Saturday, December 1, 2007

Structure of Made in the Streets

Many have expressed an interest in knowing the makeup of Made in the Streets. The ministry had its origins in the youth group at the Nairobi Church of Christ Eastleigh where Charles and Darlene Coulston led the youth and the Sunday school program. Charles was directing the Kenya Christian Industrial Christian Institute (a computer and electronics college outfitted and guided by California and Texas Christians) and Darlene was teaching Bible at KCITI. Young people began to invite street youth to church. On August 3, 1995, there were no activities scheduled at KCITI, so street kids were invited to the property. The young people planned Bible classes, a meal and an opportunity to wash up. 200 kids who were sleeping on the streets spent all day with the Coulstons and the youth group. On Sunday 55 of them returned and the project began.

Today there are two centers, one in the Eastleigh slum, out of which Team members serve kids sleeping on the streets. Soon several young teenage girls with babies will be admitted to the Eastleigh Center. Three Team members serve full-time on the streets. The other is at Kamulu on the Eastern edge of Nairobi. The Kamulu Center has 34 acres, with shops, a playground, the Esther Workley Learning Center, a girls' center (with the Phil Biggers Guest Rooms), a boys' center (with the Dorothy Wright Guest Rooms) and a skills training center (which has only one building at this point, but two more are planned). 50 teenagers who once lived on the streets live at Kamulu. 13 Team members serve their needs. Francis Mbuvi is administrator, and John Wambu handles property issues for both centers. The Coulstons and Larry and Hollye Conway serve as advisors and work in various ways in the ministry.

A Board of Directors serves the ministry in the USA, while an official Committee oversees the Kenyan work.

Board of Directors
President: David Wilson of Nashville, Tennessee
Tim Lewis of Irving, Texas
Bill Rider of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Garry Bortz of Campbell, California
and 7 others from Nashville.

Kenya Committee:
John Wambu, Joseph Mutiso, Francis Mbuvi, Charles Coulston,Darlene Coulston and Larry Conway

Administrator: Francis Mbuvi wbs@swiftkenya.com

Advisors and Eastleigh Ministry:
Larry and Hollye Conway conway@nbi.ispkenya.com

Advisors and Kamulu Ministry:
Charles and Darlene Coulston charles.coulston@made-in-the-streets.org

Property Manager: John Wambu

Computer Studies: Victor Otieno and Moses Okoth

Student Affairs: Joel Njue

Girls' Supervisors: Irene Akinyi

Boys' Supervisors: Philip Kariuki, Abraham Oteba, Robin Ndunda, Nzioka Okendi and Moses Okoth

Sewing Factory: Jackton Omondi

Woodworking Skills: Robin Ndunda and Nzioka Okendi

Auto Mechanics Skills: Abraham Oteba

Shops' Supervisor: Victor Otieno

Historian: Irene Mbithe

Farm Manager: Ben Mwami

Eastleigh Street Ministry: Ann Mwangi, Anthony Owino, and Kennedy Odhiambo

Literacy Teaching Staff: Philip Kariuki, Victor Otieno, Irene Akinyi and Moses Okoth

Cafeteria Lunch: Milly Omondi

USA Contacts:
Bill Smith (donation acknowledgement and service trips) smith1858@comcast.net
Steve Sherman (Otter Creek Church missions committee) steve@ottercreek.org
David Wilson (Chairman of the Board) david.wilson@wallerlaw.com

In addition Made in the Streets has many friends who visit to serve street children, who give generously and make the ministry possible and who pray daily for the street kids and the Team. Our deep gratitude to all who are involved in helping street kids to have a new life.