Many street children work on the Dandora dumpsite in Nairobi. While other children are at school, they scavenge for food to eat, and scrap metal and plastic to sell.
It's hostile and threatening place. Young children search the jagged terrain. Abuse and violence is commonplace.
But there is an alternative.
A place where vulnerable street children can find purpose growing healthy and nutritious fruit and vegetables, protected from the dangers of life on the streets or the dumpsite.
To survive, many street children scavenge for scraps at the dumpsite.
At the urban farm, they grow fresh produce to take home, improving their health and reducing the need to scavenge.
At the urban farm, street children learn to sell surplus food to local community.
By learning these business skills children are able to earn an income - reducing the time they need to spend at the Dandora dumpsite.
The urban farm offers street children a safe haven to relax and have fun, free from the dangers of the streets and dumpsite.
For the most vulnerable, it provides protection from abuse and exploitation.
Surviving on a dumpsite can be soul destroying for young people.
Learning to grow and care for plants and healthy food gives street children renewed purpose and improves their mental well-being.
Children are helped by adults they can trust and supported to access essential outreach work, like birth registration and school enrolment.
“I feel responsible when I take care of the plants. And I feel at peace at the farm because there's no fighting or insults. I also feel happy because I'm doing something productive - every time we harvest, I take kale, spinach and managu back to my mother.”John, 12
