Gracious Street HopeGivers Rescue Centre Is a Sanctuary of Hope for Street Children
In a quiet corner of Kagaa, Kiambu County, there’s a sanctuary where hope thrives despite adversity. This is Gracious Street HopeGivers Rescue Centre, a place that has become home to 35 children rescued from the harsh streets of Nairobi. Behind this life-saving mission are two remarkable people: Francis and Joyce who have dedicated their lives to giving these children a second chance at life.
It all began five years ago with a simple street-feeding program. Joyce and Francis were deeply moved by the plight of the children living on the streets. These young souls, some as young as one year old, had been through unimaginable suffering; physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, drug abuse and the constant threat of violence. The streets had taken them in, but they offered nothing in return but harm.
Joyce and Francis felt an urgent need to do more than just feed these children. They wanted to offer them safety, love, and a place where they could heal from the wounds of their past. “We couldn’t just watch as these children fell deeper into harm’s way,” Joyce says, her voice filled with compassion. “We knew we had to create a home for them, somewhere far from the dangers of the street.”
And so, Gracious Street HopeGivers was born. A kind-hearted Samaritan offered them a house to start the home, nestled in a remote location away from the influence of the streets. Here, the children could start fresh, away from the chaos and temptations surrounding them for so long.
For Joyce and Francis, the priority when a new child arrives is ensuring they are healthy. Each child undergoes a thorough medical checkup to address any health concerns that may have arisen during their time on the streets. Afterwards, they take them through a rehabilitation program that lasts up to a year. It’s a slow, steady process of healing and rebuilding trust, but it’s a process that works. Once the children have completed their rehabilitation, they are enrolled in school, a step that many of them thought they would never take.
Joyce and Francis face daily challenges in their ministry despite their best efforts. The local community does not always see their work as noble. They often face discrimination. Some neighbours view the children as “chokora” (a derogatory term for street kids), and this label follows the children even into school. The bullying they experience from their peers is heartbreaking, but what’s even more shocking is that some teachers participate in this stigma, further alienating these vulnerable children.
Joyce admits that it’s not just the children who suffer. She and Francis have endured life-threatening situations because they decided to care for these children. “We face a lot of hostility,” she says quietly. “People don’t understand why we do this, and sometimes they don’t want us here.”
Yet, despite the constant hurdles, Joyce and Francis press on. They see beyond the cruelty and misunderstandings, focusing instead on the well-being of the children. “We are grateful that God has sent us friends, family, and good Samaritans to help us out,” Joyce says with a smile. “They make it possible for us to keep going.”
One of those good Samaritans is a church member from CITAM Thika Road, who referred Gracious Street HopeGivers to us at Maji Zima Limited. They told us that the children were drinking water directly from a nearby river known to be contaminated. Knowing how vital clean water is to these children’s health and safety, we knew we had to help.
When we visited Gracious Street HopeGivers on a pre-visit, it became clear just how critical the need for safe water was. The home sources its drinking and cooking water from the river, and while they also harvest rainwater, it too can become contaminated. Children often throw debris onto the roof, which means the rainwater they collect could be unsafe to drink.
As we surveyed the situation, we learned that the home also had a well, which they used for laundry and cleaning. However, this well water was not suitable for drinking. Without any filtration system, the children were exposed to the risk of waterborne diseases, and the danger to their health was real.
One of the challenges we identified was the lack of a raised water tank. Our MS-MZ water filter, which can remove harmful bacteria and contaminants from water, requires a tank to be raised at least two meters off the ground to work efficiently. The home didn’t have such a tank, so we had to go back and devise a plan to ensure the filter could work properly.
On October 9, 2024, we returned to Gracious Street HopeGivers, ready to make a difference. We brought with us the MS-MZ water filter and a small pump to ensure the water could be pushed through the filter’s microscopic pores. With the pump and filter in place, we knew the children would now have access to safe, clean drinking water.
The installation process was smooth, and as we worked, we couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of fulfilment. Seeing the children’s smiles and knowing that this simple act of providing clean water could change their lives was incredibly rewarding. In the past, the home reported at least 10 cases of waterborne-related illnesses among the children. There was an urgent need to install a water filter
For Francis and Joyce, this was one less burden to carry. Safe drinking water is something many of us take for granted, but for these children, it’s a life-saving resource that will protect them from illnesses and give them a better chance at a healthy future. As we packed up and prepared to leave, we felt a strong sense of connection to the work being done at Gracious Street HopeGivers. Joyce and Francis are doing more than just rescuing children from the streets; they are giving them a new life, a new hope, and a chance to dream again.
A Lasting Impact
At Maji Zima, we believe in creating lasting impacts. We don’t just install water filters and walk away. We stay connected to the communities we serve, checking in to ensure the filters are maintained and that the water continues to flow clean and safe. In a few months, we plan to return to Gracious Street HopeGivers to check on the state of the filter and the health of the children. We hope to see them thriving, no longer falling ill from contaminated water.
This project, like so many others, reminds us of why we do what we do. Clean water is more than just a basic necessity, it’s a lifeline. It gives people the power to live healthier lives, to dream bigger dreams, and to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.
As we look forward, we are committed to continuing our work in bringing safe drinking water to underserved communities. We will keep supporting heroes like Joyce and Francis, who are fighting to make the world a better place for those who have been forgotten by society. And to everyone reading this, we hope you’ll join us on this journey. Together, we can make sure that every child, no matter where they come from, has access to clean, safe water, a simple gift that changes everything.
