Visitors to Made in the Streets

At Made in the Streets we are so delighted to have visitors who help us in ministry.  Our theory is that Americans come full of good stuff and we squeeze them like a sponge!!  Then they can go off on safari and feel really good about seeing the animals and living in splendor! 

There are certain experiences we want each one of you to have -- spend time on the streets with kids who sleep there and see what Eastleigh and Mathare Valley are, spend time in our classes and do some training and teaching while with us, and spend time with the Team and students at work and play and in their free time in order to know them well.  Some visitors have great expertise in certain areas, and these can be very helpful to us in development as well.  

Because we have a large number of visitors, there are certain "rules" we need everyone to follow so we can have maximum impact on Team and students and street youth.  

1.  We want groups to arrive on the same flight and depart on the same flight, and we want you to arrive in the morning if you can arrange it.  But arriving at night is still okay. 

2.  Follow the lead of the Team.  Please do not plan something with the students that has not been okayed by the Team or that interferes with what a dorm supervisor or a teacher wants the kids to do.  

3.  Try not to schedule any side trips or other activities that require a Team member to go off-campus when he or she has responsibilities (clear anything with Francis Mbuvi first).

4.  If you have a need to smoke or drink alcohol and you don't think you can absolutely leave it out of your life during the trip, then please do not plan to come.  

5.  Do not talk to the Team or the kids about "visiting America."  They may bring it up, but you do not have to respond.  Especially do not encourage them to desire coming to America.  Do not spend a lot of time talking about the good life in America.  Focus on the kids and the Team and their own futures in Kenya.

6.  We basically have a "no date" rule.  It is common especially for young people to "fall in love" with people they meet in the world who are near their age.  Please focus on the mission!  If two who are dating are coming on the same trip, or engaged people, then we would want to have sessions about dating and marriage with the kids so as to make it a positive influence.

7.  If you are a male, do not go inside the girls' dorm or private area, even if you are a married person staying on the girls' property.  If you want to see a dorm, ask a dorm supervisor to show you.  

8.  Kenyans do not touch and hug as much as Americans (you may have noted recently in American newspapers about problems in schools relating to touch and many have instituted a 'no touch' rule for the students).  So, please restrict hugs to "a quick hug" when you arrive or when you leave to return home.  Kenyans, even our young people, feel more comfortable and proper holding hands with an age mate of the same sex than with the opposite sex.  Since our students have been sexually active and some have been abused, it is better if we leave American styles of affection out of the equation.  

9.  If you are over 30 and a woman, it is important that you wear skirts or dresses (even college age women should when they go into Eastleigh).  Note in the "team and student" blog that our kids' school uniforms have skirts for the girls and slacks for the boys.  Also wear tops with sleeves.  There are important reasons for this; just ask, and we will tell you. 

Thanks for wanting to come, all you MITS Visitors!  You are all MITS VIPs to us and very important to our future.  We can't do it without you, so please come.  Ask, and we will send you our Visitors' Manual as well.  

peace and joy,