bungoma, Kenya

Bungoma Rescue Center

History

The Vision for the Rescue Center was birthed out of the community (Bungoma District) in 2002.  After seeing God move incredibly through the children and the transformation of many of the street kids, the community decided to become proactive in protecting children from living on the streets.  The vision for having a Rescue Center came out of collaboration with several different arenas of the community. Research was conducted to discover the best way to reach this community and in 2005 land was purchased to begin building.

What We Are Doing

We currently have two of our homes finished and the foundation for two others laid. One home is operating as a guesthouse for staff and visitors while the other home is bustling with our first group of children from the community. Each home will be run by a Kenyan family and will take in 8 orphans to become “part of the family.” While “home” these children will receive education, health care, learn life skills and a trade as well as inner healing, counseling and spiritual education. The focus is on loving these orphaned children back into wholeness and an identity that is full of hope and power through Christ. We will develop a plan for each child based on their personal needs and will help them to either 1. Be reunited with their family in a healthy and safe manner. 2. Find them permanent housing (like a foster-adopt situation) from families in the community we are working with. 3. And if neither of these situations is an option, we will prepare a permanent living situation for the child (either at our site or in one of our partner organizations who have orphanages in the community).

Future

We hope to open many more homes, as there is room for 10-12 homes on the land. The community would eventually like us to be a “drop off center” for any abandoned or unwanted child.  Our goal is to empower the community to view each child with dignity and value and to make a way for them to become empowered leaders in their community.

How Can You Help

1. You could build a house from the ground up with a one-time large donation

• Cost is Aprox. $40,000 for a building of excellent quality (Labor and Materials)

2. You can sponsor our current home that is already built, and currently has 8 amazing children, with monthly support and love! If you can't provide the entire month's operational expenses, we can find a co-sponsor to partner with you for the home.

• $900/month pays for 8 orphans and the house parents and their family including education, food, transportation, medical care etc…

3. You can give a general donation to any of the other project expenses you feel led to

• Furnishing a new home, farming, sewing machines, counseling etc…

mombasa, Kenya

Commercial Sex Workers (CSW), Mombasa

History

This is a new endeavor for GCM as we have recently been researching the coastal cities in Kenya that have become growing hubs for prostitution and sex trafficking. Sadly, many women that are working within the bars and brothels in the community’s thriving sex industry are there because it is the only source of income available to them. It is our desire to have presence amidst the darkness and hopelessness.

What We Are Doing

GCM is currently working with a few women in the area of micro-enterprises and discipleship. The idea is to teach CSWs a skill that can become profitable and through loving and working together as a family, begin a new life away from sex work.

Along with supporting the girls, we have recently started working with a new Excellence Rising School in the heart of a high- risk neighborhood. Educating children as well as offering development classes for parents, we hope to address the cycle of prostitution by investing in the lives of the upcoming generation.

Real Life Story

The following story is one of many that happen on a daily basis and is taken from the blog of Cassandra Basnett who has helped to start this new project. www.pursuingnormal.com

“…Working in the commercial sex industry in Mombasa, Maggie’s life took a twist when she learned she was pregnant, normally a huge hit to the career of CSW. She tried to have an abortion but it didn’t work. Covering it up as best as she could, Maggie kept trying to terminate the little life several times but somehow (who knows how) nothing seemed to work, so she ran away. Coming to the city I was in, she’s been working here a month. Living in a club’s supply closet and selling her body to eat, she was depressed and wanted to take her life. She was so precious though. When we met over some Cokes in a crowed nightclub she made the decision quickly, she wanted God no matter what.
While talking in a restaurant the morning after, tears streaming down her face I had no answer but Jesus. I was out of money, I couldn’t offer her a job, and I was leaving that night so I couldn’t even offer her solid friendship. All I had was knowledge of a perfect Father. Thank goodness that’s enough! After she finished sharing her story I sat and inwardly started praying: “God… what do I do??” just then I heard the other girls pipe up. The ones that have only just come out of the industry themselves and are still babies in the faith, “You can stay with us! We’ll help you find a job!” Then the pastor with a large smile on his face: “And what a joy! A baby! We’ll help you get settled in a house for when the child arrives!” AW!! YAY!!! God’s so faithful!!”

How Can You Help

• Pray: Prayer is powerful and we need lots of it! Please pray for the girls and the sometimes difficult journey of leaving prostitution
• Give: We need to raise funds to create the micro-financing projects to get these girls out of the bars and brothels as well as for the Excellence Rising School that empowers children to positively influence their society.
• Come: Come serve these girls in a hands-on-practical way.

If you are interested in more information please contact: admin@gcmovement.org