Seventeen-year-old Marley (pictured above) lives in Korogocho, one of Nairobi’s informal settlements. Although he now stays with a friend, his mother and stepfather live just a few metres away in a one-roomed house. Reflecting on his early childhood he shares;

“We used to live in Nyeri County with my father and my family. I loved my father so much. He was hardworking. He used to work at the construction sites. It was hard work. He provided everything we needed. My father was my best friend.”

Everything changed when Marley’s father passed away while he was still young. Left without support, Marley’s mother struggled to provide for the family.

“We started going without food and other basic needs, my mother was unable to provide for us. She decided to move to Nairobi to look for better opportunities. Since we did not have much money, we came to Korogocho because the houses were cheaper.”

Pictured below: Marley with his mother and sister.

Challenges in the city

Life remained difficult in Nairobi. Marley’s mother could not find steady work, and the family continued to face hunger and financial hardship.

“When we came here, life was still hard, my mother could not get a job easily. We did not have food, rent and other things. My mother married another man, it was hard to adjust. But I had no choice. We sometimes had conflicts; he did not support the family. My mother also started drinking. I was always sad and wished my father were alive.”

The tensions at home and the daily struggle for basic needs affected Marley deeply. He shares;

“I became stressed and couldn’t concentrate in class. I used to go to school hungry and sometimes there was no food in the evening. In 2021 I gave up and dropped out of school. Leaving school made me feel hopeless. I loved school and felt I have no future without education.”

Life on the streets

With home life difficult and nowhere else to turn, Marley spent more time away from home and joined friends on the streets.

“Since I couldn’t stay at home, I joined some of my friends on the streets. My friends showed me how they collect plastics and metals and sell to get money for food, and I started working with them. Most of the base members used to use msii-jet fuel. Since I was always with them, I started also using it. Some of the money we got, we used to purchase drugs. I knew drugs were bad, but...”

Finding support through PKL

In June 2024, Marley was invited to a session run by PKL, Toybox’s local partner, where he first met Jeremiah, one of the project officers. He recalls;

"When I joined the project I was coming just to pass time. But when I started talking with you, (Jeremiah) I started taking things seriously. I realised my life can change.”

Project worker Jeremiah also remembers that time;

"I first met Marley while we were in the child rights, life skills and advocacy skills session in Korogocho at the Urban Farm. He had been invited by one of our area’s community liaison engaged by PKL. Marley had a tired look. He looked skinny and dirty. Having worked with street-connected children for many years I could immediately tell he had used drugs for a long time. I encouraged him to continue attending the sessions as I tried to build rapport with him.

Being an extrovert, combined with the effects of drugs, he was initially always in conflict with other children due to constant fights and use of derogative language. He was always unkempt and restless. He became easily angered. I started having one-on-one sessions with him to understand his circumstances. He started slowly opening to me about his life and family, his childhood, the pains, and losses he has gone through.

After gradually addressing these challenges for some time, Marley began to come along. He started being consistent in the project activities and at the Urban Farm. He tried looking a bit cleaned up and tried to control his anger. Marley reduced his drug intake. He became calmer and more focused.”

Pictured below: Marley at the urban farm.

Returning to school

Through counselling and participating in activities at the Urban Farm, Marley began to rebuild his confidence. As he felt more stable, he started thinking about his future again.

“I like the project because we are all the same, you understand each other and can share your problems without feeling embarrassed. I love especially life skills sessions; they help you know how to live with people and avoid peer pressure. I also love the sports and storytelling sessions.”

Marley particularly enjoys learning practical skills at the Urban Farm.

“I am happy about the farm project. When you are there, it’s fun. I have learnt how to plant and tend vegetables, how to control pests and other plant diseases and to make organic manure. During the sessions, one has no time to think about using drugs or other bad behaviour, it helps us reduce stress. I started having less time to use drugs and that is how I eventually stopped.”

Through support from PKL and connections with partner organisations, Marley was able to re-enrol in secondary school in January 2025, after being out of school for four years. He is now back at school and is doing his best to catch up on his studies.

“Attending the project changed how I was looking at life. Through the sessions I realised people who had the same difficulties as mine can overcome them, if they are committed. Life skills sessions were very helpful. I realised my behaviour and anger can cause many problems and can put me in danger. It also helps me forget about my father. When you plant something and see it grow and you harvest, it encourages you and you somehow think…. if I can also work on something in my life patiently, it can bear fruits.”

Pictured below: (L) Marley during a session at the urban farm space. (R) Marley with his friends.

A new sense of hope

“Being in the project helped me go back to school. Now I feel hopeful. I have made new friends in school. I have also been encouraging my siblings not to give up. I attend sessions during the holiday and share my story with others on good things I learn in school.

I love Social Studies, you learn so many things about people, life and the world. I want to be a good example to other children. Our school provides break tea and lunch. At least one does not go hungry. Since we were taught to respect our parents, I also now have a better relationship with my mother. We talk a lot now.”

Marley dreams of building a stable life and hopes to support his family, inspired by memories of his father.

“I want to be a doctor and take care of people’s health. When I complete my studies, I will work hard and save enough. I want to get out of Korogocho and move to a better place. I want to work hard in school so that I can support my mother and my siblings. I want to be like my father. If my father were alive, our lives could have been different. I could have gone to a very good school.”

Marley’s journey continues and with support from the project and his own determination, he is building hope for the future, one step at a time.

Pictured below: Marley with his mother and sister.