From the Streets to Stability – A Journey of Redemption through Global Youth Emerge
My name is Peter Karanja, I grew up in Kayole, Junja, and for a long time, I lived in the streets, battling addiction and asking strangers for money just to survive. One ordinary day, while I was in the street, a team from Global Youth Emerge stopped and invited me to join them for lunch at a nearby restaurant. With nothing to lose, I agreed, my only thought at the time was that I might get some money to buy drugs.
I had left home due to drug addiction, and my relationship with my parents had completely broken down. They had disowned me. But that day marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. During that lunch, Global Youth Emerge team listened to me without judgment. They mentored me and, for the first time in a long while, I felt seen, heard, and truly cared for.
That evening, they booked me into a hotel so I could have a safe place to sleep. The next morning, they returned with clean clothes, and I began to feel a sense of dignity I hadn’t experienced in years. Shortly afterward, they arranged counselling sessions for me through their organization, and the counselor met with me three times a week.
Within 3 months, I was already seeing transformation. I had overcome addiction, started doing small jobs, and most importantly, began to believe in myself again. I later returned to my village to ask for forgiveness from my parents, and we fully reconciled.
Today, I am healthy, responsible, and thriving, a complete turnaround thanks to the support and care of Global Youth Emerge. What this organization is doing for the youth is nothing short of remarkable. Their ability to connect, uplift, and give second chances is truly commendable.
