Please Help Us To Close a Beautiful Chapter in Baobab History
The Baobab Street Boy program has been running since 2005. We have helped
get 14 young men off the streets and out of overcrowded shelters. More than
just a hot meal and a roof, we’ve provided them extensive long term support
and a complete “overhaul” of their lives. We have seen them through high
school, trade schools, drug treatment, HIV/AIDS care and so much more. For
most, Baobab has replaced the broken families that they left behind. Of the
young men who have passed through our doors, all but one is thriving today.
The program is now winding down. Many of the young men are on their own
now and Baobab has shifted its educational emphasis to younger children in
need. We believe we can make a wider and more lasting impact here but we
must complete our commitment and see these guys through their final years in
school.
Right now, four young men need full or partial sponsorships to help them
graduate. The global economic downturn has caused a drop-off in sponsorships,
but we can’t allow that to prevent our boys from graduating. If it were possible
for these boys to ‘work their way through school’ they would, but day labor
wages would not make a dent in their fees and their study schedules are
rigorous. When they come home to the Baobab farm they all contribute
extensively to our community through childcare and farm labor. They are
always happy to have penpals overseas.
Kenneth
Kenneth is an extraordinary young man. His parents abandoned him and he
left his grandmother’s tiny mud home at about 10 years old. He didn’t set foot
into a classroom until he was 14, but he graduated Form 4 in the second
division and has a keen mind for science. Academically, he is our brightest star.
We lost contact with Kenneth’s sponsors last year and have a debt of $1000 to
cover Kenneth’s current costs in Advanced High School. In February he will
take his exams and receive results in May. We are confident that he will get a
government scholarship to University and his costs will remain low- about
$1500 annually for food, lodging and school. Kenneth is a terrific investment.
Benedictor
Benedictor is extremely friendly, very sincere and dedicated to his studies. To
know him, you would never believe that he lived on the street or in an overcrowded , abusive shelter. He has just finished his first semester in nursing
school, but prices have gone up. $1800 will allow him to finish the upcoming
semester and his entire next year. Three payments of $600 each starting in
October would cover food, books, tuition, and busfare to church in the city
every week.
Yasini
Yasini is not an orphan but his father had four wives and so many children
that he left home as a child because there was never enough food. He lived at
the same shelter as Kenneth and Benedictor, with over 90 boys in a 4 bedroom
house. He is now in business school run by Americans in Mbeya. He has
received excellent job training and will be well prepared for employment, but
costs are high for him to finish. Yasini is set to graduate in November 2013. His
Belgian sponsor can cover 1500, but that leaves us with $1500 uncovered.
Omari
Omari is 19 and was born with HIV/AIDS. Both of his parents died when he
was young. He was raised well and actually didn’t spend time on the street. In
2005 we helped get Omari onto lifesaving drugs for HIV. Recently, the man
who raised him suffered a debilitating stroke and is now unable to help Omari.
He needs $200 this year and $300 per year for the next two years in order to
graduate the first level of high school.