Wema celebrated 31 years of transforming the lives of street-connected children on Friday, 6th September, 2024 at the Tononoka Social Hall together with mombasa street-connected families. The Birthday Party, which was attended by over 400 street children, youth and adults was a fun filled event that will remain a core memory for those in attendance. The event was opened with a praise and worship session followed by an encouraging and uplifting word from Pastor Ponga of CITAM Nyali.
The birthday party dubbed ‘Streets of Hope’ presented a platform for street connected persons to show their talents and enjoy a day made specifically for them. There were fun activities that took place, dance competitions and an eating competition which was a crowd favorite. After a delicious lunch we had several performances from different street bases who were later recognized with gifts. We also had different stakeholders, that is, a government official from the Social services program (Mr. Samir), encourage the participants to use their reintegration services, Mr. Joram shared legal counsel and offered his services to those who need to acquire any vital documents and our social worker George who encouraged them, and commended them for joining us to celebrate such a momentous day.
In line with the theme, ‘Streets of Hope’, there was also a segment where street connected children and youth shared their challenges and dreams, below is a summary of what was shared:
One of the children who spoke was 12-year-old Festus who wishes to leave the streets together with his family. He shared how difficult it is to sleep outside on the corridor on a box with no beddings. He is also unable to sleep fully as he has to watch out for bad people who want to harm or harass him for his begging earnings. In the morning, he has to wake up and beg as he is still too young to take up odd jobs. People insult him and he has to keep running away from county askaris who do not want him on the street despite not having anywhere else to go. He turns to glue, which he said makes his life bearable.
Seven (7) years old Mwinyi (unaccompanied child) shared how he is unable to access health care or medicine when he is unwell. He has to wait for the illness to pass before he resumes begging and, on those days, he will stay hungry since he did not earn anything to buy food. On such days he will try to get glue to keep him warm at night and help him sleep.
Zainab aged 15 years, shared how she is unable to get employed for casual jobs, such as “mama fua” because people do not want to employ street girls. Aside from begging, which doesn’t bring much for older girls, especially those who don’t have family on the streets, she has to attach herselves to a male street person who can access employment opportunities for survival and that is why many girls her age are pregnant. Zainab stated that she did not want to end up like that and is hopeful to get a chance at skills training so that she can empower herself.
Gwalino, a 16-year-old boy shared how they are always the first suspects whenever any criminal activity occurs in town. They are arrested, chased away and their shanti homes are demolished leaving them worse off as they have to find a new place to stay.
We recognize their strength through the challenges shared and welcome any and all support for Wema’s programs which rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates street connected children.
Wheras there are various social welfare programmes in place like the Inua Jamii for Old persons and OVC support that target persons who do not live on the street. Street Connected families continue to be ignored. We need a social welfare programme for street connected persons ONLY, that offers housing, covers education and family strengthening by way of life skills and vocational skills training.
We therefore urge the National and County Governments to develop and implement social welfare programmes that are tailor made to address the SPECIFIC needs of street connected children and families.