Story of Brenda – A Rescue Dada Beneficiary

Story of Brenda* - A Rescue Dada Beneficiary

My name is Brenda, I am 12 years old and in grade 3. I have 1 sister and 7 brothers.  We live with my single mother who separated from my dad in 2016.

My life before joining RDC was hard, I had to stay out of school due to lack of school fees as my mother had no job. We would go to the malls and traffic jams to borrow money and food  with my siblings and mother and give my mother what we got. We also sought plastics and scrap metal in the dumpsite.

In February 2018, we met a social worker from Rescue Dada Centre who talked to me. I was reluctant at first because I had freedom in the streets, but when I went, I met other girls who I knew before from the streets. I also went through counseling and also resumed learning. They supported me to join Kamiti primary and bought uniform for me. At the same time, my mother was helped to start a business and she could supply for us.

But now my mother’s business has been greatly affected and we barely have enough food to eat. We sleep on the floor and we have my brothers sharing a room with us so there is no privacy. The place we reside in people do not wear masks; they do not believe that Corona exists.

I hope for a better life in future.

We are therefore requesting you to help us raise USD 10,000 to support 50 families to keep former street connected girls out of the street and carry them through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donate now on https://secure.changa.co.ke/myweb/share/41697

Our Achievements Of The Previous Strategy 2016 To 2019

Our Achievements of the previous Strategy 2016 to 2019


In our recent strategic plan 2016 to 2018 a total of 254 girls successfully embarked on a life away from the street. A majority of girls were reintegrated back to their (extended) families, few in children homes. All girls reintegrated started attending formal (primary or secondary) school or vocational training. 13 girls in sponsorship finished their secondary school, 2 finished colleges, and 7 vocational training. They are currently either supported to further their education, are employed or self-employed.
Caregivers were empowered to provide a safe family environment where their children’s basic rights could be provided for. With RDC support they increased their knowledge on children’s rights and parenting skills, and built their economic resilience.
Through economic empowerment, 179 caregivers / girls who have received cosmetology training and/or business development support are able to provide for their family, i.e. increased their income, have all their children in school, do provide for food and medical expenses if they occur, improving their livelihood security.
Rescue Dada in this way has been able to contribute to the eradication of child poverty and has been successful in creating opportunities for former street connected girls to have a chance for a better and dignified tomorrow.

My Second Chance In Life

MY SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE

I am Stacy, before I met Rescue Dada my life was horrible and it happened that I had to drop out of school because my mother had not enough money to cater for my siblings and me and the same time pay for our school fees. I was a bit young of about seven years old. This all happened when my parents separated and life was really tough because all our relatives parted us because no one was ready to be added burden of four children. It was so bad that the situation forced us to end up begging something at least to put in stomach and ended up in street of Mathare slum.


My mother heard that there were people or rather social workers who were ready to help young children who were in need of education and she decided to come to the Rescue Dada Centre where she was directed and through the social worker I was brought here in 2010.


Looking back, main positive changes were that I learnt more values e.g. discipline. I was also taught some skills e.g. dancing and singing. I was taught how to socialize with people and to be dependable in the society. I was taught how to deal with challenges that occur in life. I learnt how to help others and with my story because when my friend who are about to give up on hearing my story from where I started and where I am now, they are encouraged. I got another chance to be in school and to read and be a girl of substance and of course a role model even to my siblings.


Because I believe that I will be able to get to my dream and that is to be a motivational speaker in order to motivate those who are about to give up in life and those who are depressed in life to make them open a new chapter of their lives.
My teacher in Rescue Dada always motivated me because they saw something great in me which I was unable to see and they made sure that I valid my dream and work harder both in school and outside school.
I know that with my career I will go far because I trust in the almighty God who I believe will never leave me and I know I shall be a role model to those who look up to me.

How My Life Has Changed Through Rdc

HOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED THROUGH RDC

I am Lilli. My life before I met RDC was not good. I didn’t have a home and being a single mum of 6 children my children lived a miserable life with no shelter, clothing, food and could not attend school. All the children were scattered and went to the streets to look for a better life out there. Due to the challenge I was passing through my health deteriorated and I was on and off hospital. (…). My family was not supportive and they left as if I am a burden. Through referral (…) one of my girls was rescued and brought to RDC while I was hospitalized.
Since then my life has changed. RDC has provided me with business skills training and a business grant. With the skills received I am now able to take care of my children and provide a stable home, attend to my responsibilities as a parent and also conduct business. I am able through this to provide the basic needs for my family. My children are attending school and are well fed, sleeping well, and experiencing good health. I am now at peace and in good health. My girl that has been supported by RDC is currently in college.
All this has been made possible through RDC staff support to my girl and me. I believe that these changes will stay in future. My children are in school and are becoming empowered and I believe they will be able to make our family stand.

A Chance To Dream Again

A CHANCE TO DREAM AGAIN

My name is Irene; I am 21 years old and the only child of my mother. When I was 14 years my mum left me with my aunt and went to Nairobi to look for a job as she did not have a stable income and nothing was forthcoming in the village. When mum left, we never heard anything from her and she did not send any money. This made my aunt angry and hostile towards me and she sent me away to look for my mother in Nairobi.


When I reached Nairobi bus station, I became stranded as I have never been to Nairobi and did not know where to go. I stayed at the bus station for three weeks. I stayed on the streets, sleeping and feeding there and engaging in a difficult street life which was not appropriate for my age. The people around noticed and I was taken to the police station where I spent a night. They helped me trace my mother who was by then living and working in the streets as a hawker. Her state made me weep because I now understood why we did not hear from her. I joined her and we stayed on the streets for a whole year selling vegetables, but the profit was so little that we could not afford accommodation. We would sleep out in the corridors of Muthurwa Market with nothing to cover ourselves. One day, the chief noticed us and liaised with RDC who sent a team of social workers to Muthurwa market to rescue me.


I joined RDC rehabilitation and was provided with food, shelter, clothing and even education, things I did not have for a very long time. Counsellors supported me with counselling sessions to come to terms with what I had gone through while in the street; emotionally, I was not stable because of my suffering. My mum was allowed to visit me while at the rehabilitation which made me less anxious. While I was in rehabilitation RDC supported my mother with capital which she used to expand her business. She opened a grocery shop selling vegetables, tomatoes, onions and even fruits. RDC also supported my mother to get an affordable house and she shifted from the streets.


I stayed at the Centre for one year then I was taken to my mother and was enrolled back in formal school where I sat for national primary exams and scored 293 marks. This and the fact that my mother’s business had not yet stabilized to take over all education costs, qualified me for RDCs secondary sponsorship programme. I sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and passed with a C+ and could not hide my tears when I was called to join Technical University of Mombasa.


I am currently in third year pursuing a Bachelor of Business and Office Management. RDC supported me throughout and guided me to apply for a Higher Educations Loans provide by the government. My mum has since then been supporting me through her business by paying for accommodation and food while the Loan pays for my fees. I feel lucky to have reached where I am. I have become a confident young woman, well balanced, I am active in class, and I have made friends in college. I am not saying that it is easy for me, sometimes it is hard, but at least it is better. Mum is still struggling to help me with my Education but the environment we are all staying is good.


Rescue Dada truly made a difference in my life. Thank you RDC for a chance to dream again.