My name is Nekesa,16 yrs old girl, second born in my family. I was admitted at Rescue Dada Centre on February 16, 2022, after being rescued from the Pipeline-Kware slum in Nairobi. As a child in need of care and protection, I found refuge at the centre.  My life at home was marked by significant responsibility and neglect. I performed extensive household chores, including washing, fetching water, and cooking, finding solace primarily in the company of my siblings. My mother’s chronic alcohol abuse deeply troubled me, and I often assumed the role of caregiver for my younger siblings.  I would venture into the streets early each morning to beg for food or money, sharing whatever I obtained with my siblings. I received basic sustenance like flour, milk, and bread, and occasionally, small sums of money. Eventually, due to my mother’s escalating verbal abuse, I run away from home, seeking refuge on the streets. Believing I found a sense of peace there, I begged during the day and slept under a railway line at night. Despite facing the dangers of street life, including arrest by police and a bout of chest illness, for which I received treatment at Embakasi South Hospital, I felt a sense of freedom from abuse.

Rescued from the streets of Kware, I joined rehabilitation at Rescue Dada Centre. Through consistent counselling, I experienced significant behavioural improvement and expressed contentment with my newfound sense of control and direction. I was reluctant to return to formal schooling due to the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) where I was supposed to start from lower grades and I could not fit in.  After the initial educational assisted, was successfully enrolled and completed a cosmetology vocational course at the centre.

Currently, I am enrolled in a catering course, generously supported by Rescue Dada Centre and its benefactors. My aspirations centres on uplifting my family from their current living conditions and ensuring my siblings continue with education. Rescue Dada entre became a source of hope. My ambition is to establish her own business upon completing my catering training.

While significant strides have been made, sustained support is vital to ensure the long-term stability of Nekesa’s household and prevent her and her siblings from returning to the streets. Continued assistance is crucial to realize her dreams and provide a secure future for her family.