AFFLICTED OR AFFECTED ….?

Who will CARE for these orphans?

 

“I have a dream that one day my grandchildren will grow up to be happy, successful adults,” Thomas’ grandma, Ann said..

Ann Nyambura is an ailing 60 year old grandmother, who is the sole provider for 14 old Thomas and his two cousins, 7 and 2 year old girls. Together we can make sure that Thomas and his family live healthy lives and fulfill Ann’s dream to ‘grow up to be happy, successful adults’. With the high rate of HIV and AIDS, many people are either afflicted or affected by the tragedy surrounding the disease. That’s where we pick up Thomas’ story. 

Thomas and his cousins are orphans. Their grandma has experienced pain after her two daughters succumbed to AIDS a while ago leaving their children as toddlers under her care. Ann also developed a chest problem and has been admitted to hospital several times making it difficult for her to care for her grandchildren.  They live in Nakuru region, Molo-Tayari village. 

 

‘I often struggle to walk, to work and cook especially due to the smoke which makes my chest worse. It’s a real problem providing food for my grandchildren and cloth them,” Ann says, explaining that her health, together with the lack of rain, makes growingcrops difficult in her small piece of land and has to rely on good neighbors. “Sometimes ago we used to receive food rations from the county government but that stopped. With no food in the house, Thomas started going out to look for food and sleeping out in Molo open air market. He would come home for few days and just disappear without any notice. The last time he disappeared he left me in hospital.” Ann said with a sigh.

Thomas Chiribwa is a passionate 14 year old who is looking for a way to earn a living and support his ailing grandma.  He told us that on the streets of Nairobi, he would wake up from the rubbish heap, carry his sack and walk round the city looking for plastic bottles to sell later for a plate of food. ”Please take me home today, I have had enough” Thomas said this to the team every day they met him. 

The presence of abject poverty that this family lives with hit hard as TKW team arrived with Thomas.  His grandmother couldn’t believe her eyes that her grandson is back.  She struggled to stand as she embraced Thomas with tears in her eyes.  ”You left me sick and you did not tell me you were going…I brought you up and carried you on my back, what happened to you my child?” Ann asked.

“What you see in this container is the only remaining flour and I don’t know where food will come from but in one way or another God continues to provide.” Ann added showing the team an almost empty flour container. She explained how her effort to put Thomas in school has not borne any fruit but She was very optimistic that this time Thomas will settle at home.

 

“I have a dream that one day my grandchildren will grow up to be happy, successful adults,” Ann said.