Samwel is seven years old. He is from Elementaita, a community on a lake near Nakuru, where he lived with his three sisters. They were staying with their grandmother, as their parents had died. They were found by a social worker in bad condition, as their grandmother was elderly and taking care of twelve grandchildren, including Samwel and his siblings. The grandmother was only able to pay school fees for some of the children.

As the grandmother told the social workers, she had done her best to see them prosper, but since she is growing old she saw that she can’t take care of her 12 grandchildren alone so she had to ask for the support. Samwel, his brother and three sisters were brought to Nyota in July 2010. 

Samwel likes to eat rice. He likes to throw balls, and play football. His favorite subject in school is math, and he wants to be a driver when he grows up!

Samwel is seven years old. He is from Elementaita, a community on a lake near Nakuru, where he lived with his three sisters. They were staying with their grandmother, as their parents had died. They were found by a social worker in bad condition, as their grandmother was elderly and taking care of twelve grandchildren, including Samwel and his siblings. The grandmother was only able to pay school fees for some of the children.

As the grandmother told the social workers, she had done her best to see them prosper, but since she is growing old she saw that she can’t take care of her 12 grandchildren alone so she had to ask for the support. Samwel, his brother and three sisters were brought to Nyota in July 2010. 

Samwel likes to eat rice. He likes to throw balls, and play football. His favorite subject in school is math, and he wants to be a driver when he grows up!

Mary is nine years old. She is from Elementaita, a community on a lake near Nakuru, where she lived with her two sisters and brother. They were staying with their grandmother, as their parents had died. They were found by a social worker in bad condition, as their grandmother was elderly and taking care of twelve grandchildren, including Mary and her siblings. The grandmother was only able to pay school fees for some of the children.

As the grandmother told the social workers, she had done her best to see them prosper, but since she is growing old she saw that she can’t take care of her 12 grandchildren alone so she had to ask for the support. The children were brought to Nyota in July 2010. 

Mary’s favorite food is ugali – which is a kind of porridge made from ground maize and water. Her favorite subject in school is mathematics, and when she grows up she wants to be a teacher. She likes skipping and playing with the jumping rope.

Lydia is twelve years old.  She is from Elementaita, a community on a lake near Nakuru, where she lived with her two sisters and brother. They were staying with their grandmother, as their parents had died. They were found by a social worker in bad condition, as their grandmother was elderly and taking care of twelve grandchildren, including Lydia and her siblings. The grandmother was only able to pay school fees for some of the children.

As she told the social workers, she had done her best to see them prosper, but since she is growing old she saw that she can’t take care of her 12 grandchildren alone so she had to ask for the support. Lydia, her three sisters and brother were brought to Nyota in July 2010.  

Lydia likes to eat rice, and her favorite subject in school is math. She loves to play football with her friends and schoolmates. Her favorite colour is yellow, and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She is a bit shy to talk to, but loves to play.

Vincent is nine years old. He was living with the mother in Nakuru, the third largest city in Kenya, located twenty minutes from Nyota. He was going to Grace Nursery School. Vincent left home after being beaten by his mother and he had many body marks as a result. He was taken to the hospital and the medical report confirms that he was being battered with a hot wire on the backside. His mother was taken to the police station and they established that she was doing this to please her husband, Vincent’s stepfather, as Vincent was a child from another man before she was married.  Vincent was removed from his mother by the court and brought to Nyota by the Kenya Children’s Department.

Vincent’s favorite food is ugali – a staple food in Kenya. It is maize corn, ground into flour and mixed with water to form a kind of porridge. Vincent loves to study Swahili and play football. His favorite colour is black, and he wants to be a policeman when he grows up. He is a happier, more secure child now that he is part of Nyota, and we are taking good care of him.

Joram is 12 years old. He and his brother Joseph were living with their father. Their mother left them to live at her parent’s home in Kiambu after a disagreement with their father. Joram attended grade four at Mugwathi Primary School while his father was working in a quarry, manually breaking up rocks with a sledge. Since 2008 he has not attended school, and has either stayed at home with his brother or worked alongside his father in the quarry.

His father was arrested for stealing and sent to prison, and Joram and Joseph were left alone. Their landlord took them to the police station as the house rent had not been paid for a long time. Joram and Joseph were identified as being in need of care and protection. The Kenya Children’s Department visited their father in the prison, who told them he had a cousin who lived in Nakuru that they could stay with. However, a visit was conducted and the home environment was deemed unsuitable since the alleged cousin had only one room and lived alone. The court ordered Joram and his brother to be taken to the Charitable Children Institute, who then brought them to Nyota.

This is now Joram’s home. His favorite food is chapati. In school he likes to study Swahili. He likes to play football, and loves to play all games! When he grows up Joram wants to be a pilot.

Sheila is four years old. According to the Kenya Children’s Department she was left abandoned in the streets of Nakuru, the third largest city in Kenya located about 20 minutes from Nyota. She was rescued by the police, who contacted the Children’s Department. All Sheila could tell them was that she didn’t want to go back home because her stepfather beat her regularly.

She was brought to Nyota in June 2010. Her mother came after a few weeks, but the Children’s Department determined she was not in a position to care for Sheila as she also had abandoned her baby to her current husband and they turned her over to the police. Sheila likes to eat rice and play soccer. She is a bit mischievous but always loves to play and joke around. When she is older Sheila says she wants to be a teacher.

Kevin is 12 yrs old. He was living in Kakamega, a city in the west of Kenya with his grandmother. His grandmother did not have enough funding for school, so he would stay and help her with chores at home. He was alone for most of the day because his grandmother would be gone to work, leaving Kevin with work to do and some food.

In the post-elections violence, it was dangerous to be alone during the day so the Red Cross came and deemed the environment he was living in was not suitable. The Red Cross took him to Juvenile Prison because there was no other place for Kevin to stay. After living in prison, without schooling, the staff saw that he needed to go to school. He was put into a school called Mwangaza, while still living at the Juvenile. After a couple years he was taken out of the Juvenile Prison, along with five other orphans that were living with him. He was then brought to Nyota.

Now Kevin is a happy boy, although there is occasional sadness in his face. In the future, Kevin wants to be a pilot!

Dickens was born in 1994 near Lake Victoria, near the village where Barrack Obama was born. His father died in 1995 and his mother died in 2007. He has no brothers or sisters. When his mother died he went to live with a woman whose husband was working away in Mombasa. When the husband returned, he told Dickens that he must stay home and work the farm and could not go to school. He left for Nakuru; when he came to Nakuru he found a man who lived next to the supermarket. He told him his history and the man took him to juvenile prison, where he stayed for a month. They mixed him with the prisoners, but he was allowed to go to school (only it wasn’t a real school and it was a waste of time). He hated reform school, where he had to sleep on the floor and was treated like the other prisoners.

He came to the home in March, and is now in class 8 – he is a very bright young man who speaks English quite well, but he is behind because of this family problems. He loves to read and go to school.

Some children are natural born leaders and Dickens is one. He readily takes the lead and is impeccable in his dress…in fact Dickens irons the clothes for all the children and occasionally for volunteers! He likes to play football, singing, drama and reading. He likes to read social studies, science, English and math. He wants to be a lawyer, or a soldier in the future.

He is very happy here because in free time you can study your books and notes and relax. He can sleep comfortably in a bed.

Kelvin was born in December 1992 (doesn’t know the day) in Molo. His mother and his father died when he was very young so he lived with his grandparents. He has three sisters, but he doesn’t know where they are. His aunt came and took him from there when he was 13 years old and took him to her farm to work. He refused to dig because he wanted to go to school. Because of this his aunt called the police, who came and took him to juvenile prison. He lived there for 8 months in the same prison as Dickens. When Children’s Services came they took him to the new home in March.

Kelvin would like to be a policeman in the future, or a pilot. For fun, Kelvin likes drama, which he learned in school. They used to enter competitions in school where they acted and sang.

Kelvin is a very serious young man who is shy; but he is known to crack a smile from time to time! Especially when he is having his picture taken, which he loves.

Isaac was born in December 1993 doesn’t know the day) in Nakuru. His mother moved with Isaac and his 8 siblings to the Kibera slums of Nairobi (their father died in 1992.) in 2003. His mother died in 2005 of sickness. When she died his brothers were abusing him, saying that he had no share in the land. He knows where his brothers and sisters are but he doesn’t see them.

He stayed with his brothers from 2006-2007. A pastor – David Oduor, who used to come to the house to pray for this mother took him in. He was going to school and living with the pastor until the post-election violence, when the pastor fled and left Isaac along. He came to Nakuru in 2007 by himself when he was 13 years, to look for a friend of his mother. He stayed with a Mr. Njoroge for 3 months. He then went to the Philadelphia Chiildren’s Centre to see if he could be placed in a children’s home. They advised him to go to the police station. The police told him that he would have to go to court to get the magistrate to admit him. When he went to court he was sent to juvenile prison while they tried to find him a placement in a children’s home.

He stayed in juvenile for 11 months and then he came to the new home.

Isaac would like to be an accountant as he likes math. He will enter grade 7 in 2009. He likes football and basketball. He also likes to read story books.

Anna is six years old. She was living in Molo, which is 30 km from Nakuru, with her sister Damaris, who is two. Their father and their mother were killed in a fire when a truck carrying diesel fuel was overturned in Molo, about 30 KM from Nakuru. People were trying to capture the fuel in containers to use when someone light a match. It is estimated that up to 500 people died in the tragedy, which happened in February 2009.

When this happened, they went to live with their grandmother, but she was not able to take care of them. Children’s Services took them to MIA and they were taken to the new home.

Anna has been to nursery school and she will attend school in May. She likes to eat rice, ugali and bananas!

Damaris is two years old. She was living in Molo, which is 30 km from Nakuru, with her sister Anna, who is six. Their father and their mother were killed in a fire when a truck carrying diesel fuel was overturned in Molo, about 30 KM from Nakuru. People were trying to capture the fuel in containers to use when someone light a match. It is estimated that up to 500 people died in the tragedy, which happened in February 2009.

When this happened, Damaris and her sister went to live with their grandmother, but she was not able to take care of them. Children’s Services took them to MIA and they were taken to the new home.

Damaris is a just a toddler and she loves to be held and made to feel secure. Even though she is only two she is pretty self sufficient, and she loves to eat ugali and also enjoys being tickled and played with.

Anna is six years old with a beautiful smile that lights up her whole face! Her sister’s name is Pauline Wambui and she is four. They came to the home with Anna and Damaris. They tell us that their parents live in Molo; we believe they may have died in the recent tragedy. A fuel truck overturned and people were scrambling to collect the fuel in containers when someone lit the fuel on fire. It is estimated that up to 500 people died.

Anna and her sister came to the home in mid-March. When they arrived they were not well feed and they were crying all the time. Now they are happy and adjusted little girls who like to play and have their pictures taken!

Anna’s favourite food is gatheri – maize and tomatoes and beans. She is from the Kikuyu tribe. She is very happy to be at the home, where she is so well taken care of. Anna is very shy, but loves to be hugged. Like most of the children she loves to have her picture taken and shown to her. It is like magic!

Pauline is four years old. Her sister’s name is Anna Muthoni and she is six. They came to the home with Anna and Damaris. They tell us that their parents live in Molo; we believe they may have died in the recent tragedy. A fuel truck overturned and people were scrambling to collect the fuel in containers when someone lit the fuel on fire. It is estimated that up to 500 people died.

Pauline and her sister came to the home in mid-March. When they arrived they were not well feed and they were crying all the time. Now they are happy and adjusted little girls who like to play and have their pictures taken!

There is very little Pauline likes more than to eat. To watch her at dinner is a symphony of motion – the spoon to the bowl to the mouth to the bowl with hardly a breath in between. If you sit beside her while she is eating she eyes you suspiciously – it is clear she has endured periods when she has not had enough to eat. She also loves to laugh and be tickled – and she tickles back! She holds hands with her friends and sings with an amazingly loud voice for such a little person. She also repeats back English words and it is clear she is a very clever little girl who will do well in school.

Margaret is eight years old and her sister Jacinta is five. They came to live at the home on March 6th. According to Children’s Services their home area is believed to be in the Shabab area of the Nakuru District.

The girls say that their father left them with their mother and disappeared for a couple of months. Later their mother disappeared also and left them alone. A neighbour noticed and started giving them food. During this period when they were alone Margaret was sexually assaulted by a local boy – the case is still before the court. After a week, the neighbour notified the Children’s Dept. They were taken to the Nakuru Women’s Crisis Centre. From there they came to the home.

Margaret was sick when she came here – she was full of tape worms and very frail. Now she is in good health and eats well. Margaret is a very bright young girl whose eyes constantly follow you, and who speaks a little English. She loves to read stories and repeat the English words. Margaret also sings very well and loves to sing! She also likes to eat meat and pineapple, rice and apples. Despite her heartbreaking past, Margaret will gaze shyly at you but soon her face lights up with a big smile. She has not lost her trust and faith in people. She is obviously a clever little girl and she will be entering school near the home.

Jacinta is five years old and her sister Margaret is eight. They came to live at the home on March 6th. According to Children’s Services their home area is believed to be in the Shabab area of the Nakuru District.

The girls say that their father left them with their mother and disappeared for a couple of months. Later their mother disappeared also and left them alone. A neighbour noticed and started giving them food. After a week, the neighbour notified the Children’s Dept. They were taken to the Nakuru Women’s Crisis Centre. From there they came to the home.

Jacinta said this home is good because they often see Mazungu (white people)! Before her sister Margaret and her came to they were not eating anything but now they eat everything! They also did not have TV but now they do! As I am writing this story Jacinta and her sister are fixated on the computer and they even tried typing…

Jacinta likes to eat chicken, chapatti and watching TV! She also likes reading so much. Jacinta is only five but she takes the other children to the bathroom and makes sure they are clean. She is very young but very responsible. She has an incredible twinkle in her eyes and her face lights up when she smiles in a very elf like way.

Samwel is six years old with the most beautiful smile for everyone, even the white people! He sits on laps and loves to be hugged.

Samwel’s mother’s name was Mama Kamau. He was staying in Naroc, in a small village called Mombasa with his mother. Naroc is a dusty poor town located in SW Kenya on the way to the Masai Mara. Samwel attended nursery school in Naroc. He has a big sister although he doesn’t know her first name; she works in a child care home near Naroc. He doesn’t know his father.

The mother used to beg for food but he got very little food. His mother contracted AIDS and during the latter stages lost her mind. She beat Samwel severely on his back, head and arms. He still carried the scars. He was taken to the hospital where he spent several days before being brought to the home by an organization.

Ask Samwell if he likes living here at the home and his head shakes up and down and he beams his big smile – he never used to eat and now he is eating! Now he can have bread and porridge every morning, which he never used to get. His favourite foods are potatoes, bananas and beef. He does not want to see his mother again. He likes reading and playing soccer. He is a great soccer player already and also has a mean throw! He also likes to dance and sing.

But the most amazing thing about Samwell is his resilient spirit – in spite of all he has gone through in his six years, he still has a smile for everyone, and likes to sit on your lap and be hugged.

Nicholas is 14 years old. He was born in a small village called Olenguruoni, near Molo. He was living with his mother, grandmother and two sisters and two brothers. Nicholas is the third born. His siblings are now living with a neighbour. His mother died some years some years ago; he doesn’t know when. After their mother died they were living with their grandmother, later she left for Subukia and left them. Later he was taken by another man called Marita. He was taking care of Nicholas and his sisters and brothers and his school fees. When Marita became sick they had to stay at home by themselves and they had to stop school because they couldn’t pay school fees. Nicholas is the third born.

Another man took him from his village and told him he was going to take him to school. Instead he took him to the police station where he was sent to the children’s remand home (Juvenile Prison). Nicholas was at Juvenile for eight months. He was then brought to the home.

Nicholas likes to go to school. When he grows up he would like to be a driver. He is happy living here. His favourite food is rice. He loves music and is a wonderful singer.

Nicholas cried through the meeting to hear his story. He was scared and hid his eyes. The pain he has experienced is very visible.

Samwel is 10 years old. He doesn’t know where he was born but he used to stay in Kirenget, near Molo. Later he moved to Kisi where he was going to school. He was living with their mother and father and younger brother (who is now four years old and living with his grandmother). His parents died in the fire truck tragedy in early 2009. His father was a driver and his mother was at home. He went to school at Molo, class four.

Before the post election violence they lived in Kisii. Because they were Kikuyu, when the violence erupted they had to move from Kissi to Molo where they were living in a camp, up to when their parents died. Then they had no place to go. Children’s Services sent Samwell and five other children whose parents died in the tragedy to our new home near Nakuru.

Samwel likes the new home – he doesn’t even want to visit his grandmother. He likes to eat chapatti and chocolate! He likes to study English and social studies. When he grows up he wants to be a light commercial driver. He likes to read story books better than he likes TV! He also likes football and to watch himself on movies!

Kelvin is 10 years old and was born in Kakamega, in western Kenya past Lake Victoria. Kelvin is from the Luhya tribe, who are very good dancers. Kelvin likes to dance but he needs a drum. He lived with his mother and his step-father, and one sister who is now five years old. She lives with the mother.

He was taken in by the Red Cross during the post-election violence because they were rioting outside his village. They took him to a stadium camp where he stayed for two months. Later he was taken to the Nakuru Children’s Juvenile home (prison for children) because they could not trace the mother. If he could find his mother he would be happy. But he says he likes staying here because he was promised he would be able to go to school. This makes him very happy and when he was promised he would go next month his face lit up with a big smile and a laugh.

Kelvin wants to be a pilot when he grows up – a passenger airway! Kelvin used to go to primary school (class 2) at his home, but sometimes he didn’t go because he used to baby sit his younger sister. His favourite food is chicken! He likes to read more than anything else. He likes to read storybooks about rabbits!

Duncan is thirteen years old but a very small boy. He is the only child that knows his birthday – April 11th, 1996. He was born in the Cheptiret area in the Eldoret district and he is from the Kalengine tribe. The Kalengine and the Kikuyu were the tribes that were fighting in the post-election violence. Duncan lived with his mother, two sisters and five brothers. His father disappeared in 2005. The mother told them that they were going somewhere, she didn’t tell them where. They boarded a bus and came to Nakuru. They stayed one night at the bus station and then they went to a home called “Jesus is Lord”. The mother was mentally ill and sometimes started screaming and removing her clothes. The manager of the home reported the mother to the police. The manager took them to the police station and they turned them over to children’s services. The mother was taken to prison. Duncan, Boil, Bonface, Weldon, and Gloria (his sisters and brothers) were the first children here! They arrived on March 3rd.

He doesn’t know where his elder sister is, his elder brother lives at home.

Duncan likes living here! When asked he had a BIG smile and said he won’t go back home! Duncan is very sharp with a great sense of humour. He tells jokes and everyone laughs! He likes the small kitten who lives here and feeds it every day and carries it around. He won’t eat without the kitten. He also loves dogs and wants a dog. His favourite food is milk; Kalengins like milk because they have many cows.

When he grows up he wants to be a surgeon so that he can help other people. Duncan likes school a lot and English and social studies and science are his favourite subjects. He is going into class 6 in April 2009. Duncan is very lucky because he has sisters and brothers here with him.

Bonface is six years old. He has two big brothers, Duncan and Boel, a smaller brother Weldon, and a sister, Gloria, that also live at the home.

He was born in the Cheptiret area in the Eldoret district and he is from the Kalengine tribe. The Kalengine and the Kikuyu were the tribes that were fighting in the post-election violence. Bonface lived with his mother, two sisters and five brothers. His father disappeared in 2005. The mother told them that they were going somewhere, she didn’t tell them where. They boarded a bus and came to Nakuru. They stayed one night at the bus station and then they went to a home called “Jesus is Lord”. The mother was mentally ill and sometimes started screaming and removing her clothes. The manager of the home reported the mother to the police, and the police turned them over to children’s services. The mother was taken to prison. Bonface, Boel, Duncan, Weldon, and Gloria (his sisters and brothers) were the first children here! They arrived on March 3rd.

Boel was born in the Cheptiret area in the Eldoret district and he is from the Kalengine tribe. The Kalengine and the Kikuyu were the tribes that were fighting in the post-election violence. Boel lived with his mother, two sisters and five brothers. His brothers Duncan, Bonface and Weldon also live at the home.His father disappeared in 2005.

The mother told them that they were going somewhere, she didn’t tell them where. They boarded a bus and came to Nakuru. They stayed one night at the bus station and then they went to a home called “Jesus is Lord”. The mother was mentally ill and sometimes started screaming and removing her clothes. The manager of the home reported the mother to the police, and the police turned them over to children’s services.

The mother was taken to prison. Bonface, Boel, Duncan, Weldon, and Gloria (his sisters and brothers) were the first children here! They arrived on March 3rd.

Boel likes to to got to school. He is in grade four. Boel speaks pretty good English! Boel likes to read English, social studies and Swahili. He likes to play football, handball and basketball, His favourite food is potato chips and chilcken! I LIKE it he says!

He likes living here, because he has seen changes. They were sleeping on the floor before and here they have beds and mattresses. Sometimes they were missing food and here it is every day.

Boel is small for his age but he is now very happy and healthy!

Weldon was born in the Cheptiret area in the Eldoret district and he is from the Kalengine tribe. The Kalengine and the Kikuyu were the tribes that were fighting in the post-election violence. Weldon lived with his mother, two sisters and five brothers. His father disappeared shortly after his birth in 2005.

One day their mother boarded a bus with her children and came to Nakuru. They stayed one night at the bus station and then they went to a home called “Jesus is Lord”. The mother was mentally ill and sometimes started screaming and removing her clothes. The manager of the home reported the mother to the police, and the police turned them over to children’s services.

The mother was taken to prison. Weldon, Boel, Duncan, Bonface and Gloria (his sisters and brothers) were the first children here! They arrived on March 3rd.

Weldon is a very curious boy – he is not even afraid of white people! He loves attention and comes to look for a hug or to sit on your lap. He loves listening to music and tries to sing the words.

Gloria was born in the Cheptiret area in the Eldoret district and she is from the Kalengine tribe. The Kalengine and the Kikuyu were the tribes that were fighting in the post-election violence. Gloria lived with her mother, two sisters and five brothers. The father of the other children disappeared in 2005. Gloria’s father is unknown.

One day her mother boarded a bus with all the children and came to Nakuru. They stayed one night at the bus station and then they went to a home called “Jesus is Lord”. The mother was mentally ill and sometimes started screaming and removing her clothes. The manager of the home reported the mother to the police, and the police turned them over to children’s services.

Gloria is often upset and loves to be held or hold hands. She has been though a lot in her very short life, but she has a beautiful smile and is now receiving wonderful care, regular meals and has a good life to look forward to.

Doreen is 12 years old and her birthday is Nov. 25th. She has no brothers or sisters. Doreen came from Machiakos Rescue Centre, where she lived for one year. Before this she lived in a rescue centre in Nairobi for four months, where she was taken by the police when her mother died. She was found in Nairobi living on the streets when she was nine or ten. Her mom got sick and died, and her dad died when she was small. She only knew her aunt, who also died.

A rescue centre provides only the bare necessities for children. They are fed but they don’t usually go to school. Doreen shared a bed with one other person. She worked hard – fetching water, washing clothes and dishes, cleaning the hall and the dorms. Children go there to wait for the children’s dept or court orders to go to a more permanent home.

Doreen was taken to the court from the Machiakos Rescue Centre and from there to Mission in Action who brought her to Nyota in May 2009.

Doreen says the food here is good here – “I get to eat chiapatis, sometimes meat, rice, juice and fruit”! Doreen shares a room with the older girls and likes school – because she says “when I grow up I want to be a judge and to be a judge first you need to get educated”! She likes English (conversational English, reading) social studies (learns about Kenya), Science (agriculture), CRA (Christian Religious Education). There are 24 children in her class – she is going into class six. Doreen likes the staff and children at Nyota – she has many friends. She is constantly pitching in to help – one of her regular activities is passing out toothbrushes and putting the toothpaste on for the smaller children. She also polishes the shoes for school, which happens almost daily! Reading storybooks is what she likes the most…including “Charlotte’s Web”. Doreen also loves wearing hats and red is her favourite color.

Faith is mentally challenged. She came here from Machiakos Rescue Centre. Very little is known about Faith’s background or family. She was found abandoned in Nakuru, the city located near Nyota.

Faith is doing very well at Nyota – she loves to sing and dance and also helps with household duties. We hope to send Faith to a school for the mentally challenged, as she has the potentially to read and write and learn.

Sharon is mentally challenged. She also came from Machiakos Rescue Centre. We know very little of Sharon’s background as she too was abandoned. Sharon loves physical affection, and will give hugs and hold your arm or hand. She also has difficult times when sadness clearly overtakes her, and during these times she cries. Life is very difficult in Kenya for children with disabilities – they are sometimes ostracized and kept from others due to shame. Sharon may have had a difficult past but at Nyota she is cared for and loved. We would also like to send Sharon to school where she can learn more skills.

Leah and her sister Caroline and brother Stephen come from Korogocho (Nairobi). Their mother died in 2006 and they were left under the care of their father. Leah was abused by her father, who was arrested and put in jail. Leah was taken to the Goal Rescue Centre and then her case was taken to the International Justice Mission, a human rights organization. The children’s grandparents were advised of their situation, but as they were already taking care of 10 orphans and are elderly they were not able to care for Leah and her brother. Leah was brought to Nyota in the spring of 2009 to stay during school break, and in the summer she and Stephen were brought back to live at Nyota under court orders.

Leah is a much happier young girl than when she first arrived in the spring. She is attending school with the other children, and loves to sing and dance. She is very helpful with chores and helping to care for the smaller children. A play therapist comes to Nyota every week and helps Leah to manage the trauma she has experienced through a very difficult childhood.

Stephen is a quiet and very perceptive boy who lives at Nyota along with his sisters Leah and Caroline. Stephen was born Sept 30, 1996 in Nairobi. Stephen lived in Nairobi (he stayed in the slum called Karibangi) with his sisters Leah and Caroline until they came to Nyota. In Nairobi he lived with his aunt, before that he lived with his parents. His mother died in 2006 and his Dad abused his sister. His father was arrested and is now in prison. Stephen lived with his aunt for one and a half years, but he didn’t like living there because she gave him a lot of work (wash house, dishes, clothes and fetch water). He went to school – class seven. Some people came to take Stephen and Leah away from the Aunt. The children’s grandparents were advised of their situation, but as they were already taking care of 10 HIV orphans and are elderly they were not able to care for the children. Stephen and his sisters came to Nyota in August.

Stephen has been at Good Samaritan School for three months. He likes the school because it has many subjects and good teachers. He says they teach well! He is in class 8 and likes math, science and English, and reading storybooks.

Stephen likes it at Nyota – “it is a good place to live” he says. There is good food – chiapatis, meat, githeri, ugali. Stephen likes playing football and wants to be a pilot – he wants to learn many things about being a pilot.

Caroline came to Nyota in August with her brother Stephen and sister Leah. Caroline lived in Nairobi (she stayed in the slum called Karibangi) with her sisters Leah and Caroline until they came to Nyota. Her mother died in 2006 and her father abused her sister. He was arrested and is now in prison. The children’s grandparents were advised of their situation, but as they were already taking care of 10 HIV orphans and are elderly they were not able to care for the children. Caroline and her sister and brother came to Nyota in August. Caroline has had a very hard life in her short nine years, but she is now safe and secure and is very happy living at Nyota.

Joseph was born on Oct 6, 1998 near Kabazi. He used to stay with both his dad and mom but they died. He was very young when they died. He went to stay at his grandmother’s (his mother’s mother). He didn’t stay for long because she used to punish him. They chased him away. Then he went to stay in the streets of Kabazi. A woman took him in and he stayed with her until he went to the Njaaga Home. He returned to her after the Njaaga home burnt down, but she couldn’t take care of him because she had no work. She lived far from the school but Joseph took a Matato to school.

Joseph came to Nyota in June 2009. Joseph likes it here because he has brothers and sisters. He is eating well, going to a good school and he also likes to ride a bike. Joseph says he is very happy. Joseph likes to study science as he learns about the environment. His favourite food is chiapatis and he loves bananas.

Mary is from a small village near Nyota – both of her parents died of AIDs over two years ago. She has been living with relatives but they were not treating her well, she did not go to school and was neglected. She was brought by Susan Gathege, a volunteer with the Children’s Dept. to Nyota in May 2009. When she came she was tiny, sick and not talking – just staring. She appeared very scared. She was taken to the hospital and she is doing much better with medication. She is talking and seems very happy. She attends school and is in grade 1.

Flora was rescued from the streets in Nakuru in December 2009 along with her brother Ken. They were found by the police and it is believed they were abandoned. Flora had pneumonia and was admitted into the hospital where she stayed for one week. She was staying with her mother, although Flora will not provide any information on her situation or her family.  

Ken was rescued from the streets in Nakuru in December 2009 along with his sister Flora. They were found by the police and it is believed he was abandoned. Ken was taken to the police station, then he was brought to Nyota. Ken was living with his mother, although he will not open up or provide any information about his situation or his family. The Children’s Dept is currently trying to locate her mother, although it is extremely difficult for them to locate people in these circumstances. Ken is very happy at Nyota and loves to ride a tricycle.