When Patrick first arrived at Hall Mead Academy, a Kids Alive school in Kenya, he was a quiet and withdrawn boy. He often avoided eye contact, had difficulty trusting adults, and kept to himself.
Before coming to Kids Alive, Patrick had been living with his father, where he experienced physical abuse and neglect. His grandmother, wanting him safe, brought him to Kids Alive so he could receive care and stability. Once he joined Hall Mead, his teachers began noticing signs of deep emotional pain. His attendance was irregular at first, and he often appeared tired and distracted, carrying invisible weight from home. Over time, Joseph, the school therapist, learned more about what Patrick had endured and began helping him rebuild trust and confidence.
In those early days, even gentle interactions seemed to make Patrick withdraw further. He sat quietly at his desk, rarely smiling, and often seemed lost in thought. But Joseph and the staff at Hall Mead refused to give up on him.
“We started with small steps,” Joseph recalls. “Calling him by name each morning, celebrating every small effort he made, letting him know that we were here for him no matter what. Slowly, he began to respond — and one day, he smiled back.”
That simple smile was the beginning of something new. Through trauma-informed care and the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) model, Joseph and the staff built a foundation of safety, trust, and encouragement. They wanted Patrick to believe that his past did not define him — that he was valuable, important, and created with purpose.
As the months went on, the changes in Patrick’s life became clear. With safety and stability at home, he began attending school regularly, staying focused in class, and even volunteering to help his teachers. His confidence grew alongside his grades — rising from twentieth to fourteenth in his class. At the end of the term, he was honored as one of the school’s most improved students and awarded a small prize to celebrate his progress.
“The day he raised his hand to answer a question in class for the first time, we all felt it,” Joseph remembers. “It was like watching a door open — like he finally believed he belonged here.”
Patrick’s transformation continued beyond the classroom. He began playing soccer with friends, laughing more freely, and joining group activities he once avoided. The boy who had once hidden in silence was now finding his voice — not just in words, but in joy.
When asked what he believes about himself today, Patrick doesn’t hesitate:
“I am loved. I am chosen. I am important.”
Those words reflect the truth that has taken root in his heart. Patrick now believes he is loved by God, chosen, and capable of achieving his dreams. He no longer sees himself as abandoned or forgotten but as a child of God with hope and a future.
He dreams of becoming a teacher — to inspire others the way his teachers have inspired him.
Patrick’s journey reminds us that healing often begins in small, faithful steps — a name spoken kindly, a hand raised in courage, a heart learning to believe it belongs.
Because of the support of partners like you, Patrick believes he belongs — and his life is now filled with confidence, joy, and hope.
Learn more by clicking here.
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