I have been fortunate to be acquainted with an elderly lady (Bibi in Swahili) for whom we helped build a new house.  Bibi had a house, a very dilapidated house. It had no working windows. The roof was leaking and the walls were nearly about to crumble. When it rained, Bibi had to shelter from the rain and so did the mosquitos. As an elderly women in Tanzania, her savings (assuming she had any) was good enough for a few meals…not a major home renovation. To sum it all up, Bibi needed to win the lottery to have any chance of repairing her home. This is when her prayers were answered. The call was made, and the community responded. We set out to repair Bibi’s wall so that at the very least she can feel like she had a home to shelter in. However, upon taking a closer look we soon realized it is going to take more than just a wall. The whole house needed to be demolished and rebuilt.

Bibi’s old house being held by a piece of wood.

Bibi’s windows were falling apart.

So what did we do? We should have told Bibi we are demolishing her whole house. But we didn’t. Instead we sent her away to live with some friends for a few weeks and got straight to work. That’s right Bibi thought we are just repairing her walls…not demolishing her whole house.

A few weeks went by and of course so did the budget. Bibi needed new glass windows, a new door and some really strong brick so that this house will keep her safe for many years to come.

After a few weeks of major work, Bibi eventually returned back to her house, but not without asking us where her original house was? That’s when she quickly realized her life was about to change.

The day that Bibi received her new house, she exuded happiness in a way that could not be described. She’s nearly 100 years old and before this she had no hope of sleeping in a safe place. Her unrelenting gratitude was all because a person gave from their heart and did not calculate or deliberate where or how the money was to be used.

New windows, new door, new roof. In this photo the glass wasn’t installed yet and a few more touch ups were still not done.

It was our idea to do it, but we couldn’t do it without the generous hearts of supporters who were touched and influenced by our story to do something special for the community.

Imagine giving a person a new house to live in as a gift. A house that they can comfortably sleep in without any worries or threats from the weather and mosquitos. To us, It’s a blessing that comes  in a way that we won’t understand or even expect.

It doesn’t take much to touch someone’s life who doesn’t have much. Just like it doesn’t take much for a rich person to give what he is rich with. That’s a story worth telling.

– Sam & Mark

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Over 2,000

Street Kids served and inspired

One

Former Street Kid to make a difference

9 + years

Former Street Kid to make a difference

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Over 1,000

Street Kids served and inspired

One

Former Street Kid to make a difference

8 + years

Former Street Kid to make a difference

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Over 1,000

Street Kids served and inspired

One

Former Street Kid to make a difference

8 +  years

Since the first picnic

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What we offer and how we help people is not because we expect something, but because we need to offer help.  The more we give, the more we get  in return, sometimes not in the way we expect or the way we need but during the right time. 

There is a time when good things come to us when we least expect it. These times are a result of our previous positive actions that we did during someone else’s time of need and are coming back to us during our time of need.   

When someone is blessed by your actions, you will definitely be blessed in a different way, one that you never expected. But, you need to genuinely help someone freely without expectation or any sort of kickbacks. Life treats us differently. Everyone is affected in a different way. Life comes to us differently because of how we offer ourselves to the society.

Anyone can help the community and a variety of different people in different situations as long as it is done without wanting anything in return. Helping someone crossing the road, carrying something for them on your way, lifting someone when they fall, feeding someone hungry, helping the sick, clothing someone with no clothes, sheltering someone – these are all ways to help. But when you do this, just walk away and don’t look back to see what you will receive or wait for reward. Just have comfort that God sees what we do even if no one else sees or hears.

Giving love where there is no love, care where there is no care, shelter where there is no shelter, food where there is hunger, do it. It is a miracle for those who need it.

If you can’t wipe their tears, then cry with them. Laugh with those who are laughing for joy. Walk with one who are on a journey, especially if they are on a long journey. Once they reach or are close to their destination and no longer need your support, then go. You never know when you are going to need the support back.

Never do something just to receive in return. Otherwise you are not actually giving, instead you are giving to receive.

Always strive to be different than everyone else. Not because you want to be seen, but because it is good to be. Always listen when people talk not because you need someone to finish talking so that you can start talking, but because you want to understand what they are saying. Always love not because you expect to be loved back, but because that is what you want to do. Always give your shoulder for someone to lean on not because you want to calm the situation, but because you care. Always give your hand for support not to break someone’s fall but until they get back up. Always help because you want to and one day, someone will help you…just because they wanted to.

– Sam

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It’s cool to be cool. If you can’t be cool, it doesn’t mean you have to be. Sometimes it happens when you least expect it. And sometimes, you don’t have an option, but you have to make it one. When I was on the street, I didn’t have an option- but I had to make it that option (to be cool). It was very hard being in a situation where you had no options. I had no one to rely on. I was with a bunch of kids who had no options, but they made it an option, as I did. Though their option was different from mine.

Drugs, stealing, fighting, and provoking people on the street. This was our environment. These were all the things that you can do on the street. Not because you wanted to, but because those were the only things you can do. Of course, it didn’t mean we had to do it. If we’re on the street, it was because there was no other option. That is the life you have and the life you need to live unless there is someone out there to help you. Someone to touch your life or to help change your environment by giving your life  purpose and the options that would give you a new beginning. If someone was not there, you can turn into a burglar where the streets will fear you and you will fear the streets. Then you will only have one option left.

Creating options that gives you choices is not a simple matter; it needs a mind with focus. I had to pave my way to get where I wanted to be. It was very easy to be involved with bad groups, but I believed being an honourable and faithful person was not something that everyone can do unless you make the conscious choice to be one. I always believed that wrongdoings don’t give you honour. I’m not saying that I have never been judged. I am the first person to tell you I have been judged, especially when every person has their own view of a street child.

The world paints the perception of a street kid as a thief, drug addict, a kid who can do nothing and has no plan in life. I had to listen and fall victim to all these perceptions, but that doesn’t mean that I had to accept  and live with them. People will define you as they wish. Don’t stop them or try to tell them that they are wrong, and that what they are thinking is not true. You have to show them that you can change their perception. I always have a strong vision of what I believe and that’s what helped me reached where I am today.

If you want to do something with your life or reach a goal then you have to help yourself so that others can help you. There are street kids with potential, but they either can’t show it, don’t know they have it, or don’t know how to express it. They need people with a God guided intuition to see it. They need just one person, who believes in them enough, to gives them the confidence to believe in themselves convince them that they are special and have potential. I struggled a lot to get where I am, but it was because of what I believed in , a lot of patience and trust that helped me get through it. I didn’t make it here by myself, but rather with the help of friends who believed in me. I am not special, but I am special in my own way. I work hard at everything I start, until it works. That’s my motto.

You don’t need to be rich or own a lot to help people. You need to help others because you can and because you have too. I am saying this because I received help from people who shared the little they have just to make sure you get a glimpse of what they see in you. There are many people with potential, people who can bring changes to our community and to the world, but they can’t do it alone. Imagine helping someone who later on helps another ten, then those ten help a hundred people, and those hundred help a thousand. Won’t you be happy with the circle of changes you have made? Don’t seek for approval to help someone in need or ask for advice to help someone. Just do it. Do it because it’s cool.

Sam

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