Frederick's Story

When Frederick was 12 he left home, thinking that he could earn money and look after himself. But it didn't turn out well and he spent three years barely surviving on the streets of Kinshasa.

Frederick is now 15 and living back at home with his mum and dad. He reflects:
"I'd never have gone to the streets if I had known what it was going to be like. The worst thing was trying to sleep - it was impossible. The police would beat us with their batons whilst we lay there. We had to keep moving on. I was too afraid to come back home, because I thought my parents would be angry and refuse to have me back. So I stuck it out for three years, until one day EPED found me."

His mum remembers clearly the day someone from EPED arrived at her home:
"When EPED came to say that they had found my son, I couldn't believe it. For three years I had no idea where he was or what had happened to him. I was so happy the day I saw him coming through the front door with the EPED volunteer. My husband and I have peace again now"

Frederick's mum has been given a small loan and some training from EPED, to help her set up a small business selling dried fish in the market. The money earned will help her support her four children.

Frederick says he's relieved to be back with his family. He loves football and wants to work hard at school.
"I'm never going back to the streets again. I want to become an electrical engineer. That's my goal now."