Lady from Kisii

This mother of three has a story, not unlike many women who live in rural Africa. Hers, however personal, looks pretty much like so many others: a mom living on her own trying to survive as well as care for her children. Meeting the family’s basic physical needs is a daily challenge. Needs like a roof over their heads, simple food to eat, clothes to wear, and shoes to wear. Extras might mean paying school fees so their children can attend school or much needed medical care when malaria strikes. Over the top extras would be things like mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, a jiko and charcoal for cooking, buying enough food for two days instead of just one.

Elizabeth and her kids used to live near her elderly parents in the town of Kisii. Generally, older people in the African culture are very much respected and often sought out for their wisdom from living a long life. But, when a community is suffering, perhaps from the extreme hardships of poverty, a poor crop or maybe fighting amongst neighbors, elderly people can be blamed for what’s going on. This is especially true if the older person is known or rumored to be heavily involved in witchcraft. The belief is either they have been cursed and thereby bringing curses on the community or they themselves are so involved with demonic powers that they are bringing down many problems to the people. This is what happened with Elizabeth’s parents. Their village was suffering from sickness and poverty; the parents were blamed, so they and Elizabeth were chased away from entire area. Psychologically tortured and suffering immeasurable emotional stress, alone with her children, Elizabeth walked from village to village looking for somewhere to stay with her kids. She finally found refuge in a duplex type house with two rooms in the village of Bikeke.

Elizabeth knew no one when she got there, but heard there was a school nearby where they might allow her kids to come for free for an education. Strapping on her youngest, Elizabeth and the two older children walked to Liberty School and talked with the Head Teacher. Already severely impacted by so many children suffering similar plights of poverty and not being able to attend school, the teacher didn’t see how he could admit two more, but the Director and the staff of Liberty School are there for one reason: their love and desire to help just such children who have no other answer. And so, now two more are there…attending school, receiving food and medical care, love and support. A scared mom, alone, not trusting anyone has found a community who loves and cares about her and her children. Her own children are now teaching her how to read and write.

It’s a start, a small beginning, maybe even an insurmountable uphill battle, but for Elizabeth who is very used to living only one day at a time, she now has days that are more than she ever imagined or hoped could happen. Liberty School continues to impact people, real people, real problems, giving them what no one else can, Hope.