Education for street children with Real Hope
Kawangware is a slum settlement with a population of over 130,000, located to the west of Nairobi. Due to poverty and family hardship, many children end up leaving their families and living on the streets in groups of street children, becoming ‘street families’.
Children in the slums are often left playing in the streets and fending for themselves as their parents try to work for their survival. These children are often left out of education systems. They lack learning opportunities and stimulation, eat maybe once a day and have unstable home environments. Children living on the streets are at high risk of becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs, being abused and being exploited.
Real Hope Youth Community Organization
Real Hope Youth Community Organization (RHYCO) has been operating since 2014 in response to the growing problem of street children in Nairobi.
RHYCO is run by Bubba, Martha, John and Kevin. They each grew up on the streets and want to help children now living in similar situations.
The Team
The RHYCO team is made up of four individuals, Bubba, Martha, John and Kevin, who each grew up on the streets themselves. They are now working to help other children who live on the streets. RHYCO particularly focus on supporting young children who are at risk of moving to the streets or those who have just done so. If reached quickly, the life opportunities of these children can quickly change.
The RHYCO Programme
RHYCO run a drop-in centre and work to support children living on the streets in Kawangware. The centre is open five days a week and hosts children between age 5 and 10 and provides basic education. The centre has several activities to support these children including counselling and therapy, learning literacy and constructive play. This is also a safe place for children to play with one another, and to receive food, love, and encouragement. Children are invited to join the programme for a year and then the child and their families are supported to enter the child into formal education at a local primary school.
The RHYCO programme can offer real hope to children living on the streets in Kawangware. (Asante Sana! – “Thank you very much”)
What your support could mean for children at RHYCO
INUK began supporting RHYCO in 2017 and we want to help them grow to support more vulnerable children in Kawangware. We also want to find sponsors for the many children RHYCO have identified as in need. Your sponsorship will enable a child to attend the RHYCO centre for a year, providing resources, food and educational materials. Once they have finished a year at the RHYCO programme, the team support the child to transition into formal schooling at a local primary school. Your sponsorship will transition with them- providing school fees, school materials and uniform, nutritious school meals and access to healthcare.
To Sponsor a child or find out more click here.
With an education, these children can be empowered and have real hope for a better future off the streets.
Kenya
Education
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September 25th, 2023
Pastor Joshua to visit the UK to raise awareness of Nairobi street kids
We’re delighted that Pastor Joshua Karani has received his visa, and will therefore be visiting the UK in November and December 2023.
Pastor Joshua – an ordained Baptist minister – will be visiting churches across London and the South East, with plenty of opportunities to hear his passion for the abandoned youth living precariously on the streets of Nairobi, and his vision for the Leadership and Talent Centre which will provide:
- Non-formal education
- Vocational/entrepreneurship and skills training
- Group sports and activities
- Emotional and spiritual counselling and mentorship
- Peer to peer learning
- Meals
Pastor Joshua will be speaking at:
Sunday 19 November 2023
Westerham Evangelical Church, 10:30am
Pastor Joshua will share about his work and why Jesus is the ultimate rescuer. Fellowship lunch follows after the morning service.
Saturday 18 November
Cutting Edge Men’s Ministry, Woodford Green, 12:30-2:30pm
Sunday 19 November
Church of the Good Shepherd, Four Marks, Hampshire, 7pm
An informal cafe-style gathering, including worship, prayer a Q&A with Pastor Joshua and some Kenyan snacks to punctuate the British autumn!
Wednesday 22 November
St Lukes Reigate, coffee at 9:45am and communion at 10:30am
Sunday 26 November
Purley Baptist Church, 9:30 and 11:15am
Pastor Joshua will speak at both services, sharing how the Lord has put Nairobi’s street children on his heart and his experiences of the project to date.
Monday 27 November
Eastwood Baptist Church, Eastwood, Leigh On Sea, 2:30-4:00pm
Women’s Fellowship
Tuesday 28 November
Purley Baptist Church, Purley, 10:30am
CAMEO
Thursday 30 November
Montpelier Church, Biddulph Road, Purley, 6pm
and join online!
Saturday 2 December
Sanderstead Evangelical Church, Croydon, 9am
Breakfast
Saturday 2 December
Graham Kendrick Concert at St Patrick’s Church Wallington, 7pm for 7:30pm
Details and online ticketing here
Sunday 3 December
Godstone Baptist Church, 10:30am
Godstone Baptist is hosting Pastor Joshua during their morning service. He will be talking about providing gospel-centred help to street youths in Kenya.
Sunday 3 December
St Patrick’s, Wallington, 6pm
This evening service will be a relaxed chance to hear Pastor Joshua speak on his experiences and relying on Jesus, with an opportunity for Q&A.
Thursday 7 December
Norreys Church, Wokingham, Berkshire, 7:45pm for 8pm
Pastor Joshua will be participating in the all-church prayer meeting this evening, giving insight into the reality of living on the streets of Nairobi and explaining how best to pray when things appear overwhelming.
More details of the programme will appear here shortly.
In the meantime, if you would like to donate or set up a monthly gift for Street Boys in Kenya please call us on 01883 331332 or email Kim Wright, at membership@ineeds.org.uk
You could also register for sponsorship through our website at www.https://ineeds.org.uk/child-sponsorship
By supporting a whole group, you are helping to ensure that more children are helped with their Educational Development, Physical and Health development, spiritual development and social development.
‘And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man’
Luke 2.52
Join us as we seek to change the lives of street boys in Kenya and make a lasting impact.
March 6th, 2019
Real Hope for Kawangware’s street children
Real Hope Youth Community Organisation (RHYCO) is an International Needs project based in Kawangware slum, Nairobi Kenya.
“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”
You only have to be in the company of the RHYCO team for a short while before this quote from Mother Teresa resonates. The day to day problems facing families in the Kawangware slum of Nairobi are countless and if one was to get bogged down by the sheer numbers of people needing help, then nothing would happen.
I first met the RHYCO team in January 2016, whilst visiting a number of programmes supported by International Needs partners around the world. The RHYCO vision was still in its infancy. Bubba, John, Kevin and Martha, were meeting in a tiny corrugated office (an improvement on their original ‘office’ under a tree!) brainstorming how they could best help the thousands of children growing up in the Kawangware slum. They themselves had each also grown up on the streets of Kawangware. They recognised that they couldn’t help every child and wanted to start a programme with the most impact for vulnerable children.
August 9th, 2018
Real Hope in Kenya’s Kawangware Slum.
Mary’s Story
Mary Lives in Kawangware Slum with her family. Many of her siblings are already living on the streets.
* We have changed Mary’s name to protect her privacy
Mary has seven siblings and has grown up cared for by a single mum. They live in Kawangware in a 100 square ft home made of aluminium sheeting. The living conditions in Mary’s home are very difficult. Her family struggle to have enough food or water. They don’t have a toilet or electricity and they sleep in a single room. Most of Mary’s older siblings are already living on the streets.
August 09th 2018