Gary and his brother Eric lost their parents to the road accident when they were toddlers. Promises from the mourners about their welfare followed and normally after burial and plenty of white roses followed, everything went back to normal. But for Gary and Eric everything changed automatically. No goodnight lullaby and a parental hugs and love, so what happens next? Since they are not old enough to cater for their own needs. Their mother’s best friend suggested that they should be sent to the Upendo children home where they will receive basic needs , love and protection.
Upendo children’s home is a community based organization located at kilifi county, it provides alot of support to the vulnerable children within kilifi. The Upendo fraternity welcomed the two brothers at the age of four years and provided closure and comfort to them and many other children. They helped them heal from the loss of their parents and provided them with counseling and eventually , they adapted the new life and accepted Upendo childrens home as their family they never had. They finished their education by the help of the scholarship provided by the Community Based Organization and they are students at the tertiary level.
Children’s homes are the answered prayers to many individuals who needs somewhere to live or stay and protection provided to them. They also provide basic need s to many children, source of employment to many caregivers. They provided everything to the brothers until they became the persons they wanted to become. The caregivers develops attachment with the children as well as the other colleagues.
Take look at the case of these two brothers, what would have been their fate if the children home didn’t come to their rescue? They would have been exposed to many harmful things that would have placed their lives at risk. What about other children who experience the same fate? These cases increases the rate of child trafficking, forced commercial prostitution and defilement and early pregnancies. The increased population of street children would emerge and this will increase the rate of criminal activities.
I strongly disagree with the closure of the children home since the adaption agencies are limited and also many families have financial issues and cannot accommodate the many children as possible. The united nations agencies should encourage the continuous operation of the children homes. However, they should look for a way to work together with the children homes operating.
Looking at instance of Gary and Eric, the children home came in hand to shape them from the harm that was waiting for them at their young age. Many children and other people who look upon children homes and other community based organization for their safety and employment can end up being like the scattered flock of sheep with no shepherd when they are not functioning anymore.
In a nutshell children homes should continue functioning regardless of what happens whatsoever. Gary and Eric could have faced any danger and their dreams would have been shattered if it was not that Upendo Children Home intervened and made their dreams possible. And this instilled values and discipline to them that they carried with them to their adulthood.
Author -Rtr Evelyn Kumeiya is a third year student pursuing Bachelor of arts in childcare and protection and a member of the rotaract club of pwani university and passionate about children living with disability
