Home Visit

We went again this morning to the school where we were asked to put a disadvantaged child on our sponsorship programme. Madame Mable accompanied me walking through some short cuts to avoid dusts from the main road. We went proceeded on some unrecognisable roads until we reached Richard's House. I was then introduced to him. Both he and his wife are HIV-positive. But we don't know the reason why only one of his three children is affected with HIV(not the youngest one). Months ago they were living in absolute poverty as even their children were left with no food. KICVOP sent his wife to be trained to make beads and things got better since then. He showed me photos of his family while I was sitting on his bed. And then we went out and I started taking photos. I asked Madame Mable to take a photo of Richard and I together and I knew on sight that she did not well accomplish my request(forgive my appearence. I do look better when I'm not in Africa, if you are interesed in having contact with me). As I was talking to Richard, she stared using her napkin to clean my camera filter. Luckily, it was not tooooo late when I found out what she was doing. I softly told her off and, of course, she felt so guilty. I told her afterwards that it did not matter much; she owed me now one more thing and she needed to do what I told her to do. She then replied, "so how should I walk now, Landon?" As normal, I replied.

I reminded her while we were in the house that we were terribly late for the visiting, but she insisted that showing me Richard's family is of equal importance. I knew she wanted me to start working on this project as well-to help the trained women to start the bead business and find ways to sell them abroad, since I am currently working on many other projects. I promised I would start planning as soon as possible.

We got lost on our way to the local school. So she owed me another thing.

After finally arriving in the school, we were led on Bota Bota to Swaibu's family. Swaibu was the child the school asked us to evaluate and help if necessary. This time, John went with me as Madame Mable went back to the centre to deal with the water bill(It is not sorted still, so I'm not expecting any water flow today and tomorrow).

The problem of Swaibu's family is that the mother was worrying that her children might drop our of school very soon as she and her husband would not be able to afford the school fees. SHe did not answer me openly when I asked how many children she actually have. The number jumped from 4, in the beginning, 5, in 5 minutes, to 9 after ten mintues' talking. She and her husband were forced to work in the villige as farmers of a small land, while their children were left in Kazo taking care of themselves. Two girls out of the 9 children were already out of school and doing nothing but staying at home. I was told that they were waiting for going back to school and that was why they had not been looking for jobs. I rejected the claim straightaway and I told them they needed to work to redeuce the burden on the family.

In conclusion, 7 children needed to be supported in the end, but they were not as disadvantaged as all the others we currently have on register. I have to write a thorough report on the visit today and I will possibly go back again to actually instruct them of the ways they could cope with the burden.

So many families are like the one we visited today-waiting for help, but never put a thought on why they should be helped.