Hans is a man of many responsibilities back home. He has a school teacher, in charge of numerous projects at his church, raises money continually for Bosco Boys, and (with Trea) watch over their grandchildren a few times a week. We spent sometime with both Hans and Trea, they ended up telling us how they first became apart of the "Bosco Boys" family.
The story first begins with Hans going on a trip to Guatemala, I believe, in the early 1990's. To make the story short; Hans became good friends with a young street boy there but when he went home the boy was beaten and murdered by four police officers from Guatemala. Hearing this news made Hans want to dedicate much of his life/effort/time to helping street boys.
Back in 1992, Hans went on a trip to Rwanda and Tanzania with Fr. Harry (Fr. Harry is the man who came here last week and we went to the twinga "giraffe" park with). After this trip Hans was motivated even more to help in Africa with the street children.
Then in 1994 Hans decided to go to Rwanda during the Civil War. When he arrived there, he was not allowed in because it was too dangerous. Then Hans went to Tanzania to eventually meet some Belgium priests, whom are apart of a group called "Missionary of Africa". The Belgians were not on good terms with Tanzania, so the priests suggested he leaves there. He had raised money to help the street kids there, alloted around two months to help serve, and now wasn't safe being there. The Belgium priests then suggested going to Nairobi.
Hans then came to Nairobi and went to a slum where there was a school for children. The school is called "Kariua" (the slum Katie and I went to almost 2 weeks ago). He enjoyed himself there being with the children and helping anyway he could. Later that week, there was a celebration at "Upper Hill" (another Salesian mission in Nairobi). Hans decided to attend with some of the children from Kariua. They had a wonderful time and afterwards was dinner. Since Hans didn't know any of the priests well, he decided to eat with the children and spends the night at Upper Hill.
The next morning Hans awakens to find out all the grownups ate bad fish from the night before. He was ok though because he ate with the children. One of the priests asked him to take 12 of the children on an outing. Hans agreed, loaded them in the car, and began driving down Langata Road to an area called Karen.
Driving along Hans saw a home for sale on the side of the road. He looked at the children in the back of the car, pulled over, then bought the home for them. This home later became Langata Primary School (the school that had the celebration for the new construction, that Katie and I attended our first week here). Hans then worked the remaining time getting this home ready for the children to live, learn, and grow in.
Ever since that trip to Nairobi which he founded Langata School, Hans and his wife Trea have been a big part of the development of Salesian education/mission in Nairobi. They are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful people.
Just a note, Hans in english means John. His last name means Forest. Forest in Italian means Bosco. Han's name is John Bosco. He truly feels helping with street kids is his calling.
Hans & Trea Bosch
This is a picture of Hans dancing with the boys doing a traditional African dance. It was for a celebration of Hans and Trea. The boys put on performances, gave their thanks, and had many laughs.
The boys love dancing.
There is a karate club. The boys love watching kung-fu movies during movie time. The leader is
Peter (class 8), he is a blue belt.
This boy Jackson and his friends are rapping. Jackson is actually pretty good (the raps were about Jesus).
Hans giving a word of advice at the end of the celebration.
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