Friends and family are the heartbeat and foundation of the work done at MADE IN THE STREETS. Our appreciation for your love and support of this ministry goes beyond words. And the impact you are having on street-connected youth and families in Kenya is truly amazing.
As partners in this awesome work, we wanted to let you in on some very compelling developments happening at MITS. Before we do, here is some context.
We are constantly monitoring and evaluating our efforts to ensure we are reaching the most important desired outcomes. During the aftermath of the global pandemic, we took an even bigger step back to look at the success of our outreach, school, skills, and aftercare programs as a whole. But we were not the only entity doing this. Unbeknownst to us at the time, the Kenyan government and other NGOs (non-governmental organizations), like UNICEF, were also analyzing the current methods of care for vulnerable children and the long-term success of programs for street-connected youth.
After many years of great effort being done by MITS and other nonprofit agencies in Kenya, the total number of juveniles on the streets (and in orphanages) is not decreasing. The honest truth is that, in some parts of Kenya, it's actually increasing.
Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) are places of temporary shelter, care, and support for children who have been harmed or are at risk of being harmed. Although MITS is a very unique institution that operates very differently than most orphanages and rescue centers in Kenya, we absolutely meet the definition of a CCI. The collective research revealed that many kids living in Kenya's 845 CCIs were becoming increasingly detached from family, community, and culture (Kenya State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, 2022). In other words, although the kids in CCIs like MITS were being well cared for and supported on a path towards new life, the years spent away from family and friends were showing negative impact on the kids – and on the whole of Kenya.
With this new data, and a renewed commitment towards greater impact, the government of Kenya, with the help of NGOs of all types, set forth to make changes. In 2022, the Kenyan government passed the Children’s Act and The National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya. This act emphasized the importance of family based care, prioritizing placing children in a family environment rather than in an institutional setting. The Care Reform Strategy is a 10 year plan to help transition children from institutions across Kenya back into homes and families. The government’s intention is to convert all CCIs to Child Welfare Programs by 2034.
Additionally, our own research points to the need for changes in the ways vulnerable children are supported and cared for in Kenya. For example, we did a survey with the MITS students at our facility in Kamulu. When asked if they would like to go back home after a short stay at MITS, a significant majority (65%) said they would like to return home. One student even commented “no one can ever love me as much as my family.”
This is an important reminder for all of us: we are up against a devastatingly complex issue here.
All of this leads to some very positive changes coming to MITS in the next few years. But first, we’d like to share what’s NOT changing at MITS…
Our daily provision of food, first aid, care and support to teenagers on the streets through outreach programs at our drop-in center in Nairobi.
A focus on education. While the priority will be placed on helping kids transition back home and enroll in local schools, some students will continue their accelerated education at our Learning Center. We will also provide support to MITS students who go on to further their education in high school.
The opportunity for teenagers to receive vocational training through our Skills Center and assistance with job placement after graduation.
The encouragement and assistance given to our graduates during their transition into life after MITS through our Aftercare and Independent Supported Living programs (previously called Into the World).
A dedicated team of Jesus-led Kenyans leading, serving, teaching, counseling, caring for, and loving kids.
Now, here are a few things we are changing and prioritizing during this transition to family-based care.
First, the biggest change is shifting our attention more toward the family. We acknowledge that family and community systems are the best place, and God’s design, for a child to grow. For that reason, our priority will be reintegrating children back home if possible. Our experience has taught us that kids come to the streets for a variety of reasons, and many have a healthy support system they left behind and can return to. However, not every child on the streets ran away from a loving home, so we are committed to being a temporary home while seeking out a long-term place for them to grow and thrive. Ideally this will be accomplished within their own family and community. Our school and campus will continue to flourish, but more as a temporary transition rather than a long-term solution.
Second, these strategies and changes are in accordance with new laws in Kenya, and we are committed to following the law. MITS is a non-government organization, but we are absolutely under the influence of the government and respect the laws put in place.
Third, we are beginning to put our focus more upstream. Rather than reacting to the problem at hand, what if we helped to prevent it from happening? As we give more focus to supporting the health of families and communities, we are hopeful less children will end up on the streets in the first place.
Fourth, we are seeking collaboration. We are not the first organization to go through this process of shifting our efforts from long term care to reintegrating children back home, nor will we be the last. Thankfully we have help and guidance from people who have walked this road before, providing consultation and resources to us along the way. Through our connection to local ministries, global organizations, government officials, the Children’s Department, and others, we have found that we are not in this alone; we are one part in a united effort.
We believe with all our hearts that these updates and revised models of care will increase the impact of MITS’ work with street-connected kids (maybe more than 10x) and lead to better long-term outcomes. Simply put, helping to place kids from the streets back into safe homes and providing ongoing support for those families will strengthen marriages and parent-child relationships. It will create more well-rounded, young adults supported by their community. It will help decrease wide-spread homelessness and reduce the number of families faced with extreme poverty. And it will give more children and adults across Kenya the chance to know Jesus.
We wanted to give some context before you start seeing all these things happening at MITS. We hope you’ll join us in reimagining the way this work is done. We are still going to be MITS - just better. Together we are beginning a new adventure and calling it “MITS Reimagined”. Over the next few months, we will share stories and updates about this new transition. However, if you take anything away from this letter, we hope it will be these two things:
We are excited. Even though the future is uncertain, this is an energizing time to be a part of this work. Why? Because we truly believe these changes are going to positively impact thousands of families in Kenya, reducing the number of kids living on the streets, empowering stronger families, and sharing Christ’s love in ways that create lasting, life-changing impact. That’s what this ministry is about.
We need you now more than ever. This is uncharted territory for all of us, and we are leaning on our community. We need our global friends, family, and partners to pray fervently and give abundantly to ensure this ministry continues to grow.
Ultimately, we know this is work only God can do. We are simply honored to be a part of it. And as a member of this community, we hope you will be too.
With grateful hearts,
Brad and Francis
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