WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE NOW?

It is always great to see how far people have come.  As Mary Waithera (who is now a cook at an upscale restaurant in Nairobi - the ArtCaffe) says, "I have come far."  So I thought it good to show you a few pics of students who have left MITS and are now in jobs.

Brian Ochieng - cooking at MITS
Susan Wambui in background - runs MITS salon

Anastacia Njoki - working at Good News Publications

Caroline Wanjiku - has worked at Narcisse Salon
for the past 7 years

Jackline Njoki - working at Amani ya Juu

Elizabeth Wanjiku - works at a salon as hairdresser

Mary Wangui - in front of the salon where she works

Mary Wanjiku - runs her own business making bath mats
married with one child

These are only a few of those who have finished at MITS and gone on to trust God and take care of themselves.  We are blessed to have had them.

MITS Goals for 2013

Each year the Made in the Streets Team does an analysis of the previous year and sets goals for the coming year.  This time the Team did their planning without the aid of the Coulstons.  What a great Team MITS has!

MADE IN THE STREETS 2013 GOALS

**** Help our students doing KCPE exams (the 8^th grade national exit exams) to get their birth certificates and committal documents and help them secure national identity cards.

**** Gain Attachments/Jobs for Exit students - this year we have

·    Peter Mwangi: Catering and Food production (ID, Attachment and then Job, housing). Possible opportunity at the Art Caffe at the Village Market.

·   Titus Musyoki: Hairdressing and Barbering (Attachment and Job, housing). 

Newsflash! - he now has a job at Narcisse Salon at Sarit Center.

·    Cecilia Mwinza: Dressing making and Tailoring (Job hunting, housing)

·     David Mutimbi: Auto-mechanics (Housing, probable Job at 4 Wheel Garage)

·     Ken Owino: Computer (ID, attachment and then job hunting, housing)

·     Florence Aoko: Hairdressing and beauty (ID, attachment and job, housing)

·     Anthony Githinji:  Auto-mechanic (attachment, ID and then job, housing)

·     Joseph Nderitu: Auto-mechanics (attachment, ID and then Job, housing)

·     Mary Wanjiru: Catering (ID, Attachment and then Job, housing)

·     Clinton Otieno: Catering (ID)

·     Joseph Mbithi: Catering (ID)

 **** Provide the best help for those going for outside schooling.

·         George Mwenda:- Computer Graphics

Helping out at MITS during weekends.

·         Edward Muhea: - Kenya Institute of Professional Studies

Helping with beginners’ computer classes.

          Lucy Akinyi: 3 months’ more at hairdressing school.

    NOTE: MITS does not have the mandate to provide training beyond our own skills areas, but occasionally a sponsor or other visitor will volunteer to pay for additional schooling. This is the case with these three students. 

**** Improve our Exit Program for students reaching age 18

      Increase networking with organizations for the exit students and do a lot of followup.

      Improve on our certificates and letters for exit students.

      Work more with relatives and parents of the exiting students in an integration process.

**** Reforms in the Boarding program in terms of supervision, food and communication channels with students like having suggestion box etc.

**** Push for the implementation for some of the suggestion from the Children’s Dept; e.g. improve security, education for our students, child friendly environment.

**** Continue with 4.30 Business classes, Saturday classes

**** Increase community programs such as Sunday school and VBS.

**** Interact with skills teachers to better equip students and to pool ideas.

**** Change our students’ recording system to comply with the government standard set.

**** See how alternative care systems will fit with MITS, especially foster care for younger children we encounter on the streets.

**** Do more of the team building training for our team.

**** Start a regular graduation program, to be held in October.

February at MITS

There is so much happening at MITS that we cannot report it all.  We are a whole life ministry and the church besides, so we have street ministry, a school, residence halls, skills training, cafeteria, shops, farm, orchard, playground...on and on -- and 80 teens living with us at Kamulu, with hundreds served regularly at Eastleigh.

Here woodworking students prepare new tables for the new computer rooms.

 Our Team goes to the streets daily.  Here the Kamulu Team has come to the bases with bread rolls cooked by the catering students at Kamulu.  The bread is received with joy.

 Baptisms are a regular event at MITS-Kamulu and the Kamulu Church.  This one is obviously a joy for the young woman giving herself in faith to Christ.  Francis Mbuvi - who preaches at Kamulu and administers MITS - especially enjoys these moments.

We always want to remember that our ministry begins and has its great impact on the streets, where young people languish on piles of garbage and eat from it as well.  Our Team at Eastleigh has great compassion and commitment to the streets.  Augustina loves to cook for these young people, cooking from scratch for 100 kids is a delight for her!

 Lucy B (we call her that because we have another girl with the exact same 3 names!) smiles constantly, even in class writing tests! She was baptized last June, has very good friends at MITS, and is happy to have been rescued from the streets.

 Great news in February is the wedding of Irene Akinyi (up to his time our girls' supervisor for 6 years) and Robin Ndunda (our woodworking instructor, with us since 1999).  Great wedding and a happy couple, who will live near the girls' compound and continue their ministry.

 We are happy to be friends with Janet Owana and those who work with her at the Mathare North Church.  They now have over 2,000 kids aged 2 to 14 each Saturday for their program.  This is just a few of the kids.  They call it "Change-A-Life."

Pius Musyoki came through MITS, finishing his skills study with us two years ago. He has been apprenticed at the Narcisse Salon in Nairobi since then, and the owner seconded him to the Revlon Institute last year.  He graduated the same day as the wedding and was immediately offered a job by the owner of Narcisse, who is a good friend to MITS.  We are proud of Pius, who often writes notes of faith and hope in Facebook.