Eddy is a 15 year old boy in a family of 3, and he is the 2^nd born. His father died in the year 1996 while he was 10 years old and in class 2, while his mother died in the year 2000 and by then Eddy was in class 4.

Eddy did not realize any significant change following their father’s death for their mother would effectively provide for them., but trouble began when his mother started feeling unwell. Being the eldest son in the family, Eddy had to take over the heavy responsibility of caring for the family. He had to go to people’s garden to work for them; thereafter he would be given some money with which to feed the family. This was especially not easy following the fact that he was just but 12 years old. At times, when there was no work available for him, their sick mother would not have anything to eat. This was very difficult due to the fact that she had good appetite and would call for this and that kind of food. So the children would feel desperate when the sick mother demanded something, which they could not provide due to the luck of funds. It was not only the mother suffering but also themselves. In many occasions they could sleep hungry and if things were not working out for Eddy, he would gain courage and ask whoever he is close with for assistance.

Eddy continued to support the family mainly by working on people’s farms for payment and also selling firewood. If he got any little money, he would buy maize flour then he goes to his aunt for vegetables as she was selling vegetables at their nearby market and she would give the vegetable for free.

On Springs Ministries orphans meetings, Eddy would go to Auntie Margaret and tell her his problems. Aunty would then give him some money to use as fare and also at home. But Eddy would go back on foot and preserve whatever little he was given to go and buy food for his family. He also had an uncle who was operating as a taxi driver in Kisumu and would go to him for assistance if necessary. At times when his mother’s condition was worse, he would inform his uncle in Kisumu, who would come and take her to hospital where she would be treated from hospital, she would feel a bit better. Eddy would continue to work for people and also sell firewood. On weekends he would collect as many firewood as he can from a far distance take and sell them during weekdays.

During his mothers illness, Eddy would pray continuously for recovery so that she may gain strength to assist them. By then they did not have school fees and so were on and off of school most of the times. Amidst all these there was a teacher, Mrs. Amwayo who Eddy says loved him and had compassion on him. She would buy him uniform and even pay a term fee for him. At this time, their younger brother Derrick was still very young (only 7 years) and he also needed his attention as an elder person to him. His elder and only sister who would have helped him was staying with their aunt at Nyakach and so Eddy was left with all the responsibilities in the house.

It reached a point when all this was out of control for Eddy the sickness persisted, no medicine, no food and there was no money to buy medicine for the mother and food for themselves. One day of the Springs orphans meeting; Eddy was arranging how he would attend the meeting but his mother, knowing her health told him he might not attend the meeting. Exactly as he was told Eddy’s mother died when he was almost leaving for the meeting and therefore he cancelled his journey. He sent word to auntie Margaret that his mother had passed away. The next day springs members came to console Eddy and they brought him things like clothes and money. He used the money to buy shoes for his brother. On burial day, Springs members attended the burial ceremony and their presence pleased Eddy.

After some days, Eddy and his brothers received news that they were to come to JSRC and so they landed safely at the center where they are now staying. Today even when they go back home for holidays they do not feel bad since it is a short period and their grandmother care for them during this time.

Eddy is feeling good as he is able to go to school regularly without any interference unless he is sick. He also talks of good food he is getting at the center . Also, they are also able to play and enjoy games with his fellow orphans at the center. In addition to school, Eddy now has good clothes, shoes, books ,bag and many other necessities he did not access to while at home. Above all he thanks God for giving him home like this and prays that God may continue blessing them at the Centre. This especially he says, in consideration to the kind of life he has gone through at his home which he described as a terrible one and he will never forget what he personally underwent during his mother’s illness till the time she passed away.

George is a 12 years old boy and is the last born in a family of 6. He can not remember exactly by when he lost his father but he approximately say that he died in 1996 when he was in class 1. His mother however, died in the year 2001.

Though George did not see any change following his father’s death, he underwent a real hard time after his mother’s death. George together with his brothers and sisters moved in to stay with their step mother. Even though he says that their step mother was not all that bad, their stay with her was short lived as she also past away after a short time. This left the family more desperate since in the other house there were also 8 children who together with George’s brother and sister were totaling to 12. This was a real hard time for these children and maybe if you can imagine such a family where both the father and two mothers have died leaving behind 12 children as total orphans and no one to care for. Since the children were still young and not even one of them married, they were all forced to embark on family duties so as to sustain them.

Their elder step brother who was by then considered big enough carried the heavily responsibility of providing for his large family. He would go to town daily in search for jobs and in the evening comes back with whatever little he found to share with his brothers and sisters. His contribution was inadequate and therefore in most cases the family go hungry without any meals. The situation forced George and his other brothers to embark on growing things like maize, sukuma wiki, potatoes, cassava and many others to provide food for them. Though they were tender in age this was the only way the whole family would survive.

In most occasions George would be out of school due to luck of uniform, fees, books and even pens. Also when there was no food in the family he would not go to school as he puts it "when I am hungry I will learn nothing at school, so I better stay home." George did not have clothes to put on for there was no money to buy him clothes and even shoes.

George says that he has experienced a lot of changes ever since he joined JSRC, At the Centre he is provided with good clothes, nice food is provided, he goes to school regularly with smart uniform, there are good bedding, houses, mattress are provided for them.

He also talks of good Medicare incase of sickness, they are free here to socialize with his fellow orphans at ht Centre. George also comments on the duty roster, which he says is properly organized to suit all without fear or favor. Here at the Centre he says that he is rarely being punished unless with genuine mistake but at home, he complains of severe punishment he receives from his senior brothers and sisters incase he does a mistake. And at this times he would long for his departed parents, so that and other reasons he prefers being at the Centre.

Washington is 9 years old, the last born in a family of 5. This young boy does not even know when his father past away. He cannot recognize who the father was, does not know how he looks like. Though his mother is alive, they live under abject poverty.

His mother does not have a steady source of income for which to support the family. She is a casual labourer and depend mostly on working for people so as to get money, with which to support the family. At times when his mother does not support the family, or does not find the work, they would go hungry without meals for even as far as 2 days. When there was still no source, the mother would go to the shop to borrow something for the family to eat. So incase she finds work she should pay the shopkeeper for whatever she borrowed. Once in a while a certain woman in their village would call her to clean her house and other household and on completion, she would be given something.

The struggle for survival was very hard and it reached a point where Washington’s mother could not get food for the children. They could go hungry most of the days and they could develop weaknesses. It was until a good Samaritan in the village thought of helping the family. This well wisher took two of Washington’s brothers to stay with him. So the family size was reduced to reasonable one. This for sure helped his mother a great deal for with two mouths less to feed, the burden was eased. Before those two were taken, Washington’s mother would wake up as early as 4.00 a.m set for work so as to enable her to do some good work capable of supporting them. For as you know with casual work it is in response to what you have done. It only become worse if there was no work to be done. Having lost all their close relatives, Washington had no one to go to for assistance as it may be in an extended family. All his uncles are dead and so they do not have any other family nearby where they can even by chance get some food.

Following the economy hardship they were undergoing, their mother did have any money to pay for their school fees. This made them be sent home severally. At times the teachers would give up sending them home because of no response and in consideration to the situation at home. They did not have uniform, for school and this also made them stay at home. Also once their mother has set off for work, they were left to carry out all the household chores and you can imagine the situation in consideration to their age. They would wake up early, sweep the house, fetch water, prepare breakfast and after that they would go to work on their farms. In the farm, they would clear bushes , dig and even weed if necessary.

On how he feels about JSRC, Washington just laughs at how much better the place is compared to home. This he says especially in relation to food. At the Centre he says that there are no work being done compared to what he used to do at home. He also appreciates the fact that he now owns a bed with good bedding and at home would only spread mat and share one blanket with his other brothers. He now has school uniform and he goes to school daily unless he is feeling unwell.

He is also very happy that he is now owning shoes for the first time in life. He only borrowed shoes which he came with at the Centre but now he has been issued with shoes which he goes to school with. In addition to shoes, he also talks of smart clothes he has received. Lastly, he does not fail to comment on the nice buildings of the Centre he is now living in. Washington prefers being here and he jokes that he would stay at the center even if he is alone incase all the other children left, He does not imagine of going back home to stay permanently.

Derrick is 12 years old and is the last born in a family of 3. His father died in the year 1996 and his mother suffered from headache and he says that his father suffered from headache and stomach pains for a period of only three weeks. He says that the father was admitted at General hospital in Kisumu where he stayed for sometimes. There being no change he was discharged and returned home where their mother would nurse him. Due to his father’s illness their mother was not able to provide food for them as she was nursing their father. So in most cases they would eat at their grandmother’s place and in some occasions they would go to their uncle’s place where they would be given food. It was at this period when their problem of schooling started.

There were no funds to pay fees and so they would be sent home frequently for fees. This hurt their ailing father so much that he called for Derrick’s uncles (his brothers) to assist them with fees so that they may resume classes. But there was no response from them. This made him more desperate and adding to his state of illness, he passed away due to stress and fatigue.

It was not long after their father’s death that their mother started feeling unwell. She started with headaches, which were persistent followed by non- stop stomach pains. Thereafter she developed boils all over her body. She sent her elder son to her marital home for assistance and he returned with money and some medicines and she tried the medicine but there was no change in her condition. When her brothers visited her they decided to take her to the hospital where she was admitted. After two weeks of stay she was discharged when she showed some improvement on her state. She stayed well for a year when the sickness re-occurred she was then admitted at the previous hospital. That time round, the sickness persisted for she was on and off of hospital so she was nursed at home. This was a very difficult time for Derrick’s elder brother who though young was searching for food for the whole family. Their sick mother had a very good appetite and would call for this and that kind of food to eat but due to lack of money at times the children would not be able to give her what she asked. It was Derrick’s elder brother who was only 12 years old who would do casual work to provide for them. Derrick then was 9 years old. When there was no food, they would sleep hungry expect their sick mother whom their uncles would sympathies with to give food. At times when all was not working out , their mother would send them to their aunty who was living nearby to come to their aid. She would give them food. It reached a point when Derrick’s mother started to diarrhea and this condition of non-stop diarrhea was too much for the kids. So the mother’s sister was compelled to assist them especially in washing clothes used as nappies. If only their sister was there the she would have assisted in the same, but she went to live with their aunt immediately after the death of their father. After sometime his mothers condition worsened and so their aunties and grandmother assisted them in nursing till one day she peacefully departed at the hands of her elder son Eddy while Derrick was away in the fields herding cattle.

After their mothers death, Derrick ,his brother Eddy and sister Aphline all moved to stay at the JSRC and were among the first children which started the JSRC. Here, life started gaining meaning for Derrick and his brothers, first they started going to school which they had lost hope of going back to school, other than school, they enjoyed all that they were getting at the Centre. This include all that they were:- regular food supply, clothes, shoes and their environment as a whole. All these benefits he talks of was before the building of their current home. This was when they were still hosted at the home of a well wisher next to the Centre. After moving to the new home, Derrick now talks of the good time they are having with other orphans who joined them later, good food, clothes and also appreciate the fact that now they all have beds, blankets, mattresses and sleeping comfortably. He does not fail to mention Bibles which were distributed to them, uniforms, books, pens and other petty necessities like tooth brushes which to him , he was using for the first time in life. In general he feels that JSRC is far much better than his original home and is determined to stick at it.

Lilian is a 7 years old girl and is the last born in a family of two. His father died when she was just 3 months old in the womb- meaning she never saw her father. Her elder brother who is now in class four was only four years old when the father died. Lily being young could not tell exactly what happened to her in life so I had to talk to her grandmother who gave me the following information about Lily’s life after the death of her son.

Life after death of the father was not easy for Lily’s mother and she had to run back to her marital home. Thereafter she moved to stay with her father at Busia and it was there where Lily was born. She started doing business while living with her father and she stayed for almost three years. Unfortunately she could not continue staying with her father for she was ill. She returned home with her little Lily. At home , she also started feeling unwell. This forced her family to release her to return to her marital home of her husband. Though she was unwilling to go she eventually yielded and returned with her daughter Lily. By then lily was only three years old. Her condition deteriorated so much that her grandmother was alarmed. This is mainly because their house had already collapsed and therefore she seriously needed a house. Being a widow also, this was a very hard and testing moment especially when she was the only one with all the responsibilities including looking for food for the whole family and at the same time caring for the sick. In spite of all these, she managed to build her a house but unfortunately she did not live to enjoy it. Her health condition worsened till she passed away leaving behind two orphans- Lily and her brother.

Lily being a child born outside the home did not find it easy to live with her grandmother. She was totally lost into a different world contrary to her life in Busia. As much as she knows that her father was at Busia, that is she could call her grandfather – father just as she would hear her mother call him father. Their father’s death sounded strange to her. It was not easy to convince her till her brother who was aware of the fact though young took her by hands and went with her to their father’s graveside pointing to her that it was where their father was buried and that the person she was calling a father was only a father to their mother but a grandfather to them. Eventually after a long struggle she was convinced with her brothers explanation and accepted the situation that she was then a total orphan. This was as narrated, by their grandmother who is now living with them. The grandmother is now aging and really complains of the heavy burden she still has to bear at such an old age. Other than Lily and her brother, she talks of having six other children who are total orphans and all depend on her for support. This really is too much especially that she is just a businesswoman at Kiboswa market. What worries me is what would happen to the children if this aging grandmother fall sick or pass away? How would they get support? Only God knows an answer to such questions.

But to Lily when asked on how she feels about JSCR she prefers being here than home because she eats good food such as chapaties on Sunday, tea and bread, rice and green grams, juice and all sorts of foodstuff available at the center. She also talks of the fact that here she has her own bed, mattress with good beddings which were not available at home. They are also provided with a variety of playing materials such as balls, dolls e.t.c. There are also new clothes given to them, which she enjoy a great deal. She does not fail to mention the fact that it is here at the center that she is wearing shoes of her own for the first time in life. She only had slippers at home while here she owns several pairs of shoes as per God’s grace on her. Lily is also very much pleased with the way houses at the center looks like especially girls room where she sleeps. There are beautiful pictures on the wall and other glittery things that to her dismay she is seeing for the first time. Lily comments on free time she has at the center and how she plays all sorts of games with other girls. She does not fail to mention the petty things like starches, toothbrushes and toothpaste they have. Each person with their own. To her this is great for she is using them for the first time. Though still young and only a class one student Lily prefers being here and says that when she gets back home for the holidays she really misses the center and longs for when the holiday would end so as to return.

Walter is 10 years old. He is the last born in a family of two. He also has other two step-brothers whose mother was the first wife to their father (his step-mother) but he says he never saw her. Seemingly she divorced Walter’s father when Walter was still young and she left behind her two twins- one boy and one girl, both of which now stays with Walter’s grandmother asked about her parents this young boy does not have any clue on who his parents were and when they passed away. That means he never saw them except in photograph. The only bit he can explain is that his mother died when he was almost stopping to breast-feed and so he can recall her slightly.

All along Walter has been staying with his grandmother who took care of him, provide food for him, buy clothes and all the necessities.

Their grandmother he says was businesswoman-selling maize but for now has retired from the same due to old age. What’s funny enough is that Walter does not know where his aging grandmother gets money to buy them food; only his grandmother can tell how she gets money to cater for the needs of her 4 grandchildren. On school, he says that they have been able to go to school with the help of one of their uncle who he says provide them with uniform and also arranges for their school fees payment.

Asked on how he feels about JSRC, Walter says that at the center he is taught word of God and he is finding it good. But when he goes home, he does not practice prayer and do not even think of it. Also at the center they are given clothes and they have a lot of time to play with his fellow orphans. He does not fail to mention the fact that here, they have allocated time for preps and therefore would do personal studies. Walter is very pleased with the kind of diet they are given especially when it comes to chapaties, rice, and green grams bread among other delicious meals. Above all Walter is very hopeful that he will continue staying at the center.

Vincent is 12 years old boy and the second born in a family of three. Vincent cannot recall when his father died but for his mother he says she died in the year 2000, after long period of illness. During that time when his mother was ill. Vincent together with his brothers would eat at their step- motherhouse. Their step-mother would nurse their sick mum, as Vincent and his brothers were still very young (9) to take over the responsibilities, instead they would clean the house, wash utensils and at times prepare food. It was only clothes that they were exempted from washing their stepmother would do it. Their mother suffered for quiet sometimes and thereafter passed away.

After the death of their mother, Vincent remained with his step- mother; their elder brother had earlier gone to their maternal grandparent before death of their mother. Whereas their younger sister went with their step sister after mother’s death, so that meant a total family disintegration as nowadays they only meet occasionally, they would be caned if they made mistakes but all in all he says that his step-mother does not really mistreat him as it is the case with most step-mothers.

In spite of all these, Vincent still appreciate his new home (JSRC) and he says that the Center is much better than home. Here they are taught the word of God, each has his/her memory verse contrary to the situation at home. They also play with his mates. They are also being given clothes most of the times, He also feels good about two fact that at the center they are always visited by various people who brought them good things such as balls for games, foodstuff. All in all Vincent is determined to stick to his new home indefinitely.

This is the second part of shared experiences of the children hosted at the centre. You are free to identify with any of these children in way of support.

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