I was on the verge of giving up on my quest to finish high school. Before Lifesong Kenya came to my rescue, my life felt like an endless maze that had no exit. The Keeping Boys in School Program became the turning point that I desperately needed. I was able to receive support through housing, mentorship, coaching and school fees to go back to school.
My name is *Lion-Heart. This is not my real name but I like it because it captures how I felt after receiving support from Lifesong Kenya. Before I got help from Lifesong Kenya, I felt like I was walking inside a maze that had no exit. My life as a high student had been filled with a lot of ups and downs. There was no single term where I stayed in school for the full 3 months in a term.
Like most young men who face the risk of dropping out of school, I felt lost and vulnerable. I desperately needed a safe place, urgent help to go back to school and a guiding hand. Even though I had faced challenges with paying school fees, this time was more painful. On top of my family facing difficulties in paying my school fees, we got thrown out of our house due to rent arrears.
One evening, I was sitting on a bench close to where James and his wife stays. I was hurting and felt disappointed about life in general. Not knowing what to do, I just sat there. Then I remembered seeing James on his bicycle with young men he was mentoring. Could this be my chance to get help, I wondered.
A Glimmer of Hope
I gathered courage and went to his house. He immediately noticed two things after inviting me inside. He noticed my feet were dusty from walking on foot that day looking for help. Secondly, he also noticed I was hungry. After taking a hot shower, he served me dinner then we waited for his wife to come back from work. After spending the night at their house, James took me to the Halfway House the following day.
Those days, the house did not have beds and the things it has right now. However, to me it was not just a shelter. It was a sanctuary of hope and transformation. It was a place where I found much more than just a roof over my head. I found a caring community that helped me to find a path for the journey ahead. The structured programs and the space to reflect on what I wanted were instrumental in my growth.
I enjoyed spending time with James in the car, driving to his meetings. When he introduced me to the people he was meeting, he referred to me as an exceptional young man. This helped me to see myself differently. I was not my mistakes or the many challenges I was facing in life. I had the potential to navigate through my challenges and overcome them.
The life coaching sessions were not just talks, where he sought to fix my problems. James asked questions that made me sit back before I blurted out an answer. The questions helped me to think before I responded. Each session we had helped me to find practical tools that empowered me to be an overcomer. This helped me to build resilience and develop a clear sense of purpose.
How Keeping Boys in School Program Benefited Me
The camping and hiking activities were also my favourite outdoor activities. Though these were activities that required payment, James allowed me to attend. He did not treat me as if I was a burden. he treated me as if I had paid for the event. Hanging out with other young men, whose parents had paid, enabled me to meet and make new friends. It helped me to push outside and beyond my comfort zone.
The fact that James and Kevin had faced similar hardships and overcome them made me feel right at home. Receiving guidance from them made me feel that I wasn’t alone in my struggles. It made my confidence to grow in leaps and bounds, in ways I had not imagined possible.
As a beneficiary of the Keeping Boys in School Program I was able to go back to school. I am grateful that Lifesong Kenya recognized my potential and invested in my future. They didn’t just offer me something temporary. They offered a long-term solution by supporting my high school education.
From the time they took me in until I finished my high school education, I did not lack school fees or pocket money. Their support did not end there. They supported part of my college education where I pursued Electrical & Electronics Engineering. The impact of the Halfway House programs is evident and I am forever grateful.
Lifesong Kenya’s Halfway House didn’t just change my life; it gave me the tools to change my own destiny,” Lion-Heart.
Paying it Forward
The Halfway House Program is not just about providing shelter alone. It is about nurturing potential and equipping boys with the tools they need to succeed. The safe space, mentorship and life coaching all played a crucial role in shaping who I am today.
Thanks to the Keeping Boys in School Program, I am now determined to build a successful future. My gratitude is immeasurable, and I am committed to paying it forward. I want to use my experiences and skills to support other young men who are facing hardships. Lifesong Kenya’s Halfway House didn’t just change my life; it gave me the tools to change my own destiny.
Point to Note: We use *fictional names to protect the privacy and identity of boys and young men who have faced crisis in their lives. However, behind every fictional name there is a real boys or young man who had faced neglect, exploitation, violence or sexual assault.
