Providence

The Orphan Kids of Kakamega are the real heroes in the fight against HIV/Aids. With no voice, they suffer in silence. Nothing was prepared for their arrival on earth and their struggle to survive is a daily challenge. 

In 2014 I was introduced to Kelly by Sister Carolyne. This 8 year old boy was among 100 others living at the Divine Providence Orphanage in Kakamega Kenya. Run by the  Benedictine Sisters of Divine Providence, their head office is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They have many orphanages in various third world countries. Sister Carolyne is from Kakamega originally, and is a wonderful women who really cares for and loves each one of the children. As Sister Carolyne says, “God’s Divine Providence” is how we manage to survive day-to-day. 

CES Associate Sandy Guthrie has visited Divine Providence many times. She remembers in 2013 spending mornings at the orphanage volunteering in the baby and toddler room; bathing, feeding, changing, and playing. 

"I was in heaven, and fell in love with a few of the children. One in particular was a little girl called “Joy.” I was there when the police brought her to the orphanage; her mother had had some mental health issues, and covered Joy with branches and tried to burn her alive. The Sisters took her in, gave her the name Joy, and began to love and care for her.  She fell ill while I was there, and I went to the hospital and stayed with her for one whole day. I felt that I was really blessed to spend time with this two-year old child."

Kelly is ten years old, and has polio. He has lived at Divine Providence all his life and has had 10 surgeries, uses very old crutches to get around, but is a happy child. I recall holding this boy and praying that he would grow up to be strong and bright. His disability should not be an inability. My heart was stirred as I realized that at his age I too had polio. I know what lies ahead for him - it will not be easy.

I saw Kelly again in July 2016. Sister Pamela was now in charge. With new crutches, he is growing stronger and his smile means he is learning that even though he cannot run with the rest, he can still connect and enjoy life at the Divine Providence Orphanage. That's his world...so far. For Kelly and Joy and all the rest, may the good Lord provide them with that little extra support they need to succeed in Kenyan society. 

Providence

Beautiful ones, your smile touches us

Two precious lives, your joy reaches us

Orphaned and unaware of what lies ahead

How was it you had no place to lay your head

Orphaned now normal, with no other seeing

Love that brings your beauty into being

It transforms a life once cast aside

To a picture of hope where once you cried

May you grow strong in heart and mind

Find courage to live in the difficult time

May you never say never and persevere

To find a way through the shadows of fear

The home you know as Divine Providence

Surrounds you with love and guarded defence

The sting of abandonment has lost its bite

For Divinity surrounds in darkness and light

Kicked out - Suspended for Lack of Fees

It's a common thing in rural Kenya to see young children walking home alone, or sometimes in small groups. Home...might not be the same place today as it was yesterday. But why in the middle of the day when clearly they should be in school? Kicked out - suspended, but not for bad behaviour.

School fees were not paid this month, or last month and now the gig is up...go home and when you have the funds you may return. Happening far too often, this scene is among the saddest I have encountered in over four decades of working in schools in Canada and in Kenya. It tears at your heart to see these kids...barefoot, orphaned and now abandoned, for not even the schools will take them in.

Why Me?

Sent home yet again, twice this term

Humiliated I slink out the back gate

With no place to go

Not even a pole sana from my teacher

None to turn to except an aged aunt in Mumias

Maybe she will take me in for one  night

With ten mouths to feed I will be a burden

Why me?

How can I return to school

without my school fees paid in full

Embarrassed, angry and sad all at once

Through my tears I see I am not the only one

walking this dirt road

I recognize the blue, pink, green uniforms

From other schools the same story

We’re in this together

Why me?

Five hour walk over hot tarmac

Thrice pushed into the ditch by an overloaded truck

Carrying useless tires with no tread

To be sold for new shoes I cannot afford

Hungry I chew on some sugar

Yet the pain does not subside

And even if my aunt could spare a few shillings

These would not come close

To the 5000 shillings needed to return.

Why me?

An offer to pay for my fees is tempting

Yet it comes with a stipulation and a risk

That may take my life forever

Down a path of sickness to death.

Why me?

All I want is a chance to learn

Without fear of hearing her calling out my name

“You cannot return until you have your school fees.”

The words bite hard at my soul

I cannot bear it – my dream is slipping

It happened last term in Form 1

That was the last time I spoke to my mother

Aids took her life as it had my father’s the year before

I would rather go on a hunger vigil for fourteen days

I have done so before and at least I can bear that pain

Why me?

If I cannot pay my school fee

Will I ever see the inside of a classroom again?

Can I complete another prep or write the KCSE

Or will my life be an unending cycle

Searching for firewood, finding water

Living from hand to mouth for the rest of my days?

Why me?

What have I done to deserve such a fate

When all around me others eat maize and beans

And go to school with shoes on their feet.

I must have done something wrong

Michael Frederiksen

09/12 Kakamega Kenya