Fred
Kenya
At the age of four, Fred’s parents died and he was left with an aunt who was an alcoholic. He was desperately unhappy, so when some local boys suggested he go to the city of Kisumu, he decided to try it. Fred was only five years old but he made the 50km journey on foot and on the back of cars – it took three days. But when he finally arrived, he realised it was not what he’d been told.
Fred tried to earn enough to eat by sweeping, clearing dustbins and mopping floors, but sometimes other street children would take his food. Even as he slept, the police harassed him and moved him on.
After five years of living like this, Fred went to the Comic Relief funded HOVIC centre to see a famous Kenyan musician. After the concert, a project worker approached Fred and explained that they could help. Fred started coming to the centre where he was given medical health checks, meals, counselling and the chance to go to school.
On the streets, he’d seen other children going to school and had desperately wanted to learn too. Fred had informal training at the centre and is now sponsored to go to boarding school. He wants to be a footballer, but he says whatever happens, one thing’s for sure – “I’ll never go back to life on the streets.”
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£5 could pay for a school uniform for a child living in extreme poverty in Kenya in one of Africa's largest urban slums.
© Comic Relief 2008. Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland)
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