ONE INF... FIVE PROGRAMS

 

FIVE programs to make sure that we touch as many Children as we can afford. We are doing our best but not alone...We have good friends who are very dear....and... very near.....WE need more and more friends...coz that is our name "I NEED A FRIEND"  Children 4 Children Mission......

MY NAME IS NEWTON and I AM INF

 Hellow!!!
My name is Newton Kariuki, am class five at Don Bosco Primary School ( Bosco Boys). I belong to INF (I Need a Friend)
I like singing and drumming. When i grow up i want to have a happy family. 
thanks!! 

 

I AM DOING THIS HAPPILY...

 Stephen Kagoio INF Co - Founder

A past pupil of Don Bosco Primary School /Bosco Boys (1999-2008), Don Bosco Boys Town- Technical  (2009-2010)
I was born and raised up in one of the slums of Nairobi; therefore i know what it means to live in the "Ghettos".
One year ago i started working at Bosco Boys (Langata)  helping my young brothers in a bording section.
On the same year i composed a song "I Need a Friend". When i staged the song in one of the occasions  it touched the hearts of so many people. One of them was Br. Jay who suggested to use the song for a project and that is how we came up with the INF Project.
The project is a sign of Gratitude for what I received from the Salesians of Don Bosco.
They have taught me alot; thus; i am the way i am today because of what i received from them. It is also a gratitude to my sponsors of which  only few of them i know.
Thanks alot and God bless you all. 
I firmly believe that  INF is going to help our children to be optimistic about their lives. Its going to build unto them a sense of responsibility right from this age. Its going to free their minds and so be able to have a wide world view.
INF is a responce to a particular need of our children, a simple  need of someone to care and love them. I know their situation, and i know how love can transform the individual.
It transformed me and certainly it will transform them and many other children who are struggling to find their ways to a promising future.
I am Happy doing this coz i know for so doing I help the future generation.
thanks!
 



WE ARE YOUNG KENYANS

 INF

Coming here today,
We have no hidden agenda.
We are fighting for our future.
Losing our future is not like losing an election or a few points on the stock market.
We are here to speak for all generations to come.
We are here to speak on... behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard.
We are here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go.
We cannot afford to be not heard.
We are young Kenyans
we are "I Need a Friend"(INF)
______Adopted from Serven Suzuki's Speech

John Ndung'u INF Child

 Jonh Ndung'u INF

 

Dear Friends
My name is John Ndung'u. I would like to talk about children rights. I speak on behalf especialy of those who are not treated well by their parents. For them we have sung the song "I Need a Friend" because as any child they need one.
My dream is tobecome a Catholic Priest. Because as a Priest i will be able to help many children who are in need. I believe a friend in need is a friend indeed.
May the almight God make my dream come true.
Thanks.

WE ARE...

 INF

WE ARE…
We are children of the Land
We are coming from different parts of Nairobi
We are I NF; hence I Need a Friend
We are living in the slums some people call them Ghetto
We are fifteen in number
We are John, Isack, Gorgio, Aron, Richard, Owen, Hussein, Deric, Victor, Ian, Ikala, Tonny, Voustin, Newton, Wokabi
We are grate full to God for the Gift of life
We are the pupils of Don Bosco Primary... School (Bosco Boys)
We are grateful to our parents and guardians, poor though they are, they won’t stop loving us
We are grateful to the Salesians of Don Bosco for giving us shelter and Education; this is indeed love in action
We are grateful to our brothers and friends for seeing something special in us
For nurturing our talents and helping us to stand out and use our talents for well being of all the children in Kenya and the world at large
We are grateful to all of you because since you have heard of INF Project you never turn your back on us. God bless you for that
We need your support, your support and your support
We want to be the children who are
Proud of their childhood
Who are Proud of their country
Who are Respectful and Respected
Who are Given their Rights
Moreover we are Young Musicians;
With our voices we want to tell the world that “We are here!!!!!!!!!”
And that we want to turn our living conditions in the Ghettos into a dignified place worthy for human beings
To speak on the behalf of millions of children who are suffering in silence – we are their mouthpiece
To get more friends who will understand us and come out of themselves, raise their hands and touch our lives
We Need You Friends, We Love You Friends

RESCUE MY CHILD

Elis left and his father and John at Elis' Home Korogocho
 

RESCUE MY CHILD"
It is a familiar cry of some parents living in the slums of Nairobi.
A cry which is a concern for the future of ones child.
A cry which is a feedback after the evaluation of the socio-political and economic situation in the area.
It is a cry which communicates the fear and uncertainity about the future of one child.
... It is a cry which shows not only sorrow but also HOPE that some one, somewhere will come for the rescue.
It is the alarm which needs a quick responce. when life is at stake we are not suppose to give a second thought, there are only two options either to save it or to let it go.
Letting it go is however an evil option which is against the morality of all the sound humanbeings who put life as the noblest of all the gifts given to them by God. Saving life is actually the first vocation given to us by the author of life; GOD.
This is the cry directed to all of us, hence each one of us in our own ways and capacity must respond.
We "the I Need a Afriend" have responded firstly by being the mouthpiece of these parents, to let known their story and her quest. We have also started the journey of rescuing the child of these parents, this we do in our own fashion as we try to examine the potential that is in this child, let him/her know about it and help him/her to use it for ones own good and forthe good of others especially fellow children who are in need.
This is our way to respond to the Cry of these poor Mothers/Fathers. It is long process anyway which needs more other friends to JOIN US. For if we put together our energy and minds we will be able to touch the life of these children and help them to become responsible members of the society..... (to be cont.)

ITS NOT OKEY!

Friends in Rural Africa

..Its Not Okey something is wrong somewhere, INF cant be Quite, We are aware of the situation of the children in Africa. In the rural areas our children are deprived of basic needs, this is not "rural life style" as some people may term it. We urgue the International Community to come up with reliable measures wich will help to cub this problem. Dont Give food which will be over after a short while; instead build a foundation, on it the children will be able to chanel their own future with hope of becoming the agents of change in their own communities. INF in our capacity we involve the children to create this awareness through their talents such as Music, Drama and Poetry. We will not be silent and pretend that everything is Okey. No! its not okey something must be done.

INF Kids was declared the Best Performance during the PEACE AND TALENT FEST

 INF on the Stage during the Peace and Talent Fest

Need A Friend, I need a true friend,
Every Step of my life, I need you.
Just a request, let us make 2013 the year of making many more friends, the year of observing the greatest commandment; love one another. Thanks to the I Need A Friend who were declared the top best performers of Peace and Talent Festival.
Our slogan for 2013 will be, I Need A Friend! More from the song; please share with your friends, thank you!
http://youtu.be/8vtBdDAqrKM



TALENTED KIDS OFTEN NEED TO BE PROMTED ( By Michael Grose)

 A little girl playing piano during a classical musical concert organised by Fr. Vittorio at Don Bosco Utume Karen Nairobi

Talented kids often need prompting to ensure they become well-rounded individuals.

One of the challenges for parents with a talented or bright child is to encourage them to develop a range of interests outside the academic sphere, to not only round them out but to prevent them from being isolated from their peers. Kids with exceptional talent or ability, often referred to as gifted children, are often talented in specific areas such as mathematics, language, sport or music. Some gifted kids are multi-talented and excel in a variety of areas.

Gifted children tend to be passionate and single-minded about their interests, focusing their energy on the topics that absorb them, often to the exclusion of other activities. Just as children need a balanced diet for good health, they need a balance between work and play to make sure they develop good social networks and maintain emotional health. Parents need to guide these children towards leisure options they may not normally consider.

Make time for play

One way to encourage a talented child to be more well-rounded is to get them to lead with their strengths. In other words, it may be that a computer whiz meets up with other like-minded souls, but extend the meetings to activities away from the computer.

Balance for gifted children means that they don't become isolated as a result of their talent. Parents may need to be part social director, gently insisting that children set aside time for play and other social activities.

Encourage risks

Gifted or talented children are often low risk-takers in areas or endeavours that are not their passion or strengths. Used to automatically excelling, many of them fear doing things poorly, so talented children are often reluctant to attempt unknown or different tasks.

It can be quite a shock for these kids to find that something doesn't come easily to them. Often, exceptional kids give up when they are not automatically good at something. Help them understand that some things take time to master and they may need to persist to excel.

Don't push it

Some gifted children slow down their learning when they start school as they focus their time and energy on making friends. This is important if kids are to fit in, however, parents who are proud of their child's achievements can become quite anxious at this apparent shift in interest away from learning.

It's times like this that parents need to step back and follow their child's lead and recognise that different stages of development require children quite naturally to focus on different interests and events.

Making friends

Some gifted kids can have difficulty making friends among their own age group as their language levels or interests don't match. They can have little in common with their peers. Parents can take an active role in encouraging peer group interactions by organising joint play sessions with young children and providing extracurricular activities for school-aged children.

Often children become less involved in solitary activities when they begin to interact with their peers, who exert a strong influence on activity preferences.

Part of the family

Family life can be a great leveller for gifted children. A sibling can bring a talented child back to earth, letting them know that they may be a star at school or in sport but their talent pulls no rank at home. Jobs need to be done, games should be played and big heads can be easily deflated.

Help talented kids stay grounded. Don't give them special privileges or excuse them from chores. Expect them to join in with regular family life.

Balancing act

Talented kids can become self-absorbed in their interests and pursuits to the detriment of developing broader interests and friendships. With a little coaching and prompting, parents can help children achieve balance in their lives so they don't become isolated and rely on a narrow set of interests for their identity and self-esteem.

 

ISACK WAITHAKA

 Isaack Waithaka, a young man with vision and tireless zeal for humanity; he is a founder of Masterpeace Kenya and  a close collaborator of INF.  We appreciate his concern, advice and his friendly manner of being in the Project. We believe that the world needs active young people, those who can make a world a better place for everyone; Animal and Plants, Rich and Poor, Men and Women. The future of humanity is in the hand of young people, the danger is to see a big percentage of them being addicted by substance abuse and alike, while more others are behind the bars, while the rest of them been the victims of a consumerism and the culture of death. We need young men such as Isack to redeem the future of the Humanity. 

DEVELOPING TALENT IN YOUNG PEOPLE by Dr. Michele Borba Ed. D

 Kelvin Wakoli in Action, he was not born playing this, He is a pupil at  Don Bosco Primary School; he has been enabled. INF appreciates all the individuals who are passionate in building the bright future of our childern especially through their talents. 

 Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Natural Gifts

Here are the steps to apply Bloom’s research to nurture your child’s unique gifts. Remember, the goal is NOT to produce a next Olympian, Nobel Prize or Oscar winner, but to help your child be the best he or she can be. Keep the perspective, right?

Identify “the gift.” Bloom found that the parents’ first step was to recognize their child’s unique talent. (By the way, even gifted children typically show exceptional talent in one or two areas only—not in everything). So watch for areas your child shows intense interest or passion (such as piano, computer, geology, violin, English history, mythology, math).

Make it be your child’s passion. Be sure it’s your child’s interest—not yours. Then choose one –and certainly no more than two-talents or strengths at one time so your child can really explore that interest more in depth and you can discover just how strong the interest is.

Emphasize encouragement. The parents made sure their children’s early talent development was positive, fun and not pushed.

Make practices enjoyable. The parents made their practices enjoyable and usually sat with their kids as they practiced.

Provide resources to cultivate the talent. The children’s talents improved because parents constantly provided the necessary resources to nurture their skills.

Show interest. Parents attended every major activity to show support, and often learned the skill themselves just so they could spend more time with their child. They encouraged – not pushed. They usually followed their child’s lead.

Stand by your child–win or lose. Each superstar had an encouraging parent standing by his side, celebrating his wins and cushioning his loses.

Focus on the talent. All parents placed great emphasis on their children’s evident talents and spent tremendous time cultivating it for years.

There ya go! We can use those strategies for all our kids. Go find your child’s natural gifts. Encourage them! Provide opportunities for your child to stretch that talent. Then follow your child’s lead.

Dr. Michele Borba, Parenting Expert

Bloom’s research found that these world-class talents weren’t simply born talented—they were brought up to become talented. Although each child’s road to achievement differed slightly, their parents all used remarkably similar practices to nurture those gifts.

 

CONTACT US

I NEED A FRIEND PROJEC (INF)
DON BOSCO UTUME
P O BOX 2370-00502 KAREN
NAIROBI- KENYA
+254700350678, +254718246466
Email: ineedafriendafrica@gmail.com

ABOUT I NEED A FRIEND (INF) PROJECT ( Children 4 Children Mission)

 

I NEED A FRIEND is a project of Missionary Children founded by Stephen Kagoio and Br. Jay with the aim of empowering children to discover their potentials and to use these potentials to improve their Lives. MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to search for talents, to empower and use the same talents to give hope to poor and abandon children and to those in confounded situations And so we are animating the groups of talented children in our neighbourhoods. With them we are Singing, Dancing, Acrobats and Playing Soccer. We are reaching out to the society giving a message about the well being of all children with a predilection to those who are living in the slums and streets. With the help from our friends we started the RESCUE MY CHILD CAMPAIGN which ams at improving the living condition of our children. This Campaign  is planning conducts Holiday's Camps in the slums. The camps aim at helping the children not to engage into risk behaviours which could undo whatever they acquire in school. OUR VISION We see genuine smiles in the faces of children in the slums......we see them living in simple but dignified shelters We see Children's ability to stand up tall and speak about their experiances and demanding their rights....through the use of Art  OUR MOTIVATION ü  We have been motivated by the Gospel; especially on the account of the multiplication of bread (John 6:9), "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish”. ü  St. Don Bosco who dedicated his entire life to the poor and abandoned Children/Youth and who through his own boys his mission spread all over the world.  CHILDREN IN THE PROJECT ü  Bosco Boys Lang’ata - Music/Reachout ü  Kuwinda Slum - Acrobats ü  Utume Oratory - Savio Kids FC. ü  Mutuini - Music and Elocution     Korogocho - RESCUE MY CHILD...           .

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES *Discovering talents (searching) *Empowering children’s talents( self realization and appropriation) * Using talents (e.g. Sketch & Music) to reach to many ‘friends’ ( giving hope and inspiration) *To enhance children to attain their desired adulthood * Giving hope to the hopeless Children *Improving the Living Condition of our children ACTIVITIES *Stage Performance *Charitable visits (imparting hope): Hospitals esp. children wards, Juvenile Prisons and Rehabilitation Centers. *Motivation talks, Debates etc. *Training life skills (music, singing & dancing  ANIMATION ü  Stephen Kagoio ( founder, and Music Trainer) ü  Br.Jay (  founder Program Co coordinator) ü  Charles Makale - RESCUE MY CHILD.      Phillip Maina - Acrobats.. ü  The I.N.F Councilors ; Brs. Leo Nathan, Nicodemus Omboro and Severien Ufitamaholo (Utume I.N.F Facebook Group and page likers are our friends and well wishers THE PROGRESS We have managed to record five songs; two are complete; three are still processed in studio ( we are planning to record 5 more) We have started a reach out programs We have received several invitations for stage performance for various occasions We have started the RESCUE MY CHILD CAMPAIGN We have started an ACROBAT group and Savio Kids FC.       Motto: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

 

MEET MASTER STEPHEN KAGOIO; THE FOUNDER

 Master Stephen Kagoio ( The Project Founder)



 Stephen Kagoi with Derick( Left)  and Antony ( right)  of Bosco Boys Lang'ata ( INF Lang'ata).
Steev is the Founder of the Project. A talented yong man with vision. His vision is to see the talented children are reaching their full potentials through Music and Art. He is happy to dedicate his life to serve the young generation, he teaches them songs and inspire them to be courages to perfom on the stage.

I NEED A FRIEND kuwinda Unit

i need a friend children- kuwinda unit: From right; Felix Mberia, Edwin Olal, Antony Sesi, Elvis Mungai, Victor Peter (yellow). Hinde; Solomon Mberia, Abel Kinuthia and Fredrick Ooko ( Patron).
These are Talented Chidren from Kuwinda who are ready to use their talents to give the message of hope especially to their fellow chidren who have lost hope due to one reason or another. Their smiles are too wide such that they can share it to thousands  whose reasons to smile was shattered by some circumstances. They are the chidren missionaries of hope, joy and optimism; children for children missionaries.

PEACE AND TALENT FESTIVAL 15th DECEMBER 2012

I Need a Friend children will have another opportunity to share their talents  during the peace and talent festival. The event organised by Kencare and Masterpeace Kenya will give room to many oather upcoming young artists.
During the the festival  I Need a Friend are going to perform their newly recorded songs. We are very grateful for all those who support us to make sure that the dreams of these children are becoming a living reality.

IN THE NAME OF HOPE

 

 Richard in Action at Vuvuzela Studio

Recording Music
From the month of August 2012; we have been recording some songs. Our aim is to make a song album. We have planned to finish recording activities by the end of February 2013. Thanks to Vuvuzela Production Ngong for their effort to make sure that we achieve this goal. We are grateful for our children " i need a friend kids" from Bosco Boys Lang'ata Unit for their efforts and dedication to make sure that they give their best so as to reach to many children in Kenya and Africa  with their masage of hope

Stage Performances
 we have participated in several stage performances. In all of them our kids proved that they are able and still they can do even more to make sure they impart hope to their fellow children who have lost hope due to one reason or another. 
Charity Visitation
we have visited several orphanages and hospitals. The experiance has been very positive both to our children and for those we visited. during the visits our children play, pray, dance, sing etc with their friendswho are  in the orphanages and in the hospitals.
Remand's Visit 18th Nov. 2012
Our girls from Don Bosco Utume Unit paid a visit to Nairobi Chilren's home former known as Kabete remand home. Accompanied by Br. Nico and Njeri Monic their guardians they had good time together: sharing, playing netball and all sorts of fun. We are grateful to  Utume community for providing us with transport and other facilities which helped us to make the event fruitful. We extend our gratitude to the Administration of the Children's Home for giving us chance to spend a quality time with friends. God bless you all.


21st Sept.2012 I Need a Friend Kids after a Show.

 

 Friends from St. Elizabeth Academy @ Kotolengo Orphanage 

 Rev. Fr. Ambroce Anene SDB among the Friends

 

I NEED A FRIEND PROJECT

I NEED A FRIEND PROJECT – “Children for Children Mission” 

We Search, Empower & Impart

 

              WHO WE ARE
 

I NEED A FRIEND is an Autonomous Charitable Project under the Umbrella of Kencare Initiative.

                          

                   OUR MOTTO

 

“A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed”        

 

        MISSION STATEMENT
 

Our mission is to search talents, to empower and give hope to poor and abandoned children. Through Music and other arts.

  

            VISION STATEMENT 

Our vision is to come up with the best group of talented children with multiple talents. This will facilitate the reach out program to reach to more ‘friends’ and giving them hope. This will advance to networking- going out of Nairobi and even beyond Kenya’s borders

           OUR MOTIVATION 

• We have been motivated by the Gospel; especially on the account of the multiplication of bread (John 6:9), "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. 

• St. Don Bosco who dedicated his entire life to the poor and abandoned Children/Youth. He says “there is nothing like a bad boy/ girl just touch the right key and you will see the beauty within each one of them”.

 

WHO WE SERVE 

Poor and abandoned Children/Adolescents especially those living in the slums.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 

• Discovering talents (searching)
• Empowering children’s talents( self realization and appropriation)
• Using talents (e.g. Sketch & Music) to reach to many ‘friends’ ( giving hope and inspiration)
• To enhance children to attain their desired .adulthood

ACTIVITIES

• Entertainment ( stage performance)
• Charitable visits (giving hope): Hospitals esp. children wards, Juvenile Prisons and Rehabilitation Centers.
• Motivation talks, Debates etc.
• Training in deferent life skills (music, singing & dancing etc).

SUSTAINABILITY

Ours is a charitable Project. We depend on donors and some generous friends
Selling our music products will be another source of income and stage performance to sustain the Project

ANIMATION
 

Stephen Kagoio ( Founder, Manager and a Trainer)

Sivali Joachim (programs)

I Need a Friend Machinery Group ( All our friends)