The Children’s Shelter

Many of the pictures I have posted of the children have been taken at their jah jah’s home, the home in which I am staying. This house would be considered extremely simple, and candidly, undesirable by American standards, but does have modern conveniences such as covered couches and chairs, a small television that broadcasts one channel, a tiny kitchen with a stove, and most of the time we are blessed with electricity and running water. The children's home is much different.

Theirs is a two room, all concrete shelter. It is a part of a block that contains a total of several such living quarters, all inhabited by women and their little girls. I can only guess that my children’s neighbors are the girlfriends or second or third wives of men who don’t stay with them, or maybe the women and kids have been abandoned altogether. If these women are lucky, maybe the men send some cash for their and their daughters’ living expenses; since Richard is the only boy in sight, it seems the sons have all gone to live with their fathers. Unfortunately, these women’s conditions are not unusual here in Uganda where monogamy is more of an exception than a rule and many men do not own up to their child rearing obligations.

Aunt Vinnie and cousins visiting kids at their house

I hope my pictures haven’t been deceiving. Yes, my children are extremely happy. Delighted to have another chance at life, to have their basic needs met: access to a nearby water source, eating all the food their bodies need, backs covered in clothes, bodies laying in real beds and, probably the most cherished aspect of their new livelihood, attending school. Before they lived in squalor, in mind-bending destitution; I’ve said it many times to Balazas of my children’s father, he would treat a pig better than he treated his children.

Their lives are much improved, but are still filled with challenges and what I would perceive to be discomfort, which they don't seem to notice. They are squished together at night; seven of them, all five of my children, plus their new Ugandan Mummy, Ester, and Ester’s daughter, Peanut, sleep in a ten by ten room. I have erected two triple decker beds to accommodate them, ensuring they each have mattresses, except for the two youngest, Sylvia and Rachel, who share a bed since they are small and still susu while they sleep.

Aunt Vinnie looking at Sylvia posing for me in her bed

Their front room is an even smaller space than the bedroom, about eight by ten feet. Between the naked, dirty walls stands a coffee table, benches and stools, which I just recently had made for them; the only other items are stored food, water, cutlery and plastic plates and cups.

Aunt Vinnie and Emma making over Sylvia's schoolwork in the kids' front room

Peanut sitting in their main room

Electricity spurts through the house occasionally, but their one outlet does not work and the wiring in the back room seems amiss, so the errant electricity only supplies a single light hanging in the front room. They do not have plumbing, so water must be bought at a local tap where the children fill jerrycans and carry the heavy items back to the house to do their washing, bathing and cooking. Sometimes the tap doesn’t work, forcing them to walk about a half a mile to the local well, and then of course a half a mile back lugging what must be at least fifty pounds of water in each container on their heads.

The kids gratefully attend school during the day. Sylvia and Rachel come to their jah jah’s for me to look after them in the early afternoon with Beatrice and Richard arriving later around four, and Agnes not getting out of school until at least five. As the sun dives towards the horizon and the townspeople make their way to market, my children walk along the dirt road to their home in Namengo where they cook their food on a small charcoal stove in the front room or under the awning just outside. They wash the dishes, clean their uniforms, play and do some homework.

Charcoal stove and jerrycan of water in main room

Before bed they bathe, which is done in a basin behind their block in the communal area where the wash is hung to dry; the older kids will go behind the pit latrines to a cramped, smelly space for more privacy.

Communal area for bathing and washing, latrines behind the wall

Latrine

Then the kids go to bed, Ester usually not arriving to look after them until they are falling asleep; I think they drift off easily, assuredly, happily. Their room isn't filled with much to see, there are no expensive clothes, nice beds, cute toys, or pretty pictures, but they have what they need, they have each other, and for that they are inspiringly thankful.

Richard, Beatrice, Rachel, Peanut and Sylvia laughing in front of their home with Mama Ester