13-year-old *Tye (not his real name) arrived at our Halfway House carrying a burden no child should ever bear. His story is a stark reminder of the reality of child sexual abuse and the urgent need for healing and support.
Read Tye’s story and learn how Lifesong Kenya is helping boys like him to reclaim and rebuild their lives.
Tye’s Story
The reality of sexual abuse is devastating, especially for children. Thirteen-year-old Tye’s story illustrates the profound and long lasting impact of such trauma. Like many boys who have experienced sexual exploitation, Tye’s arrival at our Halfway House was met with fear. This fear was two-pronged.
Tye showed fear particularly towards our male staff at Lifesong Kenya. On the other hand, our male staff did not know how to handle him. With time, we learned that Tye’s initial struggles with fear at our Halfway House had nothing to do with us. The very presence of men can be a stark reminder of the abuse a boy has endured at the hands of a man. Despite our continued support, Tye’s struggles masked a deeper pain, stigma and trauma.
One of our frustrating issues with Tye is his inability to hold his pee. Every so often he dashes off to the toilet to pee while at night, he pees on his bed. This affected our relationship and we were not able to come to terms with his peeing issues. A medical examination later revealed a horrific truth. Tye is a victim of repeated sexual abuse, which has left him with physical injuries and a scar he is forced to live with. At just 13, Tye faces the daily challenge of not being in control of his pee. Aside from the humiliation of having to wake up smelling of urine, it is a direct consequence of violence. The sexual abuse Tye has endured has ravaged his body and requires potential surgery. Otherwise, he has to live with the stigma and trauma of the sexual abuse he has experienced.
Child sexual abuse recovery support
Tye’s unfortunate experience underscores a crucial point. Boys who seek refuge at our Halfway House for boys in crisis need more than just shelter. First, they need a place to call home, a safe space, medical care, healing and restoration. They need a place that provides child sexual abuse recovery support.
Secondly, they need nutritious and balanced food, trauma-informed therapy and education. Thirdly, they need an opportunity to reclaim their stolen childhoods. Last but not least, they need a chance to become champions who embody respect, dignity and dignity.
Tye’s journey, though heartbreaking, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. His recovery journey shows the importance of providing child sexual abuse recovery support. At Lifesong Kenya, we are not just offering support to survivors of child sexual abuse. We are breaking the vicious cycle of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
We have tailor-made our programs to nurture boys into caring, kind, respectful, loving and supportive men. Men of integrity and character who will build a future where women feel safe and supported. We are doing this by teaching boys to treat women, girls and other vulnerable groups with dignity, respect and honor.
Take Action
There are many boys like Tye who need our care, protection and support to overcome child sexual abuse. But, we can’t do this alone. We need your support and donations. Here’s a list of ways you can offer your support:-
- sponsor a boy to stay at our Halfway House
- pay house rent or utilities at our Halfway House
- buy food supplies
- sponsor a boy to go to school
- donate a bicycle that can be used at our cycling hub
- share about our work on your social media pages or website
- adopt our Halfway House program as your company CSR activities
Your support isn’t just a gift to our boys. It is a powerful key that unlocks a better tomorrow for women and girls. Donate today and help us rewrite the narrative, one boy at a time! Ready to give? Donate on this link.
