Volunteer: Kim Roberts June - October 2007The orphanage where I am working is not an orphanage as I would have thought one to be before I came here. There are 250 kids approximately, but they don’t all have no parents. In Tanzania there are three classes of orphan. Double parent orphans have lost both parents. There are not so many of these at my orphanage. (Although too many at the same time!) Single parent orphans have lost one parent, and the remaining parent is either too poor or to incapable of caring for them. Then there is the social orphan, who has both their parents but is not cared for by them at all due to lack of funds, and, in most cases, lack of interest. The parents often have substance abuse issues. The majority of the orphans fall under this category. They also don’t sleep at the centre, but arrive every morning and go home to whatever family they have at the end of the day.
The orphanage is quite religious. They have bible study, and songs and praise, in the time table, and they pray about 5 times a day. I wish I remember more from my church camp days, and my Christian upbringing. All the camp fire and chapel songs I had memorised as a camper and counsellor over the years seemed to have slipped out of my memory. I tried to recall them but they only come in fragments. I am sure they would come back quickly if I had the words. The teacher wanted me to tell a bible story today, and I had to confess that I don’t really know any, besides Noah’s Ark (which he said they already knew). I told him that I wasn’t really Christian (which isn’t strictly true as I have been baptised) but easier than explaining I don’t really know what I believe. He responded by asking me if I was Muslim. Having no religion is just not done. I mean, I could brush up on my bible stories and chapel songs and I could teach it, but it somehow seems a bit wrong (a bit sac-religious) to do since I am not sure about it myself. I would be an impostor. Or I could just consider it telling them what they want to hear-or what the orphanage owners want them to hear. Does it matter what I believe as long as the kids are happy?
I recently visited the home of some of the double orphans. There are five of them that are looked after by their aging grandmother. The whole time I was there I was on the verge of tears. The level of poverty is hard to comprehend. The Bomas that they live in are made of mud and cow dung (and they smell like it). They are circular buildings with a section for sleeping, (there are sometimes beds -two singles for 6 people in this case- but usually no mattresses or proper blankets), a kitchen, and a place for cattle (yes the cows and goats get a spot in the house!) It was dark and cold, and it was also hard to breath as there was no ventilation for the animal odour or the smoke from the kitchen fire to escape. It kind of makes me feel sickeningly guilty for ever complaining about my accommodation, about anything really. I will make a conscious effort from now on to keep in mind just how lucky I am. It’s all relative and, man, I got it good compared to lots!
The poor Grandmother was all skin and bones and I have no idea how she manages. I think she gets perhaps one meal a day. She has other sons in the compound, but the Masai culture is not one that cares for or respects women that much (in fact, the cattle probably get more respect), so they are not inclined to help their mother, or look after their dead brother’s children. One of the reasons we were visiting was to get more information about a land dispute. The remaining uncles are trying to claim ownership to the land that was owned by the deceased parents. If they are successful than the orphans will have absolutely nothing. This is their ‘family’ doing this to them! Another reason we were visiting was because we needed to access their needs so that the orphanage could help them. There are plans to purchase a few new mattresses and blankets as well as a few sacks of maize.
I visited another double orphan’s house as well. This one belongs to a family of 5 children (4 siblings and 1 baby). The oldest sister looks after them. She is 18. She has a one year old child of her own. No, there is no father around. (Perhaps rape, perhaps a little income to feed her siblings?) Anyways, their house, if you can call it that, is completely falling apart. The walls are crumbling so much that only the top third remains. They have moved to live in the kitchen, a separate structure, and all share one bed with no mattress. The house is about 45 minutes walking to the centre. The boy who comes to the centre everyday is 4 years old. Walking by himself for 45 minutes twice a day. He is such a lovely boy. I think some other volunteers and some missionaries have donated money to build them a new house.
Last Sunday I went to the internet and for walk through the market. I bought some Kangas and went to this shop which is owned by one of the women that has started a business with the assistance of a Mondo Challenge project. She is HIV positive as are all the grant recipients. She takes material and sews it into outfits. I am having a skirt and top made. The material cost about £2, and she is charging £3 to sew the outfit. A custom made outfit for £5. Not bad, eh?
I am constantly amazed by the people here. Many of them have lives that are harder than anything I have experienced, maybe harder than I can even comprehend. But they have this strength in them. This drive to keep going. Not only that but also be happy doing it. The shop keeper was so friendly, beautiful, and animated. A really nice and seemingly happy person, who happens to be HIV positive. I guess being employed and keeping herself healthy is the one thing that can delay her getting sick. I find it very inspiring and I don’t know if I could be so strong. The children are also very inspiring. They may be orphans, and they may not get a lot of love (which for me is so hard to believe as they are sooooo loveable), or a lot of baths!, but they are so positive, so happy and friendly. I can’t walk by a child in Ngaramtoni without getting a grin and a ‘good morning’ (no matter what time of day it is). Unfortunately, another common phrase they know is ‘give me my money’ which I don’t find nearly so enduring. (I don’t have their money! God, I don’t even have mine!)
I have been doing some computer work for the orphanage as well as the teaching. I have been putting all the orphans on a database with name, age, grade, sex, orphan status, caregiver, hobbies, medical, and remarks, as well as a hyperlink to a picture. I will be able to leave it on a re writable disc so it can be updated and transferred to their computer, when they acquire one. (God willing)* It’s been great to get to know some of the kids names, and nice to have an occasional day free from being manhandled by the children. (As lovely as they are, the concept of personal space is foreign to them and I sometimes need it). It’s also a pretty big job-especially collecting the pictures- as there are 250 orphans to include.
*I put that God willing comment in there for a reason. I have issues with this attitude. And as lovely as Mama Jane is, it is the attitude she carries. It has worked for her, to some extent, as she has many generous missionaries who often donate things to the centre, but to just sit and pray and hope God will deliver is a bit, I don’t know…lazy. Get up and do something about it! For example-look for a computer, get a price, raise the funds. The luck won’t last forever. I guess that is where we differ. What she sees as God’s will, I see as good luck. When she gets a donation, at a time when she needs it, she says ‘God is so good.’ What about the people who donated it? And she thanked God for bringing me here. I worked damn hard to get here, thank you very much, God had nothing to do with it. I also feel it is a bit scary to be so dependant on foreign donations. I have suggested that at some point in the future, it might be nice to be self sufficient. But I guess that would be quite hard work to pull off.
(After writing this my sister has found two laptops to donate to the centre so Mama should thank her, however I am sure it will be God she praises!)
The poor Grandmother was all skin and bones and I have no idea how she manages. I think she gets perhaps one meal a day. She has other sons in the compound, but the Masai culture is not one that cares for or respects women that much (in fact, the cattle probably get more respect), so they are not inclined to help their mother, or look after their dead brother’s children. One of the reasons we were visiting was to get more information about a land dispute. The remaining uncles are trying to claim ownership to the land that was owned by the deceased parents. If they are successful than the orphans will have absolutely nothing. This is their ‘family’ doing this to them! Another reason we were visiting was because we needed to access their needs so that the orphanage could help them. There are plans to purchase a few new mattresses and blankets as well as a few sacks of maize.
I visited another double orphan’s house as well. This one belongs to a family of 5 children (4 siblings and 1 baby). The oldest sister looks after them. She is 18. She has a one year old child of her own. No, there is no father around. (Perhaps rape, perhaps a little income to feed her siblings?) Anyways, their house, if you can call it that, is completely falling apart. The walls are crumbling so much that only the top third remains. They have moved to live in the kitchen, a separate structure, and all share one bed with no mattress. The house is about 45 minutes walking to the centre. The boy who comes to the centre everyday is 4 years old. Walking by himself for 45 minutes twice a day. He is such a lovely boy. I think some other volunteers and some missionaries have donated money to build them a new house.
Last Sunday I went to the internet and for walk through the market. I bought some Kangas and went to this shop which is owned by one of the women that has started a business with the assistance of a Mondo Challenge project. She is HIV positive as are all the grant recipients. She takes material and sews it into outfits. I am having a skirt and top made. The material cost about £2, and she is charging £3 to sew the outfit. A custom made outfit for £5. Not bad, eh?
I am constantly amazed by the people here. Many of them have lives that are harder than anything I have experienced, maybe harder than I can even comprehend. But they have this strength in them. This drive to keep going. Not only that but also be happy doing it. The shop keeper was so friendly, beautiful, and animated. A really nice and seemingly happy person, who happens to be HIV positive. I guess being employed and keeping herself healthy is the one thing that can delay her getting sick. I find it very inspiring and I don’t know if I could be so strong. The children are also very inspiring. They may be orphans, and they may not get a lot of love (which for me is so hard to believe as they are sooooo loveable), or a lot of baths!, but they are so positive, so happy and friendly. I can’t walk by a child in Ngaramtoni without getting a grin and a ‘good morning’ (no matter what time of day it is). Unfortunately, another common phrase they know is ‘give me my money’ which I don’t find nearly so enduring. (I don’t have their money! God, I don’t even have mine!)
I have been doing some computer work for the orphanage as well as the teaching. I have been putting all the orphans on a database with name, age, grade, sex, orphan status, caregiver, hobbies, medical, and remarks, as well as a hyperlink to a picture. I will be able to leave it on a re writable disc so it can be updated and transferred to their computer, when they acquire one. (God willing)* It’s been great to get to know some of the kids names, and nice to have an occasional day free from being manhandled by the children. (As lovely as they are, the concept of personal space is foreign to them and I sometimes need it). It’s also a pretty big job-especially collecting the pictures- as there are 250 orphans to include.
*I put that God willing comment in there for a reason. I have issues with this attitude. And as lovely as Mama Jane is, it is the attitude she carries. It has worked for her, to some extent, as she has many generous missionaries who often donate things to the centre, but to just sit and pray and hope God will deliver is a bit, I don’t know…lazy. Get up and do something about it! For example-look for a computer, get a price, raise the funds. The luck won’t last forever. I guess that is where we differ. What she sees as God’s will, I see as good luck. When she gets a donation, at a time when she needs it, she says ‘God is so good.’ What about the people who donated it? And she thanked God for bringing me here. I worked damn hard to get here, thank you very much, God had nothing to do with it. I also feel it is a bit scary to be so dependant on foreign donations. I have suggested that at some point in the future, it might be nice to be self sufficient. But I guess that would be quite hard work to pull off.
(After writing this my sister has found two laptops to donate to the centre so Mama should thank her, however I am sure it will be God she praises!)
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