"I moved to the U.S in 1996. Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, I saw street kids all the time and I wasn’t necessarily empathetic towards them. I would see them coming down the street and literally roll up my window because they’d be begging for money. I saw them as a nuisance. In Kenya we generally tend to take care of our own families and relatives-- not strangers. But two things happened to change my thinking: As I got older I became more empathetic to others, and living in Memphis has made me aware of the need to do good and to be there for people who need help. Memphis is a community that serves, whether it’s through churches, other religious institutions, or places of employment. In fact, it was through a contact at FedEx, where I work, that I got involved with the Naivasha Children’s Shelter back in Kenya. The Shelter was established to help rescue street kids. The dedicated team that includes social workers reconnects them with their families when possible, teaches them skills to support themselves, and funds their education to help them build a future. I now realize that the kids I had seen as a nuisance before were just kids who needed a second chance. As adults we constantly get chances to do things over. Why can’t these kids have that same opportunity? Some of them are 7, 8, 9, or 10 years old, and they’re already on a course that can only lead to dying early or to a life of crime and addiction. All they need is a support system and the Shelter helps reconnect them to one. I believe it is the right thing to do.
“Kids on the streets often struggle with addiction because you need something to numb you to the elements, to numb you to the reality that you’re a seven-year-old kid sleeping under a trailer. I'm amazed at what these kids are able to do to get past the addictions, past the trauma of living on the streets, readjust, and go back to school. There’s not just one kid who stands out; they all stand out to me. They've gone through things that I can’t even imagine.
“A couple of weeks ago, supporters raised tuition money for a kid who had made it to university. For him, that was a huge deal. Think about it: just a few years ago he was living on the streets and now he's going to get a college education. It’s stories like these that inspire me. It all boils down to chances. Human beings need second chances. Living in a community like Memphis makes me think, What can I do to make Memphis better? And what can I do to spread the word that my brothers out there also need some help?"
“Kids on the streets often struggle with addiction because you need something to numb you to the elements, to numb you to the reality that you’re a seven-year-old kid sleeping under a trailer. I'm amazed at what these kids are able to do to get past the addictions, past the trauma of living on the streets, readjust, and go back to school. There’s not just one kid who stands out; they all stand out to me. They've gone through things that I can’t even imagine.
“A couple of weeks ago, supporters raised tuition money for a kid who had made it to university. For him, that was a huge deal. Think about it: just a few years ago he was living on the streets and now he's going to get a college education. It’s stories like these that inspire me. It all boils down to chances. Human beings need second chances. Living in a community like Memphis makes me think, What can I do to make Memphis better? And what can I do to spread the word that my brothers out there also need some help?"
Short video about the Naivasha Children's Shelter: From Streets to Shelter
Image below courtesy of Keith Okello:
DESSERT RECEPTION info from the FB page https://www.facebook.com/events/1590940417872756/): "Friends of Naivasha Children's Shelter is hosting our second annual dessert reception and fundraiser. Kristen Lowry, one of the Shelter's co-directors, will be sharing about the Shelter's work during the dessert reception in Memphis on Sept. 20. The reception will be at 7 PM at the Great Hall and Conference Center, 1900 Germantown Road. Please join us for some great desserts and to learn more about how you can help save a child's life!" Also see http://shelteryetu.org/blog/2016/9/11/annual-dessert-reception
Keith Okello is Chair Person and Treasurer of Friends of Naivasha Children’s Shelter, a Non-Profit (501c3) based in Memphis, TN. The poster above is on display at FedEx, 50 FedEx Parkway.
Naivasha Children’s Shelter website: http://shelteryetu.org/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/naivashachildrenshelter/
Naivasha Children’s Shelter website: http://shelteryetu.org/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/naivashachildrenshelter/
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