Marafiki AIDS Orphans

THE BLESSINGS OF THE OUTCAST

I was in grade one and was not conversant about HIV AIDS but my life in school was not that motivating since I was discriminated by other children it was hard to interact as they walked away from me to avoid being HIV infected . People looked from far waiting for the three of us to scum to death. Unfortunately in 1992 Paul passed due to a kidney problem and the family of Josephine was made up of only two girls. On the laps of my crippled grandmother hope was installed in us. My sister and I faced each day with a lot of courage. Gladys understood and faced all the victimization looking after me in school despite the nickname the community gave us “the outcast” I remember the days when Gladys would be lonely and out of her thought as we shared one plate of food her tears would roll down the chicks when I asked her about it she would not answer. Only one sentence she would repeat many time ‘my sister we are there for each other ‘ through a hard through a hard time my grandmother tried hard to get assistance from the well-wishers in order to get school fees for us, despite living in a mud house that was not secure.

The school and the community gave a helping hand and arranged for a fundraising. Gladys and I owe a lot of thanks to the community members and teachers who accepted us and assisted us they played a big role in our life. Thou the funds was not enough to see us through our education I tried had to push up from one class to the next and being always an average student quickly responded to anyone who took time to show any good interest in me. This reminds me of one of my teachers I am especially grateful to her, she treated me as though my opinion counted she also knew how to stimulate my interest without making me feel pushed or manipulated. She possessed one other significant quality that I would notice as I continued to mature, when I had a problem of any kind I could talk to her she would find time to listen even if it meant altering her plans to accommodate me. Our social life was was affected greatly by a number of people who did not appreciate me and my sister and had a negative altitude towards me. Thanks to the few classmates who gave me time to play and interact with them.

In 1997 I completed my 8th grade I did not have hope to continue with my education and was prepared to look for ways to provide food to my aged grandmother. By then my sister had join secondary school with the remaining funds from the fundraising. Our relatives did not give a helping hand to us and the only thing they demanded was the small piece of land that belonged to my grandmother. Robbers would come at night steal our utensils, beddings and also threatened of raping me and my sister our living standard deteriorated each day. After many promises of assistance from different people failed I started working as a house girl at the age of 14 as we could not afford even a plate of food. I worked for about six months when a lady by the name Karen promised to assist me in my education I had to repeat the 8th grade as I was late to secure a vacancy in the secondary school this was hard as I had to leave working and go back to school, then who would provide us with food and other essentials I was double minded as I admired to go back to school. In June 1998 as I discussed with my grandmother about my plan to go back to school a lady who was a neighbor came to visit us and as continued to discuss the lady mentioned about a ministry that is helping the orphans whose parents died of HIV at first I thought I don’t belong there because no one who openly told me the cause of my mothers death. This was the time my grandmother was open to me and the reason of keeping it a secret was due to the trauma my sister under went when she was told about it at a young age. I started recalling my school life that was full of desperation, discrimination and the many time my sister used to cry al alone. We went to the church where the ministry was started with disbelieve and a lot of question in my mind. The ministry was Rafiki Aids Ministry the team welcomed me and my grandmother with warm hands and since that day they became my angels, being part of me. From that time on they used to bring food, clothing and all other essentials to my family every month I went back to school did my 8th grade again and passed my exams. I joined a secondary school through the support of Rafiki Aids Ministry. As I started thinking about my career my heart desired to change the lives of the many orphan and destitute children who are struggling each day. Undergoing torture, child labour, discrimination and loss of their property. I felt I should stand and fight for the rights of these children. By then my sister had been sponsored by Rafiki Aids Ministry to undergo a Hotels and Catering course and after her completion she got a job in one of the hotels in the Nairobi city center.

When I completed my secondary school I had decided that I would purse law as a career in order to guard the orphans who have equal rights as other children. I immediately joined a computer course, I then joined a college to do a diploma in law for two years and then joined the University of London External System for my degree Law, through the assistance of Rafiki Aids Ministry. I never thought that I will make it this far being am in my second year in the university is a dream come true.

Today am happy that through the knowledge I have of law my grandmother though she passed is happy that we are the legal owners of her land, to the community I have been able to solve legal dispute where I was an outcast am now a blessing. Thanks to the few orphans who we stand together to fight torture and child abuse, to the parents who have accepted to write a Will of their property and to value the future of their children and to those individual who have accepted their HIV status and appreciated living. Joy to my colleges in whose life have been made bright by Rafiki Aids Ministry through the friends abroad and in Kenya who support us in order to have a great future we appreciate your love and the sacrifice of sharing with us we will surely make you proud thank you. Thanks a lot to the Rafiki board members and staff who commit themselves for the success of each child and the love that always keep us smiling. And to Dr. John Mungai who work tirelessly and have sleepless nights to make sure we accomplish our good wishes in life. We are thankful for your love we have a duty of keeping the fire burning always it’s our responsibility. I feel indebt for all that Rafiki Aids Ministry has done to us.