Life takes each of us through a cycle, that often leads us to a journey of resilience and courage creating a path, a new path many times. Many times our individual journeys take the most of us, and sometimes we find ourselves stalled. And as life revolves, we know too well, reaching a crossroad, which is sometimes is in the form of an error in life that takes us back a little. Thus, we know too well, what it means to need a hand to hold in such moments when we don’t know whether to move back or ahead.
For many young men who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, they stall. Suddenly these young men with potential regress when just in the blink of an eye, the direction of their life changes. Suddenly, they are behind bars wishing upon freedom, which sometimes they may never have even when out of the gates of the prison.
Lifesong believes that these young boys deserve a second chance, to begin to dream and to contribute to society. The founder, James Hawi, is a man himself who relates to never having a role model figure, and how that affects young men. He reckons the many who later came on board to teach him basic ironing and how that has changed his life.
10 years, of going to prison to give hope to the young boys who are barely 18 years of age, has seen them have a burden to see these young boys free, empowered, and grown as leaders. They have a Prison Program where every 3 months, the program enables 25 male youth at Kamiti Youth Correctional Training Centre to receive skills training, mental health support, reconnection with families, and reconciliation with the people who've been wronged and hurt.
Three years ago, in 2018, they began their journey to get a halfway house, realizing that not only the men in prison are prisoners, but even free men are also in cages seeking to be free. They did this by cycling from Nairobi to Mombasa to fundraise so that they can even do more for these young boys. This year, they did it again for a third time, starting from Usenge, all the way into Lungalunga in 12 days to raise 1.5 Million. They have steered the journey amidst many challenges, including injury, punctures, and fatigue. Yet, they did this without losing hope.
This time, they already have a halfway house and preparing for the Boys' arrival in February 2022. This home will provide 15 male youth who need shelter, a safe space, psychological support, financial literacy, character formation, job apprenticeship, and much more. Above all, this shelter will empower men to work and contribute economically and in leadership to society.
Already, Lifesong is rearing chicken and wants to plant crops in the garden for consumption and for sale. In the future, they will be starting a business in Ngong Town to sustain these programs. All this will be a bid to give the young men a second chance, a renewed hope, and another cycle in life.
Today, the race is to kickstart the home, and the boys will have a bed, a chair, and able facilitators who will make this vision real. This home which is rented will need to be sustained and that is where the community comes in. These boys are not the task of Lifesong alone, but ours. As our sons, brothers, and friends, we wish to give them a real second chance at life. You too can be part. Let’s be part of this together.
You too can be part of providing a transitional home and a safe space for boys and young men who need healing and restoration.
Paybill: 891 300
Account: Lifesong
You can also donate on:- https://www.omprakash.org/.../half-way-house-ignition/
#WhyWeCycle #HalfWayCycle #HalfWayHouse #HWC4 #ExceptionalYoungMen #LifesongKenya
Mchanga link : https://secure.changa.co.ke/myweb/share/36626#
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