Streets to School

Written by Katie Harvey, Storyteller Intern

To see the transformation that happens at MADE IN THE STREETS (MITS) of students coming from the streets to school is something I will always find so much joy in. The process isn’t always easy but the lives being changed will always be worth all of the challenges.

The process all starts with our Eastleigh team. As someone once told me, “without Eastleigh, there would be no Kamulu.” The Eastleigh center and team is a key part in the whole process of transformation. The team has built relationships with many different bases (where the street kids live). They go on weekly base visits and share an encouraging word with the kids and tell them about all about MITS. If a child is 13 or 14 years old, the team then invites them to come to school in Kamulu.

Once the child makes the decision to come to Kamulu for school, they stay at the Eastleigh center for at least two weeks. Here, they start the transition from street life to life in Kamulu. They are given responsibilities here and start learning basic life skills.

When new students arrive in Kamulu, it is a big celebration! The current students and all the staff welcome them in to their new life. The new students then start two weeks of orientation. This consists of meeting all the staff and learning more about what life in Kamulu will look like. At the end of orientation they take a placement exam and are placed into the appropriate classes.

Students move on from the learning center to the skills center at age 16. This is an opportunity for them to learn a skill so that they can go out and get a job after graduation. The skills offered are cosmetology, catering, industrial arts, and computer. They spend 2 years at the skills center perfecting their skill. They then get to graduate and start their lives in the world!

We recently had our largest intake ever with 30 new students joining us! This means that 30 children decided to leave the streets and come to school. God is amazing!!!!