When I look back at how these three boys have progressed, I cannot help but become emotional. They have worked so hard to get to this place in their lives, when I first met the oldest boy he came one night in the dark, knocking at the door of our home on the Kili mountain, begging for food. His father had beaten him and thrown him and his mother and younger siblings out of the house, the mother had then returned but his father would not have him in the house, all this at 8 years of age, he came to see if I would give him a chance.......... I did, and now his life is on track. His family is still very disfunctional, and only three months ago, his crazed grandfather, cut the head open of one of his younger brothers which meant Light in Africa picking - up the hospital bill for the child's recovery, but where believing in this young man who aspires to be either a doctor or a lawyer..
The Second boy to go to Dar, is a very quiet, unassuming young man, I found him and 4 other family members starving. They had not eaten for three days, a grave had already been dug for the youngest child who was very sick and malnourished. They had really bad infestation of the parasite known as 'chiggers' and medical assistance was required. Theirs is a long story to tell, - perhaps another time - but needless to say, after being repeatedly beaten at the local school, (he had very little education and did not understand what was written on the blackboard) he became the very first Tanzanian child to start the ACE program that Laura my daughter was tutoring my grand-children with. Three years ago, he attained at our School Celebration, 94% overall student, and his younger brother - who the grave was meant to hold - attained 98% overall. He walked out so proudly to receive his certificate, that tears just streamed down my face... as you can imagine, the staff are always well prepared for my emotions and kindly place a box of tissues for me on my seat as I blubber through the ceremony.
Our third boy to go to Dar, is the youngest at only 14 years. He is very bright and a confident young man. After his parents died, his relatives took over all the property and ousted out him and his sister. A kind aunt, brought them to LIA, and then set about regaining their property through the courts for them. She has been successful. One of the new idea's LIA is looking at is an Advocacy service for child rights, as many of our orphans are denied their rights when their family die.
So as you can see, an exciting week for the boys who we gave a chance to...........Praise God, Hallelujah
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In June 2006, a baby girl -- Tumaini -- was adopted from Light in Africa.
Her mother has asked me to reach out to past volunteers to see if they have any pictures of Tumaini from October 2004 - October 2005. If you were a volunteer during this time and have any pictures from the nursery, it would be a great blessing to Tumaini and her family in filling in the blanks that first year.
The best gift would be any pictures from the day she was brought into the center (October 31, 2004).
You can reach out to Mama Tumaini by contacting her at
walton_sl <at> yahoo.com
(more info on Tumaini at our Celebrations page
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Every visitor and volunteer to our boys home, could never miss Julius.
Firstly, because on your first appearance, one was shocked that he looked like a walking skeleton, with his rib cage always exposed.
And secondly, for his ravishing smile that would sometimes be so spontaneous - it would disarm you, and you would feel all warm inside and you would conclude his smile was just so angelic.
That this young man, with a severe learning disability could exist and walk around was always an amazement to the caring staff who looked after Juli.
In the seven years that Juli lived with us, he only grew taller but never put on any weight, that was because we only 'just' saved his life, but the damage that was done to him was just so severe for him to make a complete recovery.
Whilst living on the mountain and opening our first children's home, I was asked by the local village chairman to assist an orphan to remove some 'chiggers' from his feet. (A chigger is a parasite that burrows into the skin and eats the flesh, it is very painful, and most active at night).
I walked to the village accompanied by a porter, and was directed to a locked hut. A young women, appeared with a key and unlocked the padlock. The door swung open and a boy came out crawling on hands and feet, and then tried to stand. I assisted him up, but his legs could not hold his torso, so the porter carried him to an outside table. I started to remove the chiggers and the child started to cry.
Next I was aware of the young women who had opened the door appear with a branch in her hand and started to strip the outer layers of the branch off, she then came to the table to beat the child, for crying in front of a 'wazungu', (a european).
That was enough for me, I asked the porter to pick the child up and he carried him all the way to the center.
For the next 4 months I did not have a full nights sleep.
I would go to bed and be woken by the watchmen knocking on my window with "Mama, Juli's out". I would put on my dressing gown and go outside to see Juli on all fours trying to pick tiny pieces of food from off the ground, I would take him into the kitchen and give him a drink of milk and a slice of bread and put him back to bed. Two to three hours later, the same procedure would be repeated, until his brain told him that he was going to receive three full square meals per day, and he did not need to scavenge anymore.
Throughout the years, Juli had many admissions into the hospital for treatment.
At the buriel, to our shock, his mother appeared, social welfare investigation and local neighbours assumed he was an orphan, as the only relative he saw was a grandmother who appeared over the last year.
We held our own service at the home, where all the boys were able to write their feelings and thoughts and goodbyes to Juli,and tie them on to the wreath. His blue trunk where he "squirreled' all sorts of things, (even my grandaughter's new pair of trousers) is to be dug into the garden and filled with plants, so we can always remember him.
It was our blessed priveldge to care for Juli, as he showed by example true humility and forgiveness, which was a lesson to all who knew him.
Mama Lynn (2nd April,'07)
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Hello!
Here we have space on the weblog for all stories about events you may be organising to the benefit of the children and all the good work of Light in Africa.
We welcome your stories (and pictures) to be posted on this weblog so please send them to webmaster <at> lightinafrica <dot> org
Asante Sana
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The following article is taken from the allafrica.com website. As you may have read in our Maasai Story FGM is unfortunately still being practised.
Fortunately, there are also positive developments as demonstrated by this news article:
FGM Practitioners Down Their Tools
Arusha Times (Arusha)
NEWS
March 24, 2007
Posted to the web March 26, 2007
By Edward Selasini
Arusha
In Tanzania Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also known as female circumcision is among health problems affecting women and girl-children. Adverse effects of FGM can lead to death, pain shock, hemorrhage and damage to the organs in addition to HIV/AIDS infection and other communicable diseases.
Last week on 14 March an FGM activist from Canada Muhoza Hakizimana, was handed over some circumcision apparatus by a group of women known as Enashiva Child Relief from the Ilkirevi village in Arumeru District. A gesture indicating that they have abandoned the practice.
The group had been earning a living by practicing FGM to the Waarusha Community girls in the village. The group comprises nine elderly women who promised not to engage again in the said practice.
Maria Thomas Kivuyo (65) who has meted out FGM for more than 30 years told the Arusha Times that she had no idea that the FGM had adverse effects on women. "I never knew there were such horrible things caused by FGM. All I knew was that this is one of the rites of passage for girls into womanhood".
Mama Kivuyo said that it is true that many people were contaminated with HIV/AIDS infection and other communicable diseases mainly because of lack awareness. The instruments used are shared by the victims of mutilation without any sterilization causing a myriad of infections.
She said that they became aware of the hazard after an activist on FGM Mama Margreth Mjema, a nurse by profession, started visiting them and training them on the effects of FGM.
Hakizimana, Executive Director of International African Child Relief and Peace Foundation of Canada handed over 9 dairy cattle to Enashiva Child Relief Group as a way of generating income after shunning the FGM routine.
" The dairy cattle project, I believe, will work out better and that will help the former FGM practitioners improve their lifestyles , " said Hakizimana.
The Tanzania Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, a 1998 amendment to the Penal code, specifically prohibits FGM. Section 169(1) of the Act provides that anyone having custody, charge or care of a girl under 18 years of age who causes her to undergo FGM commits the offence of cruelty to children.
The penalty for this offences is imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine up Tsh. 300,000/= or both imprisonment and fine. The law also provides for the payment of compensation by the perpetrator to the victim of the offence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2007 Arusha Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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The best experience anyone can have is to volunteer. To give of yourself completely without wanting anything in return.
We encourage L.I.A. volunteers to share their stories for posting on this weblog. So please send them to the webmaster <at> lightinafrice <dot> org. Asanta Sana
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In December last year, LIA opened it’s fourth children’s home in a most desperate area of Tanzania. The situation is very bad with so many orphans on the street, whose parents have already died of the HIV/AIDS virus. Whilst working in this area, we have had the utmost support from the local government who have been most appreciative of the services that we give to the community. We shall shortly begin a ‘daily food kitchen’ for these hungry children with a donation of food provided for us from an American organization. In January ’07 a cholera outbreak began. Our staff and children where literally sealed inside the center with no-one being allowed to enter the facility, until the outbreak subsided, but today, I have heard this very dangerous disease has reared its ugly head again.. All the patients who have contracted this disease, are being admitted to one dispensary, operated by a wonderful Christian doctor. Today he telephoned me to ask for immediate assistance. He has 8 cholera patients and no drugs to save their lives. He is in desperate need of I V fluids and drugs. Each patient requires at least 10 bottles of fluids to flush the cholera through the system as they are loosing their body fluids.
I left my office in search of our resident midwife, Sister Grace. On my way I met Anton from Germany waiting to see me. I explained that I was in urgent need of assistance to get these drugs to the dispensary, and Praise God, he agreed to fund the drugs and take them to the area in our vehicle. Let’s pray that this epidemic is eliminated as quickly as possible.
mama Lynn
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Here is today's story:
In December last year, LIA opened it’s fourth children’s home in a most desperate area of Tanzania. The situation is very bad with so many orphans on the street, whose parents have already died of the HIV/AIDS virus. Whilst working in this area, we have had the utmost support from the local government who have been most appreciative of the services that we give to the community. We shall shortly begin a ‘daily food kitchen’ for these hungry children with a donation of food provided for us from an American organization. In January ’07 a cholera outbreak began. Our staff and children where literally sealed inside the center with no-one being allowed to enter the facility, until the outbreak subsided, but today, I have heard this very dangerous disease has reared its ugly head again.. All the patients who have contracted this disease, are being admitted to one dispensary, operated by a wonderful Christian doctor. Today he telephoned me to ask for immediate assistance. He has 8 cholera patients and no drugs to save their lives. He is in desperate need of I V fluids and drugs. Each patient requires at least 10 bottles of fluids to flush the cholera through the system as they are loosing their body fluids.
I left my office in search of our resident midwife, Sister Grace. On my way I met Anton from Germany waiting to see me. I explained that I was in urgent need of assistance to get these drugs to the dispensary, and Praise God, he agreed to fund the drugs and take them to the area in our vehicle. Let’s pray that this epidemic is eliminated as quickly as possible.
(mama lynn) . (15/03/07)
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Today Mama Lynn sent following message to the webmaster:
First I give you the update Paul on what is happening in LIA.
Yesterday, we opened our 4th children's home in Mirerani, the mining area, where all the dastardly bad things are happening to the orphans there.
We have been warmly welcomed by the village leaders, and have already documented 511 orphans, without mother - without father - and without food!!!!!!
So we really have a massive commitment in this area.
All my family will be in the UK this christmas time, so that will be a little strange, it will be just like 'old times' with just me........
We now have 152 children who are coming in to our care, so the job just gets bigger every day.......
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Yesterday, we opened our 4th children's home in Mererani, the mining area, where all the dastardly bad things are happening to the orphans there.
We have been warmly welcomed by the village leaders, and have already documented 511 orphans, without mother - without father - and without food!!!!!!
So we really have a massive commitment in this area.
All my family will be in the UK this christmas time, so that will be a little strange, it will be just like 'old times' with just me........
We now have 152 children who are coming in to our care, so the job just gets bigger every day.......
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