THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSE.

A picture of kenneth together with his sponsors
(Alice and Peter Caisley).
Name: Kalungi Kenneth.

Kenneth has been a part of the transitional house for the one year and half now, He is in school! We are so proud of the young man God has made him to become.

My name is Kalungi Kenneth .I came from Nabweru my aunt's home due to the mistreatment and torture. Before I came to Kampala (Nabweru) where my Aunt stays, my Aunt came to the village and requested my mom who raised me and my siblings as a single parent and did most of the providing since our father left and neglected us. My mom became everything in order to raise me. I used to assist her by digging for people that way I could help contribute some money for the needed home requirements such as medicine for my sister who broke her leg and almost every single coin I earned through digging went on her. With that way of living, when my Aunt proposed to take me and help me, my mother agreed because my Aunt had promised her that she was going to educate me and take care of me which my mother loved and gave me to her.

The first few months with her were okay but as time passed I became a servant for her and her kids and school became the other for I did a lot of work such as rearing the cows, cooking before I go to school, any mistake I would get beaten. I always reached at school late and was the one to sleep last since I had to cook, help rear her cows and make everything ready for her husband and kids. I spent 3 years with my Aunt but burning me with a knife, beating me and disrespecting my mother for she failed to educate me really annoyed me and from there, I decided to run away and came to the streets of Kampala with a hope of finding ways to go back to my mother but it was not easy at all as I thought.

Street life was terrible because I had to run all times from police, and getting food was hard, sleeping outside everyday was really hard for me because it was my first time and until I got to meet with other street kids who knew most programs and taught me how to survive on the streets. I started collecting metal scraps, empty bottles and smoking weed for it gave me warmth and different imaginations of how I will be, for I had a lot of images in my head. I smoked for a couple of months with other boys and attended a few programs. I didn't think of God or pray because all I thought of was how will I get food on the streets. But what I attended most were the night outreaches done by Aunt Flavia and Uncle Sam because they came and spoke to us and brought food to us and we ended by saying a prayer. I started to think about God when I totally got broken and I would cry to myself. Aunt Flavia encouraged us to pray together which I tried to do. I lost hope because I didn't believe someday I would live the streets.

Joining the Transitional house

When I was here at the mercy alive Africa night outreaches, Aunt Flavia and Uncle Samuel saw I was really growing and learning a lot. They asked me about joining the Transitional House, which I was totally happy about. Aunt Flavia picked me from the streets after the weeks she hag gave me to think about joining the house had passed and she prepared a big meal for all of us the new kids who were joining the house and we were so happy. I got a bed of my own, clothes, bed sheets, shoes and everything that I really needed. I now relate so well with the other street children and I can control my temper and live in peace with others.

Living in the Transitional House devotional time became very important to me and Uncle Samuel led us in devotions most times. I was so happy to learn and hear Uncle Samuel's story when he was still on the streets. I have learnt a lot while in the house such as cooking, washing, respecting of elders, spending time with God whether at the house and at school. Aunt Flavia has been the most encouraging person in my life and has helped guide me in my time of struggling to stop using drugs, wow! I am thankful to God for his love and mercy that now I have a place to call home, I have sponsor and am in school.

JOB 14:7 "There is hope for a tree that has been cut down, it can come back to life and sprout".

This is one of my favourite verse to read because it reminds me of the time when I had lost hope.

Name: Ssemakula Samuel.
Age: 12 years old
Sex: Male.

Samuel is a humble boy, who socializes with the other boys at the house. Samuel is 12 years old and currently he is living in the Mercy Alive Shelter.

Samuel was raised by his Grandmother in Kira after his Mother died. Samuel ran away from home with a hope of finding a job of selling eggs in Kampala because his grandmother could not provide for him and his brother Enock. Samuel was on the streets for a couple of months and we got to find Samuel during the police raids. The police usually does raids and arrests many street children. We managed to visit Samuel's grandmother after we got Samuel from the police station.

Samuel's grandmother tries to support his grandkids by selling tomatoes and onions which can only provide lunch or dinner depending on which meal they chose to eat. They can hardly sustain a single meal in a day let alone afford other basic needs. Because of that, we decided to take Samuel to the Mercy Alive shelter, that way his Grandmother stays with his Enock.

Samuel had stopped to study since his grandmother could not afford the school fees and we are happy that next week, Samuel will be doing a school interview and he will start school in a month. Currently he is living under Mercy Alive shelter.

His favorite subject is social studies and he wants to become a mechanic. Samuel believes that fixing is a good way to bring things back to life. He loves playing football.

Samuel needs a sponsor to help him become the responsible citizen he aspires to be... With your support, he will be able to continue attending school, and generally improve his life and that of his family in future.