logistics, management and financials can distract from the true mission of the project – to give street kids a chance at a better life.

So when I become discouraged or frustrated I try and remember the individual stories: the first Emmanuel student to graduate from secondary school, who is now in university; the street boy who would barely speak, he was so traumatised by life on the streets, who learned carpentry in a vocational training institute and is now an apprentice in a workshop; the AIDS orphan who completed secondary school and catering training at a small college and is now working in a hotel. The list could go on. It is these faces, these stories that keep me motivated and keep Emmanuel Project doing what it does best – giving street kids a chance.

We’ve recently made some changes to how we go about this. We’ve never liked the idea of institutionalizing children. In Africa in particular, it is a foreign practice to put children into special homes; it is better for them to be integrated into the community. So Emmanuel Project has been working hard to get as many street children as possible placed with relatives – Emmanuel Project still provides for all education and health needs but the children live with families. Those children who have no relatives we are placing in boarding schools. This way we are able to close the center facility and can use all the money we were spending on rent, bills and staff to directly fund what children need most.

The truth is that this change in programming hasn’t been easy for any of us. In many cases both the children and the families need a lot of support and counselling in order to live together. For the leadership of Emmanuel Project, it has required some soul searching and remembering that our goal is to help children, not have own fancy building.

However, now the process is almost complete, I believe we are all very excited about it. The children are starting a new school year with their usual eagerness and excitement, and the leadership of Emmanuel Project is enjoying being able to focus on the kids.

If you would like to join us on this next leg of the Emmanuel journey I ask that you please consider donating to Emmanuel Project. Donations can be made online via the Squamish Rotary Foundation, are tax deductible for Canadians, and there are no administration fees. If you are wondering how much to donate these figures might help you:

• $550 or $46 a month = one year in primary school for a former street kid
• $750 or $63 a month = one year in secondary school for a former street kid
• $600 or $50 a month = one year in vocational training for a former street kid

P.S These number include the cost of school fees, school supplies, nutritious food, and health care! 

P.P.S. To donate now go here