A street child carries food during the Red Cross-street children New Year lunch on Monday. [Photo/Maxwell].
The Kenya Red Cross Mombasa branch on Monday treated street children in Mombasa with a New Year lunch.
Kenya Red Cross Mombasa branch Welfare Officer Rafik Rauf said that the oldest program has received support from well-wishers who donated food, sweets for the children and clothes.
Mr. Rauf said that over 100 children were treated to the food and drinks and received clothes from well-wishers among them Mrs. Batul Chakera who has been supporting the program for the longest period.
Rauf said that street children did not have anyone to turn to and it was the best thing to remember them throughout the festive season.
“Some of the street children are young mothers who do not have shelter or medication for their babies and visiting them and giving them some few basic needs make them happy,” said Mr Rauf.
He added that some of the street children have volunteered at the Red Cross society, Mombasa branch who later got uplifted and they are now married with families.
Rafik said that putting a smile on a street child was the best way for the humanitarian organization to begin the year and appealed for more support from well-wishers.
Speaking at the Arab grounds in Mombasa on Monday where Mr. Rauf and Mrs. Chakera prepared, served and shared a meal with the homeless children Mrs. Chakera said that the young angels need help from any blessed hand since they had no one to call a parent or anywhere to call home.
“They sleep on cartons, outside in the cold that is why we are here to support them with the little we have,” said Mrs. Chakera.
On his part Samson Mkono, a former street child who later got uplifted and is now a family man thanked the Red Cross society Mombasa branch for always thinking about the plight of street children and other less fortunate families in Mombasa.
He also appealed for more donations from well-wishers appealing for relevant programs to shelter the children and ensure they are enrolled in school.
The street children also benefited from sanitary pads, sweets, clothes, and pullovers donated by Mohanlal and Brothers.