The story of Crossroads begins with a friendship - the friendship between Vic Paul and Friedel Pfeiffer, the founder of Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg.
The story of Crossroads begins with a friendship - the friendship between Vic Paul and Friedel Pfeiffer, the founder of Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg to start work here in Kenya similar to that of Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg in Germany.
Two cultures, one mission
In 2005 the work began by sending the Gröninger family from Germany to Kenya. Together with the Kenyan Gitau family they lived in containers and shared everything. Together they cleared the land, reclaimed it, and built the house and hall that we still use today. They also built a dam, provided water for the farm, and started prison work in western Kenya.
They took in boys from the prison and had them live with them in the family. For two years, the two families lived together and, despite the cultural differences, did the pioneering work without which Crossroads would not be what it is today.
When the German family left Kenya in 2007, there was already good contact with "Shikusa Borstal Institution", the juvenile prison in Kakamega, from which the young people still come to us today.
Independence
For seven years, Crossroads wrote a somewhat checkered history with various ups and downs until „Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg“ finally handed over to Crossroads local board in 2012. Subsequently, an independent Kenyan organization emerged under the leadership of Paul Lilan and John Mutali.
That same year, Peter Togom and his family were installed as leaders. Today, he continues to run Crossroads, visiting prisons and giving young people a second chance.
Self-sufficience
Since it was planned from the beginning that Crossroads should be as self-sufficient as possible and become more financially independent, both the first coffee plantation and the first banana plantation were planted in 2014. Jörn Pfeiffer, Friedel Pfeiffer's son, was a great help with the coffee plantation. Through him and others close to Crossroads, the friendship between Crossroads and Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg has remained and will continue.
At any point in its development, of course, it has always welcomed young people who were allowed to participate in the rehabilitation program.
New partners and projects
In 2019, Coworkers became a partner of Crossroads and sent the Schließer family to Kenya. Since then, many projects could be realized. For example, in 2020, a multipurpose hall with a kitchen, and a wet mill for coffee processing were built.
Shortly after, Benard Rotich was hired as farm manager. Under his responsibility, production has increased by about 200% since then. Coffee cultivation also increased by 30% in the following year, 2021.
The Boys' Hostel was completed in 2022. It serves as accommodation for a maximum of 10 boys and 10 volunteers.
The family house was built in the same year. It is designed to provide space for two families to volunteer here on a full-time basis.
In addition, a modern free-stall barn with cubicles for the cows was built, making milk production the second mainstay of the farm after coffee cultivation.
Future prospects
From the beginning of the work 18 years ago until today, about 30 young people have been welcomed at Crossroads. At the moment, 5 boys live on the farm and go through the holistic rehabilitation program, in which they are prepared mentally, spiritually, and practically for their new life of freedom.
There is still a deep bond between Crossroads and Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg.
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