Stories

I sit here trying to figure out what it is I should say or how I should start sharing with you the last two weeks. It’s honestly been a drag every time I’ve stumbled upon a computer because I know I need to let you all know how I am but feeling so overwhelmed with all I have to say. And the more I put it off, the harder it gets.
So.
First off, Siyaphila (I’m alive).
It’s been quite an experience so far. And some of the things I’ve experienced I’m going to refrain from telling just in case word gets to my mother and she forces me to come home.
But I think right now it’s best to start off by telling the stories of two families that I had the privilege of visiting today.

This is the story of three boys: Simpiwe, Daniel, and Seboneso. Simpiwe and Daniel are brothers. Simpiwe is 17 and Daniel is 12. They have the same mother but different fathers, both of whom are nowhere to be found (something too common in this community). Seboneso is 15. The story begins with Simpiwe and Daniel’s mother taking care of Seboneso’s sick mother. The house consisted of the three boys, two mothers, and a grandmother. Seboneso’s mother passed away and the boy was adopted into the family. Shortly later, the grandmother passed away. Shortly later, Simpiwe and Daniel’s mother became sick and Simpiwe stayed home to care for his mother. She died in 2005, when Simpiwe was 14, Daniel was 9, and Seboneso was 12. The first sad fact is that death is all these kids have ever known - three people dying within a short period of time. How are these kids even supposed to understand death? They must be asking themselves why everyone in their life has died and left them.
Finding food is a struggle for them. All the boys are in grade 7 (School is a very difficult obstacle for these kids to overcome. Failure and repetition is very common.) and so can not hold a job in order to buy food. We praise them for remaining in school. First of all, there are no jobs in Masoyi and second of all the future of these boys lies in education. If they expect to make anything of themselves, education is the only way. Masoyi Home-Based Care checks on these boys often, making sure all their basic needs are met. They supply them with blankets, food, school uniforms, and other things they need. But they can only do and give so much. The food given to these boys only lasts about two weeks, and then they need to find food. They have an aunt that helps them out, but even she has 5 of her own children to care for so it’s a stretch to help another three.
What shook me up the most was their home. Most of the homes in Masoyi are small cement shacks, but this one was far beyond what I have seen. It was a small shack with wood slabs for walls and a detached tin roof. There were large spaces between the wood panels and blankets stuffed in between the roof and the walls to absorb water. The floor is the ground. The boys live in the worst possible area in Masoyi – they live down hill and they live on the very edge of the community, near bush. Being near bush and having many holes in their walls gives plenty opportunity for snakes and rats to enter and dwell within their house. Further, because they live downhill, during rainy seasons, the water runs down their hill and along their floor (the ground). I can’t imagine what happens on a rainy day. The kids are sitting on their beds, trying to escape the water running at their feet and wrapping themselves in damp blankets, trying to escape the water dripping from the roof and leaking through the walls.
Usually orphans can apply and receive government funding. In order to receive this funding, they have to have the death certificates of both their parents and prove their orphan status. Daniel receives government funding, but unfortunately for the boys whose fathers are still alive, they cannot get funding. They aren’t technically “orphans”. They live on their own, have no idea who their father is, yet they cannot receive money.
These boys are a success story. They continue to go to school. They have no one encouraging them to go. They have no one telling them to do their homework. The oldest boy comes home from school, cooks supper, cares for the basic needs of his brothers, and tries to do some homework. And what’s the reality? Is there even a point to these boys finishing school? It’s their only hope and for them to still be holding on to that hope, that is the success story.

The second story is of two 17 year old twin girls: Uni and Unise. They were orphaned when they were 3 months old. Their sister Mavis, who was 10 when their mother passed away, was left to care for Uni, Unise, and their brother who was 4 at the time. Imagine being 10 and caring for two newborns and a 4 year old boy! Mavis just passed away this past January, leaving behind her 7 year old son. Now Uni and Unise are living alone with their nephew. The brother is a bright student and received a bursary to attend university. The girls are currently in grade 8. They lived in a house similar to Simpiwe’s but last year received government housing. They too are receiving support from Masoyi Home-Based Care, but Masoyi can only do so much. They also run out of food early and need to somehow find food.

Another sad story I heard was about a girl and her younger sister living alone. They became desperate for food so the older sister had to get a boyfriend. He’s 32. Basically she sleeps with this man for food. Their house is one room. There are two beds close together. Even if the man does nothing with the younger sister, she is still there all the time. She’s in the same room. She’s growing up thinking that this is life. There will come a point when she will feel it’s her turn to fulfill her role. And I haven’t even brought AIDS into this story.

We can’t even imagine the cycle these children are born into. Can’t even imagine.