Kids Real Life Stories:
Hussein Yusuf (14)
Hussein doesn't know his Father, and his Mother died a few years ago from AIDS. Up until the end of 2005 he was living in Kibera with his Gran. However, in November of that year she moved away and remarried, leaving Hussein in the care of two Uncles. They are both drunkards, and showed no interest in caring for Hussein, even starting to beat him. We attempted to reconcile him with his Gran, but in the culture here, now that she's remarried, he is no longer welcome in her house. So we took him into Joy House, Turning Point's small foster home in Kibera. He now lives up at the Community Farm, a secure and loving environment for him.
Hussein loves school - he's in Standard 7, towards the end of his primary education, and he's a very bright student. While he was living in Joy House, he mentioned that he found it difficult to do his homework in the evenings as there wasn't enough light. By 7pm it's pitch black here, and with no electricity people in Kibera use kerosene lamps to light rooms in the evening. We were glad to provide Hussein with a lamp specifically for him to use on the evenings he has homework - if only all children were this keen!
He's also a keen footballer, and while living in Kibera was a keen member of TPFC, our football club. In the picture he is playing in defence, helping the team to a 2-0 win in a local tournament.
Wilson Kariuki (11)
As you can see, Wilson loves gymnastics - and he's very good too. He started coming to the project in 2005, when he was living on the streets. Wilson's father deserted the family when he was young, and his mother died three years ago - it's easy to see why he and his brother ended up on the streets.
He is now in our Transition class, and we have been able to support his brother, Charles, to go to a local primary school in Standard 3. Both of them are keen members of the football club, and they are now living back at home in Kibera, with an Aunt.
Lucy Katunge (18)
Lucy completed her final year of primary school, but unfortunately didn't get a high enough mark for us to support her to go to secondary. She decided she'd like to train as a beautician, and we were able to enrol her on a six-month training course in this. She is now working in Turning Point's barber shop / salon, gaining experience for a time in the future when, through the finance programme, we will be able to help her to set up her own salon.
