Wednesday 14 October 2009

OCTOBER VISIT

In October 2008 Trevor, a trustee, and Keith who sponsors 2 children, travelled to Lira with me for 3 weeks.

I was able to stay in our office accompanied by some our lovely children. It was an emotional experience to see the developments since I worked in a field giving the children just a bowl of porridge each day and had to send them back to sleep on the street.

In just 6 months the office and routine was established, the team were working well together, our 4 goats were growing under the care of our ‘trainee goatherds’, the new motor bike was being used to such good effect, beans were growing on my land and 20+ children were attending school/training daily. The sight of these ‘previous street children’ standing proud in school uniform, with some flesh on their bones telling stories of their family and learning, was rewarding and I knew that we were heading in the right direction.

We visited all the schools attended by our children and the reports were good, some exceptional. Kenneth who lost both parents and lived on the street for several years, had always seemed worried.

He told me it was because he felt he would never have the opportunity to return to school. After just 6 weeks in boarding school, thanks to his sponsor, he took exams and came 7th in a class of 200+.

On the other end of the scale, Winnie, 8, who lived a very dysfunctional life with old grandparents, struggled to settle in a structured school environment and was asked to leave because of her behaviour. She was upset but with counselling she has realised that school is so important. She is now coming to the office, staying with the housekeeper during the day, getting love and being valued. Staff are working to rebuild her relationship with her mother and to get her back to live there and to attend the local school in the Summer term.

Trevor and Keith were welcomed and loved by the children. Their DIY skills were soon in demand as they built a huge storage unit and Keith balanced on the roof to set up a pulley washing line.

Trevor soon became the doctor of the house and took children to the clinics for malaria tests and treatment. They visited the homes of children and witnessed the way they lived. Trevor and I visited one of our boys in prison because he had been part of the gang when a lady was robbed and stabbed in the street. The conditions were upsetting and I was also upset as I had to leave him there. He was only 16 and should not have been in an adult prison, his papers had been changed by the authorities. Don’t ask...... this is Africa!! With the support of his sponsor and hard work of the staff he has now been released and is showing us his gratitude by living with us and working to support the other children and the organisation.



Saturday 9 May 2009

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE STEP AT A TIME MOMENT

When I first met Solomon he was the head boy of one of the local schools and was being sponsored through another organisation. He was achieving academically even though he had very little as the son of an old mother who was unable to support him. He came to help us when we first started working on the field with the street children as he was so grateful that but for the support of his sponsor he too could have been like them.

Sadly the sponsor pulled out and the shock to Solomon put him into a very bad place. He became ill and last time I was there we had to take him to the clinic for treatment. He moved in with his brother who is a poor bicycle taxi rider (boda boda). Solomon sold rubbish to try to get some money to pay his own school fees but his brother stole the little he had. It was heartbreaking to see his pain and One Step at a Time had to do something for him.

Thankfully, someone was touched by his condition and agreed to sponsor him. Last week my staff found him looking very vulnerable and gave him the good news. I was told that his whole body changed as he jumped in the air shouting how much he loves everybody and One Step at a Time. He then started singing ''I'm going to school tomorrow'' as he ran off to prepare himself.
True to his word he was there bright and early to start his new life with hope. Moses called me to say ''That is another life changed by One Step at a Time'' I am so proud to be able to be involved in these life changes and am eternally grateful to you all for your continued support.