Oprhans and Vulnerable Children

Oprhans and Vulnerable Children:

Many of us in North America have had or now have adopted orphans from different through different programs. Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) takes care of over 2000 orphans in the North West Region. 319 in the Menchum/Wum are and 679 in the Kumbo, in Befut 615 and Mbejwi 650. Feb 10, 2014 the highlight of my day was meeting two sisters in the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) program. IDF first identifies a child as an orphan or in a vulnerable situation, does a needs assessment and gives the support they need: food, health (take them to the doctor and/or hospital), legal support (birth certificate), counselling if they were abused, educational support and psycho social support.

Oussematou arranged for two sisters to come to the IDF office on National Youth Day before and after they were marching in the parade.

Before I met them, Oussematou explained that they had been abandoned by their grand mother after their father had died of a stroke. The father was taking care of administration and finance at IDF. He helped for two years before his retirement and worked eight years as a volunteer with IDF. He lived four months after his stroke, dying three years ago. The children were left destitute abandoned by their grand mother and father’s family who sent away these children and their mother. The reason given was that this lady was not a native of their tribe and was not legally married. All the property was srized , she was not authorised to even harvest her crop from the farm and was told not to pass by this farm again. IDF tried in vain to convince this lady to go to Social Affairs , she refused and said that she will be killed with the children if she does so. She instead when to traditional authorities who did not solve the problem.  The lady went and hired a two rooms house where she stays with the children and IDF gave few chairs and tables. She also started a small business that helps her feed the children. The mother is cooking meals for them. The daughters  carry water each morning and help with washing. Oussematou made sure the girls were registered in school, had a school uniform and school supplies . They are now enrolled in the Orphan and Vulnerable children programme to benefit from various supports from time to time.  They are followed by a case worker.

First I took their pictures.



Ngum, age 9 Anoui, age 13



I gave each of the girls a paper with questions. They were so able and eager to answer the questions well. They knew exactly what they wanted to answer!

They had a friend along who was eager to help them!

Both girls feel that their education is very important. Ngum, age 9, wants to be a pilot. Anoui, age 13 wants to be a journalist. Both say that Mama Oussematou has helped them most, especially with education and dressing. Ngum is thankful for her health. Anuoi is thankful for her life even though ‘we don’t have but we manage with what God has given us’. Ngum would like to have good friends. One real good friend would be good. Anuoi would like to change her way of talking and dealing with anger. Anoui knows that God will change their lives one day.

The girls willingly sat before the camera telling us about themselves. They all enjoyed seeing the interviews on the computer. In the picture, Anoui is hugging her little sister as they watch themselves on the computer.

I hope you will be able to hear them speak on utube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qtbGIH0A9Q&feature=youtube_gdata