Did you know Made in the Streets offers internships for college students (and college-aged individuals) with a desire to serve and a taste for adventure? There's more information on our Internships page, but in brief, here are the qualifications and requirements: 

• Internships last for 3 months or longer 
• Many internships are located at our facility in Kenya, but some are remote and can be held by individuals located anywhere around the world 
• All internships are volunteer (unpaid) staff positions 
• All in-Kenya interns must have completed their sophomore year of college or be 20 years of age or older when their internship begins 

Trying to accurately depict Kenyan street life, as a filmmaker who grew up in middle class America, is almost an impossible challenge. But if you spend enough time at MITS, you’ll find that these students, and former street kids, have enough talent in their bones and courage in their hearts to share their stories with anyone who will listen—through songs and raps and spoken words. 

But “anyone who will listen” tends to be limited to talent shows in chapel every Thursday. And because God has written incredible stories of redemption into their souls, I firmly believe these kids need a wider platform than that. So with the encouragement of Irene, and the enthusiasm of one student in particular, I grabbed the one thing that could give these voices a stage they deserve—my camera.

Now, let me tell you about Peter: talented, well-spoken, brilliant, resilient. And his spoken word about growing up in the streets of Nairobi reflected all of that and more. He’s brutally honest and throughout his two-minute long poetically spoken piece, he humbly gives all of the glory to God. 

It was a challenge getting the audio just right—and we ended up having to re-film. It was a challenge finding an atmosphere with no noise and a challenge translating his slang Swahili into coherent English subtitles. It was a challenge filming on the streets of Eastleigh—making sure that the street kids in the video were shown with dignity and personality and hope.

And it was a challenge trying to make sure that Peter’s artistic vision for the piece came true. Because for this video, I was simply the messenger. 

And it was my favorite challenge yet.
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Because of this humbling opportunity to videotape Peter, I am more aware than ever that the students here will always be the best voices for what God is doing in and through Made in the Streets. And I hope, so incredibly badly, that people will take the time to listen to these voices. For they are future world-changers. I’m sure of it. 

by Meredith Mansfield
MITS Filmmaker Intern

This was by far the hardest video I’ve ever made—and it lasts a total of 47 seconds.

But it was because we faced the streets—where it was dangerous to even be holding a camera. And where I got yelled at by the Eastleigh MITS staff to put my camera away almost all of the time I was there—even during two of the shots that made it into the film (though I cut them out). 

Because we traversed Nairobi to find a time-lapse shot of the sun going down. Which meant we had to go to and from the Kenyatta International Conference Centre twice. And we stayed on top of that building for two hours waiting for the sun to set, while Kaylee and Sloan got attacked by birds for having blonde hair and my camera battery died almost at the worst possible moment. 

Because we trekked 3 miles in the mud to get the shot of Charles blowing flour into the camera and Matua giving Alex a haircut. And while the hot mud made us exhausted and annoyed, I loved that day. Because I got to have Charles and Jeff argue over who was going to blow the flour into the camera and I got to help Ruby make rice for lunch. And Tua came up to me shortly after, telling me that he was cutting Alex’s hair in a bit and he wanted me to film it. Which, I did (of course) and that made it into the video too. ​

But my favorite part of making this project is getting to show the final product to my friends here. I remember Laban, one of the students at the learning center, watching my video and pointing at the streets kids in the very first few shots and exclaiming, “that was my base!” And thinking, Laban could’ve been in that shot, with all of the street kids, if he hadn’t made the choice to join MITS. All of them could’ve been still on the streets.

And now, they just seem completely transformed. They’re wearing uniforms and they’re studying and they’re basketball players and football (soccer) players and they’re dancing to Chris Brown and making dinner every day all together while playing jokes on me in the process. They’re servant-hearted and hilarious and for some reason, they let me be a part of their little family here. 

And the best part is that all I get to do these next few months is reveal parts of this new family, and parts of God’s transformative grace, to you through film. ​​

Meredith Mansfield is spending summer 2018 living at our facility in Kamulu, Kenya, and sharing our world with you through film as a Filmmaker Intern. Check out our other internships here >> 

post by Winn Thomas, summer 2017 intern

​On Sunday night, I arrived back to the States after being at Made in the Streets for three months. Returning to my life in the States has been a very joyful and challenging process. I find myself struggling to explain to others what I have experienced and the impact Kenya has made on my life. 

by Brady Bates, summer 2017 Street Ministry Intern

DARLENE COULSTON 
Darlene and Charles Coulston are the founders of made in the streets. Since I came here, Darlene has been acting as my mom. Every morning after chapel she greets me with a smile on her face and that really boosts my morale. In almost every conversation we have I learn something new from her. One day she came to the skills centre computer lab and told me that made in the streets set up the computer lab just this year because they realised how much the skills kids need to know about computer. She went ahead to tell me about the importance of them learning the positive things they can do with computers today, those words ring in my mind every time I teach and try to advise the kids. This adds that extra burst of motivation to work harder. 
As a result of the good relations with Darlene, one morning she told me that my family was more than invited to come and see what we do here in MITS. I certainly arranged for that and when they came, they passed by her home. We had a good time, new friendships were created (my family, Charles and Darlene). That makes me feel at home in MITS. 
Darlene always tells me that if I need any advice from a mother, she will definitely be there for me……I consider that highly valuable. 

MOSES OKOTH AND STELLA WANGARI 
Moses and Stella are both IT team members. My first few days here I had to learn from them because I worked with them in the IT department. Stella took me to a couple of her classes to see how she teaches. The step by step explanation, the way she answered the students’ questions and her desire to help them set the pace for me. I always use her class as a template when I teach. She also gave me a very good orientation and that’s why it didn’t take long for me to settle here. She is such a blessing. 
Moses Okoth is another great friend and teammate. One day he walked me through the MITS internet infrastructure to explain how it worked. The theme of our conversations was how we can we work together to improve the IT department. It was a positive conversation. I learned that Moses always looks to improve MITS from the IT department and soon we are having an internet upgrade, can't wait for that. Moses is a great team member. 

BRANDON (JUNIOR) AND JEREMIAH 
Brandon and Jeremiah are both skills students. They are both great friends. They would spend most of their time in my room every evening before Jeremiah left. During supper time Jeremiah would try and make sure we eat together and later have a conversation with them. That made me learn much more about their lives. Brandon loves football and his greatest footballer is Lionel Messi. We train together and he works hard on the training ground. I can tell how good a player he can be from the dribbles he makes during a soccer match. One day after a soccer training session, Brandon told me that he thanks God for made in the streets because it provided a platform where he can play football and practise catering as his skill and dream career. 
He loves playing against me because he knows dribbling past me is easy for him!! 

SHARON MUSONGA 
Sharon Musonga is another great student who is in her final year in doing catering. One day during the students and teachers home visit, Sharon came to me and told me she would like me to escort her to her home to see where she comes from. I accepted to help her home and I met her guardians. They were so happy that her mum asked me to spend a few hours at her small kiosk where she cooks and sells food. 
The few hours I spent there were so good, we created a good relation and she said she had much expectation in her daughter. I could see the hope she had from the way she talked, she said "judging from the way MITS has helped change my daughter’s life I pray and believe that she is the one who will help her siblings in future.” 
That serves as a reminder to me that I should always work hard in my internship to help the kids reach their expectations in life. 

BRADY BATES
Brady Bates is another intern who came in the summer to help out in street ministry. It was my first time meeting him less than four weeks ago and he is certainly one of my best friends now. He works hard and is committed to his internship. Some evenings we meet to talk about how our days have been. We share what we did on that day and how best we can work to be of help in this ministry. 
Above all, we always end our conversations with a word of prayer asking God for more wisdom to be able to help this ministry as much as we can….Great lad!! 

Ruby
​My sweet friend Ruby (above right) and I had lots of great conversations this week. Ruby is a graduate of Made in the Streets (MITS) and has a five-year-old son named Dennis. The last time I was at MITS, Ruby was the cook for our group, and I was able to get to know her well. Ruby is now the cook for the Learning Centre. We have struck up a quick friendship and have been spending a lot of time together. Almost every afternoon we take an “exercise walk” around the village, either to the grocery store or the salon (that was quite an experience!) or to her house to check on her son. These walks have been such a gift to me. It is a great time to get out of the MITS campus and get a break, but also a great time to talk with Ruby about her life and her faith. On Sunday after church, Ruby invited me to her house for lunch Sunday after church. I know it was a sacrifice to cook for me. We sat and ate and sat and ate some more for over three hours on Sunday. I am truly so thankful for her and our friendship.

Jeremiah & Amos
​On Monday, I arrived at chapel at 9:40 after being told chapel started at 9:45. Turns out it didn’t start until 10 however, two of the older boys were there early as well. The three of us were able to talk for twenty minutes about everything from running for exercise (converting miles to kilometers using a phone!) to the sermon from Sunday. It was a great way to connect with those two boys and one I would have missed if I had been told the correct time! After my session, these boys again asked me questions about scenarios when they graduate. We discussed the fears and worries. As we continued talking, they both opened up about their past. I continue to tell the students how proud I am of them to choose a different life than the streets and to choose to survive. They students have had such difficult pasts but have completely changed their lifestyle. God is good! 

Paul
​Paul is another intern at MITS. He is Kenyan and working with the IT team members. Paul and I spent a couple hours together one afternoon and discussed Kenyan culture vs. American culture. It was a very eye-opening conversation. At one point in the conversation, Paul asked if it was true that in America there are drink machines where you just pay for the cup and can fill it up with as much drink as you want. I told him that was true and laughed thinking that was the one thing that stood out to him of things he had heard about America. 

Women’s bible study
​On Thursday, I was sitting at the learning center trying to use the wifi when some of the female staff members came and asked if I wanted to join their bible study. They were studying James 1. They blew me away with how deep they study and apply the word to their lives. I cannot wait to continue studying with them.

Quinter & Lucy
​Quinter and Lucy are two students in the skills program. They are both studying catering and love to practice their skills. I have provided the ingredients and they have cooked two meals for me (beef samosas and stew). Both have been beyond delicious and filling! At the last meal they cooked for me, I provided an appetizer of mac and cheese. They had never had it before and absolutely loved it, especially Shania, Quinter’s daughter. It has been so great to share a great meal with these two and get to know them and their stories on a deeper level.

I feel as though I am finally in a routine. Walking through the village during the day with Ruby is always hilarious. Adults and children run out of their houses and businesses to say “How are you” to me (usually the only English the kids know). They yell “mzungu” meaning “white person” and love to shake my hand. Ruby says we must walk through the village every day for exercise and to bring joy to the people. I tell her that in the States no one runs out to shake my hand! Among other sweet things that have happened while I have been here, Caroline, one of the students, gave me a bracelet that says “mum” because she said I am like all the the girl’s moms. So sweet and something I truly treasure.