When Patrick Nyongolo arrived in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya, he expected hardship. What he didn’t expect was to find children sleeping outside, alone, hungry, and without anyone to care for them.
Some had fled violence. Some had lost their families. Some had never been to school. Many slept wherever they could find safety, with no food, no clothing, and no one to turn to.
Patrick couldn’t walk past them.
“What can I do to help these children?”
That question changed everything.
Patrick began by helping five children — giving them food, clothes, and a place to rest.
Word spread. The need grew. And before long, he realized support was coming from everywhere except the systems meant to protect them.
That’s when he founded Restore Hope for Street Children, a small, grassroots effort to give children in Kakuma what every child deserves:
- Food
- Clothing
- Safety
- School enrollment
- Life skills
- A sense of belonging
Today, Patrick supports 27 children, all as a refugee himself.
Life on the Streets Is Dangerous
Many children in Kakuma go days without eating. Some use drugs to sleep through hunger. Most live with trauma and fear. Without school, access to care, or even shoes, their lives are defined by survival.
Patrick sees what others overlook. He steps in where no one else does.
A Future Begins With the Smallest Things
Because of Patrick’s work:
- Children who never attended school are now in classrooms
- They receive food, clothing, and shoes
- They learn digital skills when equipment is available
- They play, laugh, and start to dream again
One girl, Nibol, entered school at 12 for the first time. Now she dreams of becoming a teacher.
This is what hope looks like.
Restore Hope for Street Children has no major donors and no institutional support. They need:
- Food
- Clothing and school materials
- Tablets and laptops
- Solar power for electricity
- Internet access
- Support for registration as an official nonprofit
Patrick doesn’t ask for much. He simply asks for anything that helps him reach more children.
Why This Story Matters
Visibility creates opportunity — especially in places where opportunity is rare.
When leaders like Patrick share their story, it invites others to care. It helps people understand what children in Kakuma face, and how even small support can make a real difference.
That’s why Visibility Brief created Stories That Matter: to highlight the people doing quiet, courageous work in communities the world often overlooks.
Be Part of the Story
If Patrick’s mission inspires you, you can support in three simple ways:
- Support Restore Hope for Street Children - Every contribution helps feed, clothe, and educate a child.
- Subscribe to Visibility Brief Free - Get weekly prompts that help you share your own story with clarity and confidence.
- Nominate a Nonprofit to be Featured - Know a grassroots leader making a difference? We’d love to share their work.