Name: Benson
Age: 14

I am Benson, I was born in 1996 and I joined primary school in the year 2000 at Kitui. I studied there up to class 4, then my parents got divorced.

I was taken to live with my step mother where I found life very hard there because they used to make me work a lot. They even sometimes stop me from going to school in order to do the house work or go to farm while their children were going to school. After school they did their homework instead of joining me. If I tried to ask why this is happening to me, she would shout at me.

I was told that they can’t provide me with free accommodation, food and to buy me some basic needs without working for them. If I didn’t finish their work, I was not allowed food and they could even tell me not to sleep at their house for two days.

So I was going to stay with a friend who lived far from my home. I felt that this was too hard or me, so I decided to run away to the streets.

I came to Mombasa by travelling over night under a bus. I stayed on the street for about four and a half years. One day while I was parking cars on the street, a Sister came and took me to a restaurant and persuaded me to go to “Grandsons”. She gave me the fare to come. I said this was my lucky day without knowing anything about Grandsons.

I like playing football, volleyball and running long races. My favourite subjects are maths, social studies and English.

If I find somewhere to study, I would like to be a successful lawyer.

To sponsor Benson contact us at sponsorship@africawatoto.org.uk