Julia Smith, a former BCICS researcher, went to Nairobi, Kenya, more than a year ago to work with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) developing education programs concerning gender issues.

Upon finishing her stint with the CCA, she found herself drawn to another NGO in Nairobi, the Emmanuel Boyz Rescue Center. Julia is currently a program director at the center. The center is a resource for Nairobi's street kids which number as many as 60,000. Many of them are orphans or come from poor abusive families that cannot or do not want to support them. To survive, many of these youth turn to begging and crime. Many sniff glue or use other drugs to escape their reality and feelings of hopelessness. The Emmanuel Boyz Rescue Centre gives these children hope and a future by helping them kick their drug habits while providing them with a caring place to live, an education and trade skills.

Julia and Dan, the Emmanuel Boyz Rescue Center founder, visited the BCICS last December. It was good to see her again and to hear about her experiences in Africa. Last month we got word that Julia was hired as Program Director for the Centre. Keep up the good work Julia!

Adam Harrison