Update
Habari!
Over the past months things have been very busy at the Sunrise of Life Centres. The Outreach Centre program is now well underway, with many activities taking place there on a weekly basis. Street outreach is completed in the day and nighttime about 2-3 times per week as funding allows. Over the past month there has been some interesting developments with the street-outreach team. The team ran into some challenges when the older street boys started demanding funds from Sunrise of Life for each child taken off the streets into the centre. This came as a surprise to all the Sunrise of Life team, as typically a very positive rapport has been kept with the older street boys. The main assumption for this apparent threat is that formerly Sunrise of Life was doing street-outreach, but was not taking children off the streets- as the Outreach Centre Program was not fully implemented. Now that Sunrise of Life is re-uniting children with their home communities, providing them a place to stay at the Outreach centre, and expanding resources tensions appear to be building. The theory from the older street boys was that the children help them make money on the streets- and that when Sunrise of Life helps these children it takes help away from the street boys. This appears to be a gang-like mentality within the groups- which is causing some concern for the Outreach Team. Sunrise of Life will not pay the older boys for each child that is taken off the streets, but will continue to move forward and always maintain a positive rapport with these boys- while continuing to pass the message to the Street Children that Sunrise of Life is there to help them.
So far the Outreach Centre has helped 11 Street Children. Of these 11, two were reunited with their communities, and 3 joined the Residential Centre Program where if they maintain a positive outlook on life they will join school in the coming year. 6 children are living at the Outreach Centre at this time. The Outreach Centre has an live-in Social Worker and a full time Childcare worker who provide the much needed support to the children living there. Sunrise of Life is very happy about the way this program is progressing in Arusha.
At the Residential Centre there have also been some exciting developments. Throughout the past year the number of girls at the Residential Centre has increased to 6. Until very recently the Girls lived in the staff house, but as their numbers increase it became very apparent that they have their own dormitory. A room attached to the classroom has been fully renovated and painted to create a cozy girls dormitory. There is now room for 12 girls at the residential centre. The dormitory has a separate room within it where the childcare worker sleeps. This way the girls always have the support they need.
Finally the Sol Team is very excited for the impending trip that is coming up this October 2014. During this trip board members and key members from North America will assess the projects, and implement any changes that are necessary. We are very excited to see all the reported success of the past year in person!
Sunrise of Life also has a new website. Visit www.sunriseoflife.org to view. The website outlines the new Sunrise of Life sponsorship program, and gives you a story on every child. If you are interested in sponsoring a child please do not hesitate to contact us!
Thank-you to all our very dedicated donors and supporters for your ongoing support. Without your continued support Sunrise of Life will not be able to carry on these amazing initiatives. Because of you children's lives are turned around, and opportunities are given where formerly there were none.
Regards
The Sol Team
Over the past months things have been very busy at the Sunrise of Life Centres. The Outreach Centre program is now well underway, with many activities taking place there on a weekly basis. Street outreach is completed in the day and nighttime about 2-3 times per week as funding allows. Over the past month there has been some interesting developments with the street-outreach team. The team ran into some challenges when the older street boys started demanding funds from Sunrise of Life for each child taken off the streets into the centre. This came as a surprise to all the Sunrise of Life team, as typically a very positive rapport has been kept with the older street boys. The main assumption for this apparent threat is that formerly Sunrise of Life was doing street-outreach, but was not taking children off the streets- as the Outreach Centre Program was not fully implemented. Now that Sunrise of Life is re-uniting children with their home communities, providing them a place to stay at the Outreach centre, and expanding resources tensions appear to be building. The theory from the older street boys was that the children help them make money on the streets- and that when Sunrise of Life helps these children it takes help away from the street boys. This appears to be a gang-like mentality within the groups- which is causing some concern for the Outreach Team. Sunrise of Life will not pay the older boys for each child that is taken off the streets, but will continue to move forward and always maintain a positive rapport with these boys- while continuing to pass the message to the Street Children that Sunrise of Life is there to help them.
So far the Outreach Centre has helped 11 Street Children. Of these 11, two were reunited with their communities, and 3 joined the Residential Centre Program where if they maintain a positive outlook on life they will join school in the coming year. 6 children are living at the Outreach Centre at this time. The Outreach Centre has an live-in Social Worker and a full time Childcare worker who provide the much needed support to the children living there. Sunrise of Life is very happy about the way this program is progressing in Arusha.
At the Residential Centre there have also been some exciting developments. Throughout the past year the number of girls at the Residential Centre has increased to 6. Until very recently the Girls lived in the staff house, but as their numbers increase it became very apparent that they have their own dormitory. A room attached to the classroom has been fully renovated and painted to create a cozy girls dormitory. There is now room for 12 girls at the residential centre. The dormitory has a separate room within it where the childcare worker sleeps. This way the girls always have the support they need.
Finally the Sol Team is very excited for the impending trip that is coming up this October 2014. During this trip board members and key members from North America will assess the projects, and implement any changes that are necessary. We are very excited to see all the reported success of the past year in person!
Sunrise of Life also has a new website. Visit www.sunriseoflife.org to view. The website outlines the new Sunrise of Life sponsorship program, and gives you a story on every child. If you are interested in sponsoring a child please do not hesitate to contact us!
Thank-you to all our very dedicated donors and supporters for your ongoing support. Without your continued support Sunrise of Life will not be able to carry on these amazing initiatives. Because of you children's lives are turned around, and opportunities are given where formerly there were none.
Regards
The Sol Team
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