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Struggling to survive

When Denis* was 11, his parents separated and his mother left to remarry in a different village. Denis continued to live with his father, who later remarried. Denis was severely punished and bullied by his stepmother, to the point he no longer felt safe at home.

Denis thought he would be better off on his own and eventually ran away to try and survive on the streets of Mwanza, in Tanzania.

Finding food and earning money was a struggle and Denis spent his days collecting and selling scrap plastic and metal or just begging from passers-by. He would often go to bed hungry and slept on benches or pavements wherever he could. One morning, he was found by another organisation who sent him back home to his father.

Within a week, Denis had run away again, having received the same abusive treatment from his stepmother. As the weeks went by, this young boy was drawn into a gang lifestyle on the streets – taking drugs and regularly getting in to trouble with the police who would beat him badly.

Denis lived this desperate lifestyle for two years before he was spotted by one of our outreach workers.

Earning trust

Gradually, we got to know Denis and earnt his trust.

Through one-to-one sessions, he was able to express his emotions and improve his self-esteem and eventually stopped using drugs and started having professional counselling.

Our family workers talked to Denis about his future and he told them that he wanted to go and live with his mother. We were able to trace her relatives and eventually track her down. She had no idea Denis had been on the streets or that his father was no longer caring for him, and welcomed him to come home to her.

However, Denis’s mum was struggling financially and could not afford to send Denis to school – so, thanks to your support, we provided the uniform and books he needed and helped him get back into education.

A few months later, we provided Denis’s mum with a grant so she could set up her own small business. Business is now booming and Denis is working hard at school.

Together, they are building a brighter, happier future.

Donate today

*Name has been changed to protect identity.

Your money will be used wherever the need is greatest to support children across India, Tanzania and the UK.

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