Eliphas Okoyo, 41, found his passion in helping children in distress and ended up coordinating activities of SCH Team Kenya Alpha, an organization reaching out to thousands of vulnerable minors and teenagers and giving them hope.
Okoyo’s entry into the community kicked off with an observation. He remembers while growing up in Pipeline estate, Nakuru County, he deeply admired how his mother helped the needy in the society as she frequently visited children’s homes and shared food and clothing with them.
SCH Team Kenya Alpha organization takes care of children, who were either abandoned in the streets, hospitals or churches and those whose parents’ deaths spelt doom for their lives.
Some girls who are beneficiaries of this organization harbour pain and bitterness of being sexually abused by relatives or people entrusted with their safety.
David Wafula, a former street boy, is now picking up his pieces and has enrolled at a Technical Vocational Education Training Institute to pursue a plumbing course.
He is 18-years-old. His father deserted Wafula and his younger brother after serving a stint in jail never to be traced. The boys ended up at SCH Team Kenya Alpha.
Just a few years ago, Wafula was among hundreds of other shriveled street children in Nakuru’s garbage-laden alleys. But today, when he speaks about his journey from the streets under SCH Team Kenya Alpha, his eyes light up with hope.
The lad reminisces the joy he felt knowing he would be sleeping on a bed, covering himself with a blanket like a ‘normal person’.
He had grown accustomed to cold nights on the pavements, with only carton boxes or manila sack for a blanket at night.
This shelter is not only an arguably safe haven keeping many children out of danger, but also a dream come true for 18-year-old Joseph Chege who is now a Form Three student at Maranda High School and an aspiring aeronautical engineer.
As we settle for an interview, Okoyo’s love for children, and more so, the destitute, is evident in his story as he narrates his ‘missionary’ journey since he was a child.
In his own words, his mother’s actions helped thrust him into the journey of philanthropy after realizing that he didn’t have to be wealthy to share with others.
Okoyo recalls his pain whenever he encountered a needy child in school and feeling helpless when he couldn’t offer any help.
“I have joined hands with like-minded members of the society and our passion for serving the society has grown tremendously. We subscribe to John Bunyan’s (English writer and puritan preacher) notion that you have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot repay you,” states Okoyo.
According to the coordinator, SCH Team Kenya Alpha organization which was founded in 2020, spreads love in the streets of Nakuru County, among children physically and sexually abused and those abandoned by their guardians and parents.
The organization uses the platform to create awareness on Gender Based Violence, sexual and physical violence against minors, children’s rights and other related issues such as sickness, hunger, abuse and exploitation.
Okoyo laments that a growing number of under age children and teenagers are increasingly facing many challenges including malnutrition, inadequate health care, premature deaths orchestrated through mob justice and exposure to drugs.
If not well handled, these consequences may bring in long life mental health and negative social outcomes. He states that it is for these reasons that it is important for society to be aware.
Through the organization, they offer free mentorship, feeding programmes, talent nurturing, counselling, rehabilitation services, sanitary towels for girls and education on various subjects such as drugs. The organization also does monthly outreaches where minors and teenagers could come and celebrate together.
Okoyo discloses that after interacting with the children, many have expressed their concerns about being misunderstood by the society which makes them vulnerable.
“Our greatest achievement has been seeing lives of vulnerable and marginalized children transformed. We have one beneficiary now studying at Maranda High School and another pursuing a course in plumbing. I believe that changing the life of one vulnerable child at a time equates to changing future generations,” States the coordinator.
Inadequate finances are one of the major challenges the organization encounters since there is much to be done but resources are limited.
According to the Officer in charge of Pakawa Police Post Inspector Duke Sanganyi, most of the beneficiaries at SCH Team Kenya Alpha organization are victims of parental neglect, gender-based violence and drug abuse.
Inspector Sanganyi indicated that there is a need by the entire Kenyan society to put in more effort to fulfill the innocent children’s basic needs.
“It all begins with an escape from a hostile family and domestic violence. Parents should take responsibility and raise their children well regardless of their differences. Domestic violence leads to psychological torture among the young ones. Parents should therefore keep their children out of it,” the law enforcer points out.
He further noted that poverty at home had forced some of the children to drop out of school and end up at the organization and that there are orphans who have been abandoned by their relatives.
Inspector Sanganyi revealed that many vulnerable children were grappling with food shortage and insufficient amenities.
He adds that most of the rescued children were victims of defilement and parental negligence and many of the cases were in the court pending conclusion.
“We have more children still being supervised under the care of their relatives and guardians since the existing children’s homes are not enough to accommodate them,” he stated.
Inspector Sanganyi added: “We are appealing to well-wishers to offer their support in the form of food among other donations.”
The Police Officer stressed the need for more community support systems to support neglected children within their local communities as the available children’s homes were stretched for resources to accommodate them all.
“The population is overwhelming, and we are rallying the members of the community to consider supporting vulnerable children for expansion of the educational rescue centres,” Inspector Sanganyi explained.
By Jane Ngugi and Dennis Rasto
