Samson is 24 years old. But he looks much older. He's lived on the streets for 17 years and for the last five he has been a gang leader, initially struggling to survive and doing terrible things in the process. He didn't think he'd ever get a second chance at a better future. But through a pioneering initative by HOPEHIV partner, Undugu Society, he's been trained with leadership, life and organisational skills to head up an association of 25 children and youth living on the streets. Rather than having to survive like most street children by begging, theft, prostitution and drug dealing, this group is earning honest money by collecting and selling recycled materials. Firm group rules have been established prohibiting glue sniffing and violence. Some group members will move on to vocational skills training through Undugu and even apprentice placements with small businesses.
Conservative estimates suggest that at least 40,000 children live on the streets of Nairobi. HOPEHIV is funding Undugu Society of Kenya who have worked wtih street children since the 1970s to trial this innovative approach to working with street children. Since January 2006, Undugu have set up 15 street associations, a concept that has worked well in West Africa but had not been tried in Kenya before. It equips young leaders like Samson to transform malicious gangs into healthy, constructive and self regulating groups living on the streets. Many are then able to find employment and ultimately safer places to live.
Read more about street children.
Stop Press 17th February 2007
We are delighted to report that Undugu Society has just been awarded the Civil Society Award of the 4th Annual Human Rights and Democracy Awards by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
The award is in recognition of Undugu Society's "...commendable efforts in facilitating socio-economic empowerment of street children, vulnerable youth and marginalised poor urban and rural communities through lobbying and advocacy, capacity building, access to basic education and skills training, and creation of linkages aimed at reducing poverty for the attainment of decent livelihoods."
The award "recognises the life changing impact" of Undugu's programmes.
HOPEHIV want to support Undugu to set up more life giving street child associations in Nairobi. But we need your help. Just £80 from you will equip a gang leader to head up an association. DONATE NOW.