Plight of Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

Dark Encounters of Street Urchins Before Liberation 

By Erick Diang'a

I have been to a number of orphanages to establish the living conditions of children before they are accommodated. Many a times, people have the pleasure to visit such homes to give donations and emotional supports but they fail to query background profile of the victims.

Being a Non Governmental Organization volunteer back in 2007-2010, I acquired some know-how to interact with children to understand their challenges in a positive manner. It starts with designing gestures and wordings to conform to theirs (rapport building). If you incompetently conduct this, your results could be null or based on their imaginations and opinions rather than facts.

These children have been called names: street urchins, chokora, orphans, wanderers, beggars, vagabonds, bastards and so on. Yes, the name could suit an interest but have you tried to comprehend where the names were derived? Whatever your finding, that is where the problem began. Concisely, they are seeking refuge and rescue in response to the misconducts, wrath and evictions facilitated by initial parents or guardians.

When you make an appointment as a group or individual to pay a visit at an orphanage, the children are briefed and kept alert by the caretakers prior to your reception. They would be gathered at a place to clap and welcome you in unison. However, instinct and selflessness will demonstrate to you the sorrow deep within the minor’s faces. If these aforementioned characteristics aren’t engraved in your heart, you might disdain the sufferings inside the orphanage and regard your ‘picnic’ a success because after all you went because you had no errands at home or just wanted to relieve stress or to meet the demands of a company.

 In our current charity tour to Nakuru as an association, we made a stopover at a Children’s Home. A young girl, who sought anonymity, learning tailoring opened her heart and revealed how she fell a victim of incest. None within the association noticed my desire to touch a heart - I secluded myself from the crowd and had adequate objective dialogue with the girl.

 “I came from school one afternoon and picked a bucket to fetch for water downstream. Back from the stream, I found my father seated and asked me why I was late from the river. He suddenly turned wild and ordered me to lie down still. He overpowered me and took off my clothes forcefully. I kept shouting for help but warned me to shut up before he kills me. He had an intercourse with me and locked the door behind him leaving me in the house alone. He was already drunk and I knew he was going for more drinks. At 8PM, I struggled to open the window to escape and ultimately succeeded.  I took off to our neighbor who took me to this children’s home for counseling. To date, father is in police custody and I’m progressing well however only the doctor and I are certain of my HIV status. I was the only child in my family and my mother died in 1994 after refusing to take ARVs. She disclosed her status during a domestic quarrel with my father.” She painfully shared it with me.

That was a testimony amid millions either told or kept secret. Every child in a home has a purpose for belonging to that family irrespective of age, gender, tribe or race. In such situations, acceptance is the only solution to eliminate their trauma and distress for a faster healing of their souls and body.

According to the Manager of the facility, one of the girls was brought to the orphanage by the authorities after her mother attempted to poison her. The mother was taken to prison but the father’s whereabouts has not been established.

 Women Crisis Centre is one of the programmes the facility runs to make certain women have a chance and value in the community. Women forums are held to enlighten sexual health and how to sever the barrier created between them and children in terms of passing sexual information. The centre is also responsible for offering solutions to domestic violence and counseling adults of varied ages.

 When I visited Good Samaritan Children’s Home and Rehabilitation Centre in Mathare Slum years back, I spotted similar episodes. A boy was raised in the streets of Nairobi although his mother wasn’t in a position to take care of his needs so mother advised him to look for a place to stay. The mother had planned to relocate to a far distant town and informed the son of the same.

Some children arrive at the homes while mentally ill. Mama Mercy of Mathare facility told me of a child who fed on her own long call. It was heart touching to realize that she had been to the dangerous and hazardous act for the past years before being rehabilitated. Mama Mercy coached her and she eventually desisted from the act. 

Mitigating HIV/AIDS pandemic among rehabilitated children has been a snag because most childbirth in rural and semi urban areas is carried out at home or on streets. This has consequently thwarted Prevention of Mother To Child HIV Transmissions -PMTCT. HIV testing in the facilities should be a statute and be implemented to enhance the longevity among vulnerable children and youths. 

Children re much social and engaging thus at the end of your visitation, they feel like leaving with you. When she/he stands back watching you go, perhaps mixed feelings rekindle her past ordeals. Maybe her parents were killed in her presence and the happening still fresh in her memory. It’s of essence to promise them a revisit or offer them something that would distract their attention from your departure.