All over the world, street kids are often looked down on and ignored by society owing to their living conditions and the challenges they face.
However, some of the street kids have risen against all odds to shine a light while pursuing various careers all over the world. The script is the same for Victor Hamisi, a former street boy in Nairobi who has won accolades for his matatu counselling sessions.
The father of two revealed that he lost his parents at the age of 12 and was later taken in by his relative.
However, things did not go his way after he was sexually molested and opted to move to the streets because of the childhood trauma. While in the streets, he rejoined school by doing odd jobs.
“I run away and became a street boy for five years I battled depression. I schooled myself with odd jobs like washing clothes, and being a houseboy and often got help from well-wishers.
“Right now I do counselling and help street families each Saturday outside the Nation Centre and I have schooled some of them,” he stated.
Hamisi – who lost his wife to Leukaemia – added that he occasionally got help from other well-wishers who partnered with him in helping the street kids.
After completing his schooling, he indicated that he started working with corporate companies dealing in telecommunication and motor vehicles.
Hamisi resigned from a motor vehicle company in the city to focus on his career as a counsellor before opening his office in Kitusuru.
Regarding his matatu counselling sessions, the trained counsellor from the Nairobi Women’s Hospital, divulged that he was motivated to impact the society and create a culture of caring among commuters.
He noted that Kenyans occasionally concentrated on their phones when travelling rather than engaging with the other commuters seated next to them.
“It is a daily thing that I do from 5 to 7 pm. I choose the routes I want and I do it for three minutes. For example, if I choose CBD – the Kikuyu route, I will alight at Westlands get off and take another matatu heading to the same place,” he asserted.
He explained that the timing allows him to reach several people in a single day.
When queried about the reception of his initiative by Kenyans, he noted that many were receptive including matatu operators who occasionally engaged him in various programmes.
During his counselling, he also focuses on men who he stated rarely talked about their challenges owing to how many have been socialised.
by: Olmoran.news.com