Kito International

Alex.

Alex Beru Govinda

Am 22 years old, am an orphan. I lost my parents when I was very young. I was nine months when my mother passed on. I was still in school when I started going to the street to hustle for money to be able to support my self. Life was so hard for me since I had no money and no one to support me. I was involved with the scrap business to be able to earn money for food and other necessities.

 At the time I joined the street I was living with my cousin who was later shot dead because he was an armed robber. I was rescued from the streets by Kivuli Centre for Rehabilitation and taken back to school since I had dropped out because of lack of school fees. I studied up to form two with the support of Kivuli centre but later I dropped out because they withdrew the support and I went back to the street. During that period some of my friends were shot dead because of crim. I was also engaged in crime but I was lucky not to have been shot.

 Towards the end of 2008 a guy named Wiclif came to our base and shared with us about his dreams and vision for the street youths since he was a former street boy. Initially were apprehensive about him because other people had come to us before, promised to help us took pictures then disappeared.

Wiclif organized a group discussion at his workshop where we discussed about our challenges and resolutions and from there we basically designed Kito with him. We were really encouraged by Wiclif and he really inspired us, we also wanted to be like him or even better than him.

In 2010 during the selection from the thirty street youths from different bases, only two of us from Kawangware base were among the seven that were selected.

Since I joined Kito my life has really changed, I now earn a regular income to pay my own rent and meet my needs, am also able to save five hundred every month through the Kito account. I have a safe place to save my money and also to live. 

 In Kito I have so far gone through training where I have learned about HIV/AIDS and how to be safe from it. Also I have acquired skills that I will also pass on to my comrades who are still on the streets. Kito have given me an opportunity to better my life and think about my dreams.