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Johnny was already a teen, with vitually no schooling, when, in 2016, he joined our family at the Happy House along with his younger siblings, Diana, and Daudi.
They were in a rescue centre in Mombasa, which was meant for short stay, but had been there for many months. Life was so tough, but they knew no different.
When they came to Happy House we gave them a better life, filed with love, laughter and kindness, and did what we always aim to do by putting hope into the hearts of children.
Mama Sue was still alive then and while she knew John was going to have a tough road ahead, she homed in on his talents for music and dance, to help him settle in.
At school, he went into the primary section despite being in class with children way his junior and learnt to read and basic maths. He was never going to be an academic high flier or excel at exams but he was interested in practical things.
When he reached 18, he could no longer remain in our children’s home and became one of the first kids to live in Hatch House, the first bungalow on the site we are developing as a halfway house for kids who must leave our care but cannot yet support themselves or who are still in school.
A generous supporter funded a college course in plumblng for him and we gave him a part time job at Happy House on our maintenance team, not out of kindness but because he could do the job.
He’s gone on to learn other skills and is earning enough to support himself. He has now moved out of Hatch House into a studio apartment he pays for himself. He can cook, clean and do his own laundry. We taught him how.
John is a young man who is proud of himself and we, too, are proud of him.
Wherever she is, our inspirational Mama Sue will be looking down on John and what we know just what she would say:
“Well done, Johnny. That’s my boy!”
