When the world falls apart: SOS Kenya cultivates a better future for three young sisters
Despite tragedy, young Sharon can now continue her education and work while her two younger sisters are well cared for, through the support of SOS Children's Villages in Kenya.
Sharon’s world fell apart two years ago after her mother died and her father abandoned them. She was left her alone to raise her sisters, Nimu* and Mona*, who were eight and two-weeks old at the time.
Sharon was in her last year of high school and had been working hard to make her mother proud. She planned to join university to study law. Sharon says taking on her new role as parent was heart breaking and difficult.
“I felt it was the end of me. I had to let go all my dreams and fun in the world to become a family girl,” says Sharon, who is now 20 years old. “I was not prepared, but by the strength of God, I told myself that I would work hard like my mother and take care of my siblings. I would stand in for the family and be the parent, the sister, and everything,” she says.
Through the support of SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya, Sharon has found a way to continue her education while her siblings, now 10 and two-years-old, are well cared for.
But Sharon and her sisters endured hard and painful times before help finally arrived.
Barely two weeks after their mother’s death, the landlord evicted the girls from their home in KCC, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Nairobi. In the midst of her own grief and now facing homelessness, Sharon cried out to her mother’s friend when a relative refused to help her.
The compassionate neighbour allowed them to sleep on her sofa, and agreed to watch the infant during the day when Sharon went school.
The sisters later moved to live on their own in a single room supported by the church once Sharon completed high school. “The baby was so small. I had to carry her in my arms always. I had to sooth her to eat, to drink milk and to sleep. Other times she would cry the whole night, and we would have sleepless nights,” recalls Sharon as tears fall freely down her face.
“I tried to commit suicide a couple of times to drown my pain. Then I realized no one would take care of my sisters if I died. I made up my mind and decided to take heart. I stopped entertaining thoughts of suicide and started focusing on my life and that of my siblings.”
Sharon says she fed the children with help from her neighbours. “Those who know my story gave food, clothing, milk, or encouraged me with their words of wisdom,” she says.
Struggling to make ends meet
The church Sharon attends sponsored her in January 2020, to enrol for a three-month certificate course in hairdressing and beauty. The skills would help her find work and earn money to better care for her siblings.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit Kenya in March, two months into the training, and Sharon had to stop when the government ordered a lockdown to curb its spread.
Her neighbours came and told her, ‘Sharon, there are things we will not be able to provide you with anymore, but do not worry we are still together’. I felt all alone in the world. I needed to keep myself busy to avoid negative thoughts.”
Fortunately, the skills Sharon gained at the hairdressing and beauty training helped her secure a job at a small salon near her house, to wash and blow dry hair. She earns a commission of 20 shillings (16 euro cents) for every client she serves.
“I cook the little rice or flour that I am able to buy just for us to survive. I cannot afford a balanced diet even for Mona who needs it the most. She loves to drink milk so much but if I buy milk with the 20 shillings (16 euro cents) I make at the salon, then Mona will have no diapers or we might have no food for dinner. It is a struggle in every way. I have to think of ways to get food otherwise people will hate me if I keep begging.”
Need for alternative care
The SOS Children’s Village family strengthening programme learnt about Sharon’s situation through a community volunteer who knows the family well. The family strengthening service boosts the capacity of families to care for their children and builds resilience, keeping children and their families together.
Sharon enrolled in the programme for support. In the best interest of Nimu and Mona, however, they will be separated from their elder sister to allow her get a college education - qualifications to help her secure a decent job to provide better for her sisters. The girls will in the meantime find a new home in an SOS family.
“SOS will support me but after we first settle my siblings,” says Sharon. “I would like to pursue ECD (Early Child Development) because I have a passion for children.”
Sharon recently toured the SOS village to see her sisters’ new home when she is away at school. SOS mother Brigitte showed her around and answered her questions. Children who have lost parental care find a safe home here and grow up with care and protection.
“SOS will take care of the young girls so they do not remain unattended when Sharon is at school,” says SOS mother Brigitte. “Nimu and Mona will live in the same SOS family to keep the bond between them alive and strong. We want that love and connection between them to remain even when they exit SOS. The sisters will re-unite when Sharon is financially settled,” she says.
Sharon will see her siblings during school break or visit them at the SOS village to maintain their close relationship. “This is a good arrangement and I feel that our family bond will not fade away,” says Sharon.
“We will remain one family with one love. It is so good for SOS to help me with the children, and I can care for myself for a change. I will have time to think about my future, and the direction to take that will help my siblings when they leave the SOS family.”
*Names changed to protect the privacy of the children.