Case Studies

Vincent

Vincent has been a student at St Monica Early Childhood Development Centre in Kibera since February 2009. Nine years ago he was born disabled and has since been living physically handicapped and completely immobilized.  Confined to a wheelchair, Vincent is unable to play or freely mingle with his peers.

Vincent is the second eldest in a family of five children. His mother Risper, previously a community service volunteer, now stays at home to provide around the clock care of her son. Jason, Vincent’s father is unable to find permanent work and is forced to work odd jobs, paying very little in an attempt to feed his family. This family is faced with life-threatening challenges, among them disease and financial instability. On many occasions they are forced to choose between the most basic of needs such as food, water or a new pair of new shoes for school. They often receive eviction notices as they have failed to meet payment for the rent of their makeshift house at Raila Village in Kibera. 

Vincent and his family receive no government aid and therefore depend only on themselves.  The family cannot afford Vincent’s medication or his therapy sessions. Just importantly they cannot afford to buy suitable mobility equipment or a study chair for school. Private disability schools are too expensive for Vincent’s family. Risper is HIV positive and is beginning to show signs of the disease.  She cannot afford to buy ARV medication as what little money they have goes to Vincent and her remaining four children. 

Nia Children’s Foundation relives some of the pressure in the families daily life by providing Vincent with one meal a day, education, friendship and most of all support. 

Linet

Linet was born on 22nd January, 2003, in the Raila village, Kibera.  Linet joined the school in August 2009 and has since become a Class One pupil.  The school has allowed Linet to continue her studies although she still struggles with simple reading and spelling. 

The fifth born child in a family of six, Linet has 3 brothers and two sisters. Her mum’s name is Millicent and her father Mark passed away two months before Linet was born after losing his fight with HIV-Aids.  Her mother Millicent is now the sole bread winner of the family and too has been diagnosed with HIV.  The family receives no outside support and after learning of Millicent’s condition an uncle of the family refused to help pay fees for the eldest son’s schooling. 

Millicent is unable to find permanent work so she is left to perform daily odd jobs to provide the most basic food, water and shelter for her six children.  On a good day she maybe able to secure a washing job but if not the family goes without food that evening.  The family lives in deplorable conditions, a one-room shanty shack with a communal bed that Millicent shares with her children.  The family is faced with daily challenges, things that are often taken for granted such as blankets, clothing and shoes.  The children are often seen walking bare foot to and from school.

Like her mother, Linet is very unwell, suffering from painful ear aches and uncontrollable urination.  The doctors believe she has malaria although some of her symptoms suggest another infection just as life threatening.

This family is in urgent need of support.  Once the family loses Millicent to HIV the six children will be left without a mother and their sole provider.  Nia Children’s Foundation helps where it can by ensuring the children receive basic food, water and an education.  Education provides hope for families like Linet’s who are trying to secure a brighter future. 

Michael

Michael was born in the Kibera slum on June 2003, making him the first born child in a family of two.

Both Michael and his brother Noel have Sickle Cell Anaemia, an inherited blood disorder that affects haemoglobin (the protein found in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen throughout the body).  The most common effects of the condition are exhaustion, stunted growth, a lower immune system and in many cases acute pain in the chest, arms, legs and abdomen as a result of the sickle cells blocking the blood flow through the body.  

Although there is no cure, symptoms can be lessened through medication but in Michael’s family’s case this is not an option due to lack of money.  The boys’ mother and father try to help them through providing a special diet of milk and fruits which will strengthen their immune system.  As Michael’s father is the sole worker of the family, they struggle to provide even these simple items. The disease has impacted the boys’ education forcing them to miss large amounts of school and activities.

Nia Children’s Foundation uses your monthly donations to provide all of the children with a good varied diet of beans, rice, fruit and milk. For some of the children their meal at school is the only food they have each day.

Brenda

Brenda comes from a large family of six. She is the eldest at 10 years of age with two sisters and three brothers. Her father works as a soft drinks vendor in an estate called Langata. Her family lives in a single roomed house in the slums with no running water or furniture. The children sleep on the floor together with blankets to protect them from the mud, mosquitoes and the cold.

Brenda’s mother Eunice spends her time looking after the children, in particular Brenda and her sister Samantha who are HIV positive. Both the girls are of ill health, unaware of the full extent of their condition and do not have access to the required medication due to the costs.

Nia Children’s Foundation is able to educate the children, parents and wider community about HIV helping them understand the condition and the importance of seeking medical help to allow them to live longer happier lives.