We believe in transformation. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting Fikisha. You help to make this possible!

Thank You!

Paul is fully recovered from his drug addiction, having a wonderful time at school, and is in the process of reconnecting with his family members. Three years ago it was a different story. Thanks for your support

One of our FIKISHA Kids, Josephine Mbone, has lost her mom. The mother who was the sole bread winner of the Family past away yesterday morning after a long illness. Please pray for Josephine and her bother as this is a difficult time for the two kids.

We will be trying to help out Josephine and her brother. If you are able to help support them, let us know.

Hope exists. Hope prevails. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen and grounds for believing that something good will occur. God promises us hope. One single child, out on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya has a chance. Eyes gazed upon a young man who does not have a home, family, money, or motivation, will easily judge and predict the future for this individual in the newest generation. The prediction is not hopeful. The initial judgment is doubtful and pathetic. Seeing the dozens of boys wearing all that they own, filthy and unhealthy, abusing their temples given by God with drugs, alcohol, and sex, I automatically assume that that life is forever. There is no way out.

This stereotype in my mind changed when I had the privilege of meeting a young man named Joseph Issah who is now under the protection and wings of Fikisha Organization.

Fikisha is a God centered organization aimed to rescue, restore, and provide young men, who live on the streets of Nairobi, the basics for a life aimed in the right direction on a straight path. While I view Fikisha as the beginning step of restoration it is not the only step in a long recovery process ridding the completely worthy individual from addictions, abuse, and much deeper issues that lie within. Taking one child off the streets of a slum and providing him with the very basics seems like enough, but I believe it is only the start. Providing a young man with schooling, housing, and food is not the only step in the transformation process. It does not end there. Just as a young man found his way to street life in the first place, I can see in his eyes the longing and sense of comfort to fall back into that lifestyle just as easy as it once began.

Already rescued from his past life and living under the restoration of God’s hand, Joseph Issah is hope. Issah made a decision in February, 2010. He no longer desired to carry on the lifestyle of a typical street kid—living in his own filth, wearing or carrying all that he owns, walking in shoes that barely cover all ten digits, sniffing himself into a state of numbness and euphoria, and turning his back against the living God. The transformation that Fikisha supported placed Issah at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK) church located in the slum of Kawangwari. Something in his heart changed. Someone spoke words of encouragement to him that I can hope will be everlasting. Finishing his ninth month living in the church compound is worthy of praise and thanks but the need for help and continued healing among these boys continues to grow stronger each day.

At the young age of fourteen, Issah has seen more than the average young teenager. His mother passed away when he was ten. His father is alive but without a job, roof over his head, or money to adequately provide for the family.  His two brothers and one sister are in the same boat. Unlike many of the other boys currently on the street or the boys in Fikisha with him, he has an Aunt who is able to house him on the weekends or whenever Issah desires. Prior to his new start, he was living with his Aunt very close by the church compound.

During the short encounter I had with this miracle boy I asked him many question that I am sure overwhelmed him. Curious, I asked Issah if the past that he endured was worth the life he has now with the only one he needs.

Without hesitation, “Yes.”

The wisdom this young man has is testimonial truth to God’s provision and providence. Issah’s soft spoken mumble that always seems very unengaged and disconnected was sharp and penetrable when he affirmed the question. He has hope.

It is familiar and secure to return to an old way of living. It is easy to find contentment with the past because staying clean and sober is difficult. Issah expresses very passionately that every single day he wakes up to a temptation that is larger than he can handle. In my conversation with him, he described it as an unconquerable force. However, he wakes up now knowing and believing that God will carry him through every step of the way. That is hope. The thought that he woke up this morning trusting in his Savior, believing and holding onto the truth just for today is humbling and wise. If every day I rose from my bed with an attitude that the current day is a new gift from God and that day is His day and only His day, it would not be until then than my outlook on life would drastically change for better.

Issah is still tempted and bound by chains that according to the Bible, have no place in this world. Some days he longs to do drugs and desires to engage in abusive behavior because it is familiar, easy, and at times, fun. He is young and influenced. Issah who has been born again and is receiving help and support every day, is still involved with his past. He is friends with the old. The boys who struggle to find a place to lay their heads at night and who scavenge for their next meal, just like Issah once experienced, look up to him. They need him. He is light in the darkness. He is an example of hope in the seemingly hopeless. He is love when there is not enough to go around. The light he sheds to the others is precious but dangerous territory.

Under the scholarship of Fikisha, Issah is on the path to recovery but should not be deemed healed for his lifetime until he is truly standing up on his own two feet, with no handicap. He needs and longs for the care and attention he deserves long after the initial rescue.

After meeting this miracle, I struck up a conversation with Joshua, a father and a husband in the slum community. I approached this man out of happenstance. It was not planned and I had no intent of inquiring information about Issah but conversation was led in that direction. With passion in his voice and slightly watery eyes, Joshua proclaimed his frustration with miracle boys who have been plucked off the streets, put into a safe haven and somehow manages to disrespect themselves shortly thereafter, and give up altogether. With every vein in his head popping out, Joshua could not express his passion and desire to get every street boy off the streets, into a boarding house to live, and live well. Similar to my frustration and interest, these boys need multiple swift kicks in the rear to pursue a university degree that can allow them to get one-step further to a career and a life full of joy and hope. Not until then can these young men stand alone and proclaim that they are a survivor.

He fought all the battles, being homeless on the streets and doing drugs at 8. But he made a decision that he believed changed his life.

I’ve seen him working so hard to change and through him I believe that change is possible.

So much of what we do as Christians, and coincidently, FIKISHA workers is to share hope with others. No matter what state we are in, or how much money or food we have (or don’t have) HOPE is the one thing that we can always give. Being hopeless is a terrible feeling, devoid of joy and more importantly, devoid of God. We are working with individuals whose situation does not inspire hope. This very world, sin and evil are all working to take hope away and replace it with sadness, loneliness and a lack of purpose. In helping others, and ourselves, we must be sure to focus our hope IN Christ, not simply having hope FOR something.  In Mark it says to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have- that is why it is our calling to SHARE it with everyone.

The article I was reading was specifically about how LISTENING (and how we do it) can actually inspire hope within others. Our goal should be to listen just as Christ in us listens. To help them get to a place of disclosure and self discovery through talking, can open their soul to growing. Our work with the Miracle Boys is a challenge, but here are some tips to help be a listener that inspires each individual to find hope and grow.

First, we must be present, available and giving our full attention. But also to be truly present, each must be vulnerable. Prepared to give everything of ourselves to God’s work in the one we are listening to.

Next, we need to ask Christ to fill us with more compassion than judgement. It is important to accept each person as they are now, because we love them and know that it is more important to give them space to grow (your relationship) than to judge them and send them away.

The third tip was – Don’t just “communicate” experience a “communion”. This means truly feel what is behind the words. Have an authentic experience, not just a “mentor session.”

Last was the importance of Patience and consistency. The patience comes from a place of keeping ourselves focused on what the other person may become…how they may grow. Show them you are always going to be there, no matter how hard it is. “Stay focused on the light within, even with the most wretched and despised of humankind” This will bring about trust and, with God’s help, hope.

The writer went on to say that establishing trust, exciting them about life and who they are will infuse each person with hope..he called it “lighting others candles”. He reminded us again to learn from the “Eternal Listener”, God, who is the perfect listener and will never abandon us. The way we listen to others should give them a glimpse of how God relates to us.

Peace.

Are you a youth developer or a youth empower-er?

The good news about any concept growing is that it has an increased capacity to change lives. This is very much the case with “youth development.” Youth culture, as we know it today, appeared on planet Earth less than 100 years ago.

The word “adolescence” is actually only a century old itself. As urbanization has changed the way families work and society at large, young people have been thrown into similar situations which have produced similar vulnerabilities.

Helping young people has gone through a progression. First came intervention strategies (How do we help struggling young people?) which gave way to prevention strategies (How do we keep this from happening to young people in the first place?) which finally led to an amazing thought: Rather than trying to get young people away from high-risk behaviors or even to simply try to prevent high-risk behaviors, what would happen if we engaged every young person and worked to develop them in positive ways so that they would never have a chance to get involved in the negative stuff?

With that, youth development was born. The promotion of children’s social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development began to be seen as key to preventing problem behaviors themselves (W.T. Grant Consortium on the School-Based Promotion of Social Competence, 1992).

One point of confusion for so many of us these days is in the difference between youth empowerment or youth development. Youth empowerment involves helping young people have a voice, a place, a platform and a way of making an impact on society. This is important work. We are watching the power of youth populations around the world change their cities and countries using social media and through activism.

Youth development is not the same as simply giving young people a place. Youth development believes that young people deserve not only a place but a process. Just as no child is served by being left on a street corner to fend for themselves, young people are not made to grow up without a family, a community and friends around who can support them, encourage them, provoke them, hold them accountable and to progressively increase their levels or responsibility in order for them to grow into strong adults and even leaders.

Development is a principle of life on earth. Young plants need a healthy garden to allow for them to grow to maturity. Young athletes need coaches to guide their development. Children need caring families. Young couples need mentors and friends who can help them build thriving marriages. We run fastest when we have people around us running at our side.

So this group has attracted three hundred youth workers from across the world. We here at the Institute for International Youth Development are excited about each person here. Now, here is the great question to make sure that you have come to the right place: Are you a youth developer or a youth empowerer?

Perhaps the best answer is to say that you are both!

As you answer, let us know if there is any way that we could serve you. Feel free to send me a direct message to allow us to get back to you and to begin to talk through how we can best help you!

Get in touch with Boy With A Ball @boywithaball on Twitter.

or check out their website at: http://boywithaball.com/

Fikisha has a Kenyan branch and an American branch.

The Kenyan branch is made up of 4 paid staff and 11 volunteers. All of which are Kenyan.

The American branch is made up of 3 (currently) unpaid staff.

What we do on the ground

-Scholarship Program

         -We provide scholarships for young men and women (5-25 yrs old) living in extreme poverty so that they may attain an education, provide for themselves, their communities, and down the line, their own families.

-Mentoring Program

         -Fikisha mentors walk alongside the young men and women as they fight to come off of drugs, return to school, gain dignity, strive towards Christ, and recognize their true identity in Him.

-Food Program

         -On Tuesdays and Fridays the Fikisha Kenya team prepares meals for the youth for lunch. On Sunday’s the youth receive tea and bread.

­-Program Days

         -Narcotics Anonymous

-On Tuesday’s the youth attend a Christian narcotics anonymous meeting through Fikisha.

-Fridays

-On Friday’s the youth attend our program day, which varies from week to week. It is a Christian themed day, but this takes many forms. Bible studies, speakers, HIV testing, etc…

-Sunday Church

-There is a church service held every Sunday for the youth. Many of the boys have come to be baptized through this.

-Community Business Training

-We are partnering with an outside organization to provide business training classes for individuals in the community. We try to bring in struggling mothers and families and teach them the basics about running a business.

-Micro-Finance Loan Program

-Along with the Community Business Training classes, we are beginning a micro-finance loan program to help businesses of struggling families.

-Invite Hope

-Invite Hope is a small business venture that we have started to provide work for some of the older youth. Invite Hope is a wedding invitation business. The invitations are hand made in Kenya by the youth, shipped to us in the US to be finalized and sent out to the bride and groom to be. We are also working on a method to make our own paper, by recycling older paper found in the slums in Nairobi.

-Love Projects

-Once a month we take the youth into the community and do community service projects at schools, hospitals, churches, etc… This shows both the youth and the community that they can be positive members of society.

­-Fikisha Fellowships

-We are beginning a program to help our mentors begin and finish their college educations.

The mentors are key. They are the leaders, the examples. They are on the ground day in and day out working in some of the hardest conditions one can think of. We want to take care of them. Because of this, we try to provide them with reading materials, educational opportunities, and the chance to have some fun with each other and the youth.

Here in the States we go to schools and churches to present about what we are doing. We take interns over to Kenya as well as cross-country road trips to music festivals. We put on music and art fundraisers called “Night of Hope.” And we have the US side of Invite Hope.

We hope to not only influence

Of all of this, the greatest thing that is accomplished, and our ultimate goal is a change in identity.

Each and every person has a greater worth than we will ever be able to fully understand. The street youth in Kenya have had this utterly stripped away from them by society and their surroundings. They are treated as sub-human by some (recently a boy that we work with was beaten to death for no reason by police officers) and are viewed as outcasts by many. They begin to take on these identities as true. They often do not see the beauty and talents that they have. The thought of completing grade school, let alone high school or college, is past many of them.

We work so that they know that they have worth. That their dreams and hopes and aspirations are no less than yours or mine. That they are smart enough to finish school, to be productive members of their communities, to raise strong families.

We work to provide a hope that has been taken away.

We can do all of this confidently because we know that all the worth and all of the hope come from the Lord of the Universe, Jesus Christ.

We have been moving into our new office at Fountain of Life (FOL) Church in La Mirada. We are located right next to Biola and we love visitors, so if you are around, come by!!

i come with sad news again. earlier this week, an electrical fire set one of the boarding schools that one of the miracle boys attends ablaze.

we have not been informed of the damage to the school, but we do know that two students at the school were burned beyond recognition. these boys were friends of our fikisha boy and slept in the adjacent bed. our fikisha boy did escape the fire without any physical harm, however, all he has lost everything he owns in the fire.

please be praying for him and the fikisha family. all of what has happened has left him a bit traumatized and he has taken a little break from school.

we are very appreciative for your prayers and support.

blessings,

the fikisha family