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Mwema Street Children CentreThe Mwema (Swahili for "Second Chance") Street Children Centre is a community-based organization founded by Pastor Elisante Mwenegoha and Kalist Masika. The organization was established in 2006 with the sole mission to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable of children and their families. Intervention began in March of that year through the contact and identification of children living on the streets. Soon, more than 20 children began meeting in the center. Later, the centre was made available to these children at night to protect them from the dangers of the street. They were provided shelter, food, and clothing, as well as individual and collective psychological support. In June 2006, 15 children were moved to a larger center where they would receive additional resources, including education. The organization has since contracted a coordinator, teachers, cooks, and guards. The center was again relocated in June 2007 to provide for additional growth.Today, Mwema currently houses 22 former street children (21 boys and 1 girl) in three dormitories. In order to educate the children, Mwema operates a small informal school which has three classes that not only serve the 22 children living at the home, but also supports 26 other kids from the neighborhood. The goal of this education program is to help the kids pass the state examination to enter into the public school system for secondary school. The Centre also encourages good physical health for the children by organizing the boys into a soccer team that is eligible to play in the regional school league. Furthermore, once a week there is a “Mwema Day” in the centre of Karatu. This activities of the day include education, entertainment and counseling for children who still live on the streets. Mwema Centre also has a website.
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