#SHIFT THE POWER ; IT SOUNDS MUSICAL TO MY EARS -JOY, COURAGE & HOPE TO THE VULNERABLE
Jul 21, 2024
Story
Seeking
Collaboration
Teresa
Kenya
Jul 29
Joined Feb 8, 2009
Photo Credit: MADAM JENSINE LARSEN RECENT VISIT TO KENYA - AWARDING ME AN WORLD PULSE AMBASSADORS 2. WP AMBASSADORS ,CHANGEMAKERS & MEMBERS HOLDING ESTHER TERESA FEEDING THE ELDERLY IN A CHURCH 3. KENYAN FLAG: MADAM JENSINE & KENYAN WP CHANGEMAKERS HOLDING FLAG 4
Am a Volunteer from the grassroots, Over 14 yrs i have done Voluntary Job in the Slums whereby you experience real poverty. The most affected Vulnerable Groups are the Elderly, the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) . HUNGER affects them most. When I visit Elderly people you find that some of them, do not have relatives and those who have relatives they are also very poor they end up depending on the handouts that are brought to the Elderly person.
Majority of the School going Children sleep hungry so they stop going to School due to hunger. They go to the City whereby they start snatching Mobile phones while one has received /answered the call, they snatch and run away in great speed that when you try to shout for help the phone is gone.
A single Mother, I was trying to help the family by introducing them to a Catholic Church the priest gave them foodstuffs but already the elder son had already joined other gangsters in the Streets. So they used to hire a motorbike they timed pedestrians walking freely receives a call, the boy/ thieves on a motorbike great speed snatched the phone. The Police Men were alerted they ran after them, They were three on the Motorbike the first one was shot dead, the second one also . The remaining tried to speed his best to speed the motorbike but the police caught up with him and he was shot dead. All three were lying on the road dead blood The Motorbike was taken to the Police Station. The police were informed the Motorbike did not belong to them they usually hire. The owner refused to go for his hired Motorbike and he vacated from that location.
Due to Hunger , Poverty premature death occurred.
The Mother his First Born son was shot dead. We organised people to contribute money for burial permits The Mother suffered humiliation other neighbours especially Women refused to attend the gatherings. They were heard talking in low tones "The boy was a thief".
I wish if the Donors/Sponsors had given the necessary Food Donation when the boy was still Young the boy could have continued with his Education . The shame the Mother suffered will last her lifetime.
When the Government Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Cash Transfer Program was introduced later in 2009 I mobilised some of the most Vulnerable they now receive Kshs. 2000 per month. The mother is now a beneficiary.
I also managed to Mobilise the most Vulnerable Elderly, the Persons with Severe Disability but they benefited a few. So when the 'SHIFT THE POWER is introduced THE VULNERABLE all inclusive, HUNGER IN MY COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT.
Am a COMMUNITY HEALTH VOLUNTEER I have One Hundred Households I visit and report to the nearest Health Facility (DISPENSARY)Also the School going Children, they have reached the age of going to School you visit them you find that due to poverty they don't have food, School Fees, Uniform, Shoes. So, I visit Schools pleading with the Private School Owners at least one Lady in Private School different classes has managed to admit Sponsor Ten pupils. When I visit the slums, they see me from a distance they shout Teresia!! Teresia!!!. The Class Teacher informs me that the youngest of all is a bright boy he is always position No 1. The Class Teacher loves that boy so much Last Thursday I was there in the Slums, they were telling me that other pupils their parents have paid for the TRIP. During end of TERM those parents who affords to pay for their children enjoy but all those children from poor families who were admitted they do not enjoy those Trips. , I cannot afford to pay even for one child. My heart aches especially when you find them hungry and you do not have anything to offer.
Do you know little children are so innocent they are like little ANGELS once they love someone they will tell you all their secrets. There are those who once who have both parents so they were saying do you know, Dad and Mum''s bed is not big they do not fit both so dad sleeps on top of my mum .
ONE ROOM SELF CONTAINED ROOM mostly they are made up of corrugated Iron Sheets roof and on the sides but the Slum dwellers rename it as "SELF CONFUSED ROOM' reason being, the Children as they grow up Parents wait for their children to sleep also the Children also waits for their Parents to start playing sex the children alerts others by method of touching one another so they watch the game until its is over without knowing . What a shame?
The following day they informed other Children how it goes during the night so they shout calling others come we show you the children were caught doing the act. When they were beaten up they narrated the source of the whole story the parents, Imagine, what a shameful incident to those Parents? Am glad SHIFT THE POWER will liberate such poor parents from shame without discrimination.
The Donors/Sponsors should "SHIFT THE POWER" to those Volunteers at the GRASSROOTS, SLUMS to Volunteers like me and others. Visiting these Households in the Slums, it is a challenge , you walk/step on blocked Sewerage there is no proper Sewer/Sanitation.
The elderly also needs foodstuffs, Clothes, a Home for the Elderly, etc...
The Persons with Disability needs special diet for the Children with severe Disability, Diapers Sanitary Towels. Wheel chairs etc. There are those who attend special Schools . Their Mothers/parents cannot afford.
IMAGINE THOSE DONORS/SPONSORS WHO DEMAND FOR PROPOSALS IN ORDER TO RELEASE FUNDS, DONATIONS. THEY SHOULD VISIT THE SLUMS. YES, I remember there were an INTERNATIONAL FORUM 2006 at UNEP AT GILGIL so we were invited. We invited them to one of the slums they agreed to come when they entered into some of the Slums Shanties one room whereby the one small 'Self Confused room " horrible. There was only one Double Decker bed They were informed the Parents slept on the lower bed while the children sleeps on the upper bed Majority of the them had no Toilet facility , they had flying Toilets. The white Foreigners could not imagine they shed tears ,cried .
They organised a Meeting they then called informed us that We the Volunteers who were with them we were asked to visit those Vulnerable Families each child's details NAME,AGE,CLASS,. When they came back they brought a BED KIT- each had the name of the Child on it. By 6 am we had arrived at the VENUE School and our Visitors also. We arranged the children accordingly. The BED KIT contained a small mattress, school going School, pen, Mosquito Net, Sleepers, TShirts. etc.. So, Every Volunteer with his /her children called their names the parents carried the BED KIT.
Those Delegates/Donors did not use a Proposal to assist the VULNERABLE in our COMMUNITY. That day it was all JUBILATION!!. DELEGATES when they saw the suffering of the Slum Dwellers did not complicate issues. May GOD continue blessing them their families. Amen.