AfCiC Case Studies 2008
Name: Francis
Age: 14 years
Location: Kiandutu
Francis has had a rough childhood with his parents splitting up when he was small. He was kept by his mother but when she remarried her new husband did not want anything to do Francis. Francis was therefore sacrificed so that his mother and the other children could have a new home and life with the new man.
He would like to go back to school or take skills training but does not have a sponsor. The stepfather has not changed his attitude towards the boy so he still cannot go home.
Francis survives by carrying luggage for people in town. He sniffs glue with the other boys and either sleeps with friends in Kiandutu or on the streets.
Name: Amos
Age: 13 years
Location: Igikiro, Maragwa Districtu
Amos recently came to Thika due to problems at home. He left school sometime ago and does not want to go back.
Amos has been employed before as a shamba boy and shepherd but ended up being mistreated and was not given his wages.
Amos is a good boy who is hardworking and quiet.
Name: Julius
Age: 13 years
Location: Kiandutu
Julius is a small charming boy from a broken home. His parents separated when he was younger and he was left under the care of his mother. His father remarried and does not care for him. Poverty and neglect pushed him towards street life and out of school. His brother is also on the streets.
Relatives have assisted him but only halfway, giving up on him when things were difficult. He has always found refuge on the streets. He sniffs glue but he is an obedient boy. He has taken a lot of interest in photography during the last 6 weeks.
Name: Joseph
Age: 16 years
Location: Kiandutu
Joseph had a difficult childhood with his mum dying while he was a very small boy. He was left under the care of a step-mother who seemed not to care so much about him. Feeling neglected he took to the streets. Joseph only attended school for 2 years because he did not have anybody willing to support him in studying. He is now looking forward to attending skills training.
Joseph sniffs glue on the streets and has to stop this before we can enter him in skills training.
Both parents are alive and living in Muranga. Stephen has two brothers and one sister. He came to the streets of Thika when his mother remarried and he felt neglected by his new father. The new father has been abusive and violent towards Stephen and the parents failed to also provide him with his basic needs (food and clothing). Understandably Stephen felt rejected by his parents. Deciding he could not cope with the hostility at home, he looked for home on the streets.
Stephen attended Kagumo Primary before taking to the streets and was in Standard 4. He has survived on the streets by begging, carrying luggage and collecting plastics and metals. Previously he was arrested on the streets by the police and taken home but the father refused to take him in so he ended up back on the streets.
Stephen was sniffing glue and smoking cigarettes before he joined the ICC but now he is clean. He is a calm, quiet, sensitive boy who needs our encouragement and support, especially in improving his relations with his family. He would like to go back to school.
Name: David
Age: 14 years
Location: Conambaya, Kiandutu
David is a standard six drop out from one of the local public schools. He was brought up by a single mother but due to unavoidable circumstances he has been with the grandmother for the last few years.
On the streets, David carries luggage in exchange of a few coins which he at times gives to the mother for survival. He does not sniff glue or take other substances.>
David is a very bright, friendly, happy boy and speaks good English. With a sponsor he could go to a good school and do very well.
Name: Peter
Age: 15 years
Location: Kiandutu
Peter has been on the streets for many years. He’s hails from Kiandutu slums and poverty was one of the greatest challenges he faced before ending up on the streets.
Without a father figure around their home and an ailing mother he assumed responsibility for feeding the family. He sacrificed his education but allowed his siblings to proceed.
He carries the burden of his family on his shoulders wherever he goes. He is a wonderful boy when sober but sniffs glue too much and can then become aggressive.
Name: Samuel
Age: 17 years
Location: Kiandutu
Samuel is a bright, cheerful and charming boy. Both parents are alive and reside with his many siblings in Kiandutu.
Samuel attended school until standard 6 when he dropped out due to problems at home. He has been on the streets for many years. He survives by carrying luggage for people, collecting scrap metal, plastics and other items.
Unfortunately Samuel sniffs a lot of glue and this stops him from making progress in his life but he is an obedient boy who we care for very much.
Name: Mike
Age: 12 years
Location: Matuu
Michael is the first born in his family. His has two siblings and both parents are alive.
Michael has attended primary school up to standard two but his family have not put much effort into keeping him in school perhaps because he is a child from a previous marriage. Michael does not feel accepted by his new father and this sense of rejection is a key reason for why he took to the streets.
He has survived on the streets through begging and collecting scrap metal and plastics. He has no history of glue sniffing or substance abuse.
Michael is receiving counselling at the ICC and we are currently conducting home visits to address the problems which led him onto the streets. He is keen to return to school in January.
Name: Musomi
Age: 17 years
Location: Kiandutu
Musomi is a hard working, wonderful boy from a family of 5. His mother died when he was small, leaving him to be brought up by his grandmother and father. Unfortunately his father was a violent drunkard and there was no food in the house so Musomi took to the streets. Musomih has a lot of determination and inner strength and despite the hardship he has faced he was never tempted to take glue or other drugs on the streets.
Musomi has previously been taken back to school but dropped out due to lack of food. He is now at the ICC and training in bicycle repair so that he can support himself financially in the future. In the evenings he also studies because his desire is to complete his KCPE. Musomi is well behaved and an excellent role model for the other children. All he needed was support and a decent chance at life. Musomi feels that he has lacked motherly love and his childhood is lost but that does not deny him a successful and happy future.
Name: Lynus
Age: 7 years
Location: Kiandutu
Lynus has been on the streets of Thika for a long time despite his young age. His age is not really known because his mother is very uncooperative and refuses to give out any information.
Despite being on the street at such an early age he does not have a history of glue sniffing or other drugs. He has survived through the support of good Samaritans, begging, collecting scrap metals and running errands up to now. He has been sleeping in garages and cars – anywhere where he can lay his head.
Lynus has lacked parental love. His subsequently has very poor social skills and is quite aggressive with others. He also has developmental problems due to lack of a proper diet for a long time.
His father is alive but separated from his mother a long time ago. Since joining ICC a second time Lynus has changed a lot, slowly remembering what it is to be a child, to enjoy life and the difference between right and wrong. Counselling has taught him understanding, patience and listening.
The first time he was at the ICC he was taken to school but because the mother was drinking heavily and in abusive relationships Lynus did not stick and returned to the street. Now he is interested in going back to school again but does not want to live with his mother. He is thinking about whether he can live with his father. Our next step at ICC is to locate the father and see if they can be reunited or not.
