HELLEN SETEK 13 YEARS OLD
Hellen was forcefully married off to a
man she did not know and did not want. Since she refused to walk the
father and other elders tied her hands and legs and ordered young men
to carry her to her husband's house. The mother reported the abuse
to the police and the police started a search for her. The man who
had married her went into hiding and also took the girl to a village
far from his. Hellen remained locked up for three days. She refused to
eat anything. On the third day she managed to escape at night to the
local police station. The police took her to the Children's
Department. The children's Department moved her to Mission With a
Vision safe house. We thank African Children's Haven (USA) for
supporting her to return to school. She is currently at Naikkara
Boarding School,Standard 3.
GRACE LINTI
As early as age nine Grace's father
had already received half of the bride price for her. Mission With a
Vision, with financial support from Barbara Pickett and Peggy Daniel,
rescued her and enrolled her in Siana Boarding Primary. She completed
primary school and joined Aliance Girls' High School despite stiff
opposition from her father. Upon completion of high school we held a
meeting with her parents, in which Grace promised her father to pay
back the bride price after university. She is currently at Egerton
University( second year ) undertaking a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management.
Thanks to Barbara Pickett for supporting her while in university.
CATHERINE CHEPKOECH MUNAI
Catherine comes from an extremely poor background.The father is a drunkard who spends every coin on beer.The mother has struggled a lot to feed her and her siblings ,providing them with even basic needs has been a very difficult thing for her.Through support from Jerusaleum Fellowship prayer group she was able to join Ole Tipis Girls High School .With support from OFDC donors ( Bob and Cathy ) she was able to join Thika Medical College to pursue a three and a half Diploma in Nursing ( currently in second year 2011-2012 )
Dorcas Yeno Ntayia 14 years; Grade six: Support given by "African Children's Haven"
I am a Christian and I don't believe in FGM. I told my father I don't want to undergo it but he said it is a must. I said no. On 13 December when I was sleeping he came with my uncles and tied me up. I was taken to another house and tied against the wall. The woman who circumcises girls came in with a knife and I have never felt the pain like the pain I felt. I screamed and screamed but the women who where present were just insulting me and saying I was a disgrace to the clan and that they had to make me a woman. After the painful exercises, I was taken bleeding to my step-mothers house. For the first time I asked myself if my mother was alive would they do this to me? We loved our mother and we miss her very much. The other wife of my father does not like us and does not want our father to give us food. Our father beats us every time he is told anything by my step-mother. We still stay in our late mothers house but my father rarely comes to our house. In February we suffered so much because I had refused to be married off and reported my step-mother to the police. I took my sister and we run away to the church. The pastor took us to Mission with a vision office in Narok. We are happy here and we are back in school. One day I want to be an administrator and help other girls in need.
This girl has suffered a lot due to forced FGM and also neglect from the step mother. She is capable of achieving a lot.
You may not realise how lucky you are, if you come to Kenya and see how many children are hungry and how many children have no future. It is true there will always be a needy person but your help will make it one less needy person. You can put back a smile on that little girl or boy's face. Your help will bring back hope to someone no matter how small it is it will make a difference.
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