Charles is a ten years old boy in class 3 and is the first born in a family of three. Charles cannot really remember when his parents, Pater Opiyo and Irene Achieng passed away. All he knows is that his mother passed away first then his father later. He remembers clearly that his father was bedridden for so long and it was his aunt who took care of them plus the sick.

They moved to stay with their aunt after his father died. The main problem that the boy remembers was food insecurity in the home. At times they would go without meals for a whole day and not satisfy their hunger. This little boy also recalls how he used to fetch water from long distances as it was his duty to do so. At times he was out of school due to lateness as he had to wake up in the morning, bathe the younger siblings, clean utencils, sweep the room and any other duty that may be assigned. By then the boy was just but a class two. In addition to those, there was no money to be paid for him in school and this made him to be out of school.

Before his father died, the boy says that his father was very fierce and directed his anger to him. He used to quarrel and cane the boy whenever he failed to perform as he said. He would be caned thoroughly if he delayed to cook, wash utencils, wash clothes, bathe the children and any other duty.

Since he entered the Jehovah Shamah Restoration Centre, the boy is happy at his stay here. For one, there is regular food for them, no much work for them to do, he appreciates the fact that he now sleeps on a bed, he has been provided with clothes, shoes. He is happy and wished to stay at the Centre.

Kevin is 11 years old boy in class 6 and is the last born in his family. He does not know when his parents passed away. He only saw them in photos.

All his life he has been living with his aunt whom he says has 12 kids in her care. The bitter experience of the boy is the way he witnessed his alcoholic aunt fighting her husband all the times they were drunk. She would come home and start quarreling the kids including Kevin. They would run away from the house in order to escape her hurting insults and noise.

While in his aunt’s house, the boy would go to school without taking breakfast. Other than that, he used to suffer at the hands of his nephews whom he says that when sent to do something would not do it but instead send him to do the same. This he found very bad as he was younger than them yet they mistreated him. The boy also used to burn charcoal at his free time and the money earned would be used to buy uniform and other things he required.

Contrary to the situation at home, the boy says that JSRC has been a better place for him than home. Here there is nobody to quarrel with people, instead the people at the centre are friendly. He is also being given breakfast every morning before going to school.

Lydia Atieno is a 10 years old lady and is in class four. She is the first born in a family of three. She does not know exactly when her father passed away. Her mother is alive and is doing small scale business at the Lake Shore of Victoria in Ogal Beach.

At home, they solely depend on their mother for their upkeep. At times, when business was not doing well, they would go without food or maybe take only porridge. One big problem in Lydia’s family is shelter. The house they are staying in is seriously leaking and they would be rained on.

At the centre, Lydia talks of good food and they are given clothes, shoes and school uniforms. She also enjoys the company of other orphans at the centre and is very happy to play and walk with them. She is also happy with the studying they do at the centre, not forgetting the word of God being taught. She is impressed and would like to see that the word of God and reading are given priority at the centre.

Gregory is a ten years old boy in class two. He is the last born in a family of three. He lost both parents in the year 2000 after a long period of illness. Gregory’s parents were bedridden for so long and it was his elder brother who then left school to take care of the ill parents. He would go to look for food. It was a very hard time Gregory and his brother especially when both parents died on the same day and were buried on the same day. It was a big loss for them even though they were not giving any support.

After his parents’ death, they stayed at their parents’ home for a while. At the uncle’s place, Gregory would take care of cattle, help make ropes used for preparing mats and failure to perform any of these duties would earn him canes. He would be caned thoroughly by his aunt. Gregory would also baby sit his cousin’s twin babies. At times he would be left alone with the twin babies and it was difficult to handle both kids.

Gregory prefers being at the centre to home because here (JSRC) he says that they are being taught well both at the centre and at school.

He also talks of the good food they are getting at the centre. He is also happy with clothes he has been provided with ever since he entered this place. He does not fail to add on the many friends he has to play with at the centre whereas at home he does not have as many friends as at the centre. He is also very proud of having a bed and bedding of his own at the centre.

In addition to all the good things he talks of, Gregory does not fail to mention that at home he did not have a school uniform ever since he started going to school but at the centre he has a new school uniform which he wears as he goes to school.

Kip is a 12 year old boy in class three. He is the second born in a family of four. He cannot remember when his parents passed away. He is currently staying with his grandmother. At home Kip helps his brothers to look after the cattle.

Kip talks of the good food that Aunt Margaret brings to them at the center. He is particularly happy eating rice, green grams, beans, chapatti and cabbages. He also appreciates the fact that ever since he came here, he has been given many clothes but at home he had never been bought for any cloth ever since his parents died. He is also able to go to school daily and would get meat ready on coming from school.