FANAKA means a link to success and FANAKA street children sports program is an intervention by CHRISC Kenya since 2006, aimed at using the medium of sports as a contact to the wellbeing of the street families and the program advocates for childrens rights.

Way back in 2006 CHRISC in Nairobi was involved in organizing sports programs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for the Street Children under CHRISC Nairobi Sports program. HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and life skills education were part of the important activity plans that we made towards educating the street children. Matthew Njuguna is one of the key leaders in Fanaka project, a coach and a Peer Leader, reaching out to his fellow former street friends, imparting the HIV/AIDS and life skills education to them. Recently he qualified for the LL 1 Course organized by CHRISC East Africa, in Nairobi, as from 14th to 19th April 2009.

It is estimated that Nairobi has over 20,000 street children. This has resulted into rise in crime rate in the urban centres, early initiation of sex and the selling of sex by young girls, sometimes encouraged by families due to financial constrains and lack of education and advocacy for the rights of children, while the young boys go on begging or on scavenging missions and at times hardly get something to eat. Substance Abuse has become the order of the day for the youth both boys and girls, while others are used to peddle drugs.

Majority of these Street Children practice un-protected sex, and has increased their vulnerability to STI’s and HIV/AIDS. The Street Children though, are reluctant to seek treatment because of the judgmental attitude of the hospital staff or the costs are prohibitive beyond their means. 

Matthew has been tasked by developing an Action Plan for the HIV/AIDS and Life Skills program for the Fanaka project and also works towards developing new Leaders from the program. Matthew has seen real positive change and is seen as a rolemodel by the entire street family.

Matthews contribution is also seen within CHRISC Nairobi structure of development programs, where he is active as a Coach. Matthew Njuguna remains our person of focus at this moment, especially, after his amazing contributions in HIV/AIDS and Life Skills program, which amongst others positively influenced him. In the Capital of Kenya you’ll find Matthew, a devoted Leader in Fanaka, a Kicking AIDS Out LL 1 developing his peers into Peer Leadership, going on with any development work assigned him under CHRISC. He is back to school also this year, and CHRISC in Kenya has helped him enroll for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Exam.

HIV/AIDS and Life Skills program, is a key program in CHRISC East Africa; it reaches out to many a youth, from schools to communities, churches and the streets, and trying to educate the most vulnerable ones, such as the Street Children.