Does child sponsorship really help?
Read one boy’s story from St. Anna’s project in Kenya.
My name is Karanja (names changed to protect privacy). I am now in class Seven in St. Anna Care Centre. This Centre has been my home from February 2006 together with my brother Kamau, who is in a local High School. I was born on 9th January 1997 to my parents, (now dead) James and Jane.
Life for us was not smooth even when my parents were alive. We lived in a mud house and barely had anything to be proud of. My parents had only 3 goats. They were both sickly and could not do heavy work so earning a living for them was hard. They were just farmers. In 2000 my mother was blessed with a boy by name Paul who barely lived at least one year.
In year 2003 my mother left us to be with the Lord. I had just turned seven and my brother was eleven and this was like being left in a room with no windows or doors. This was not taken well by my dad and he too started deteriorating in one years time. He got sick and was admitted to Hospital for a while. When he came home nothing much changed and my brother left school to take care of him. One day it was so hard for him and he just told me that he has left his shamba (his small plot) to us . What do you mean Dad? I almost wanted to ask but I had to rush out and call for help. His friends came and took him to the hospital.
When they left for hospital I rushed to my auntie and informed her of the situation. Little did I know that my dad meant it. He was leaving us too. In October 2005 he gave up his ghost. He left me when I was just nine and my brother was 13 years old. His memory is still fresh in my mind. But why did it have to happen to me, to us? I had to learn to accept it and burial took place.
We started staying with our grandmother for some time in the nearby village and when we returned home, our only house had fallen. If only I could ask God why us, but my heart said no. We informed our auntie of the fate and she organized people to build us a house from iron sheet that had roof of the old house. Later we were built a better two roomed house with iron sheet. The house has nothing except the bed we were using with my brother.
We resumed our studies and other pupils shared their food and other things with us. This carried us through and other well wishers blessed us as God touched them.
One day while on our way to school, we met with our neighbour, who also used to feed us, and he told us about St. Anna’s Centre. He brought us to this Centre where we met with the Bishop and his wife, who direct the center, along with their staff. They asked all the information necessary and sympathized with our case. They took us into school in St. Anna’s. Every evening they provided us with food for supper and we joined others for breakfast here in the Centre. We were staying with our auntie at this time.
When space to board at St. Anna’s opened up, we moved in and it became easier for us to concentrate without worry and fear. We were provided with everything for boarding and all the necessities are taken care of. Some sponsors helped to provide our needs and we are so thankful for this.
My position and that of my brother has risen and we are performing well in our studies. When I grow up I would like to become a Banker.
Thanks to St. Anna’s Center for giving me a chance in a lifetime. Karanja
Child Sponsorship can change the future for a child, as it has for Karanja, by providing for his/her school needs and sometimes for their care needs as well.
Note: St. Anna’s is run by retired Bishop Mahiaini and his wife (in their 80’s) who after retirement, desired to help in their community. They get no income from their work with St. Anna’s center. They are supported by an active , local board to make sure that St. Anna’s supports the most needy in their community.
A 10 kilometer walk to school on 6 year old legs!