Background Info
James Njuguna was born in Gilgil, Nakuru County, in the year 2011. James, together with his siblings Esther Waithera and Robert Waweru are under our program. James is the sixth born in a family of nine. His mother is Lydia Wairimu. Lydia is 40 years old. She is an overwhelmed mother struggling to fend for the children.
Lydia has many problems that make her a vulnerable woman. First, Lydia is not educated. She had always lived in the rural part of Gilgil town. She met and fell in love with her former husband when she was just 15 years. The husband took her to his home and married her. They started a family soon after. Secondly, Lydia is a widow. She lives with the stigma of losing a husband.
Her husband died in the year 2014. He left her with eight children. Before the husband died, they were able to take care of the children. Lydia was taking care of a farm while their father worked. When her husband died, Lydia faced abuse from her In-laws. They claimed that she was responsible for her husband's death. They chased her out of the home with all the children. Lydia had nothing when she was chased away. She moved with the children in the Ponda-Mali slums near her sister. She rented a dilapidated house that she could afford. Thirdly, Lydia is suffering from severe Vitiligo. Lydia has to clean clothes for other people to get food. She is not able to get any child into school without support. Vitiligo limits her chances of getting employed. Most people feel like her condition might be contagious. She tried hawking fruits, but no one would buy from her. Sometimes it is the children who have to go around and hawk the fruits. What they get is used to buy food for the family. The family currently lives in the Ponda-Mali slum. They live in a small congested house. They struggle to get their basic needs. James and her sister were both admitted to Prince of peace school. He was admitted in 2019 after an assessment at their home. He is currently in pre-primary two. James is determined and cooperative.
In aid of EDGeL Mission. (EQUIPPING DEPENDENT GENERATION for LIFE)