Two weeks of preparations, butterflies and saying goodbye to the streets of Eldoretwere over, and my seven "kids" were ready to head for a whole new reality in Gardens Children's Home, Kawangware, Nairobi.
After a night on a crowded Matunda bus (with a driver who I am quite sure was either drunk or high on miraa), we arrived in Nairobi at 5 o'clock in the morning. From there, the journey went on to Kawangware. We were warmly welcomed at the home, and within few hours my boys had settled in and made several friends. "By tomorrow they will all be in class," the pastor of the home ensured me.
I stayed with them untill the next day and then went back to Kasarani. A few tears escaped me as I waved goodbye to Kevin, Michael, Kim, Ken, Jacob, Simon and John from the matatu. We have really become like a family, and it was hard to leave them behind. Yet I knew and trusted that they would be safe and happy at Gardens.
Two days later I found myself in town with Anthony, waiting for the pastor to arrive together with the seven of them. Finally the kids got to see the capitol with their own eyes. We visited the parliament building, Kenyatta's grave and Uhuru Park.
I can assure you, if you had met me in town together with the guys, you would not have guessed that less than a week ago, their reality still consisted of begging, cold, violence and drugs. Seeing my boys and the progress they are making in short time gives me hope. It teaches me that the street children that I see on the streets of Kenya are only one hug away from being like all other children.
"I don't know when my birthday is. My birthday, Kristina, will be the day you come back to Kenya"
(Kevin, 13)
Du er radikal Kristina - RADIKAL!
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