Kids Profiles

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Brian

Background

Nothing is known of Brian’s mother, except that she died in the family home from complications in a pregnancy. His father suffers from mental illness and is an alcoholic and does not care for any of his children. Brian has an older sister, Sheila, who is also in the African LEAF program.  Brian and Sheila survived in the slum of Kawangwareangware in Nairobi for many years before African Leaf took them in in 2004

About Brian

Brian is in year seven now and loves to be at the farm school.  He has a beautiful nature and is very gentle with the other children, always happy to help out at the boarding with the younger ones.  He has a great sense of humor and is well liked by his house mums and teachers.  He takes his schoolwork very seriously, always aiming at improving himself. Brian loves to listen to stories and is a great storyteller himself.   His hobbies are drama, football and table tennis.

Find out about the Luhya tribe.

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Diana

Background

Diana’s mother, who has a severe drinking problem, left her children in the house to fend for themselves, sometimes for up to 3 weeks at a time. The neighbours had asked a Community Health Worker to assess the situation as they were having to feed the children due to the mother’s neglect. African LEAF became involved when Diana fell into the fire within the house and had a bad burn to her arm which her mother knew about, but did not seek medical attention. Diana and her brother, Kiki, were wandering the streets, with Diana very weak and in tremendous pain. African LEAF organised for Diana to get medical assistance and then she and Kiki were moved to the Steiner Farm School where they joined the African LEAF Child Program. Being only 2½ at the time, Diana could not board at the Farm School so she was housed (together with Junior) in a little house on the school grounds.  The house and a carer were paid for by African LEAF until both could be enrolled in the Kindergarten at the Steiner School as a weekly boarder at age 4.

About Diana

Diana has progressed very well and has been identified as a gifted child. She has calmed down a lot and is now able to play happily by herself with building blocks and books. She absolutely adores music and dancing and has been blessed with an innate sense of rhythm. She breaks out into dance anywhere and anytime!
  Diana has a rather extraordinary personality for a Kenyan girl. She is outspoken, says what she feels, is outgoing, wanting to be a part and have a go at everything and she has a wicked sense of humour. Everyone just falls in love with her wherever she goes.

Find out about the Meru tribe.

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Faulat

Background

Faulat’s mother died from an untreated aggressive form of diabetes and due to this high blood pressure. Her father lives and works in Uganda.  Her mother died in hospital and when no one came to pick her up, she made her own way back to Kawangware Slum where she found that her home had been locked up by the landlord as her mother was dead and no one would be able to pay the rent.

About Faulat

Faulat is now a weekly boarder at the Steiner Farm School and is in year 8. On the weekends she has been going home to her aunty, Zuhuru, who lives in Kibera Slum. Faulat and her aunty adore one another and Faulat seems more emotionally settled due to this arrangement. She now knows that there is one of her own people out there for her and more importantly that loves her.  Faulat is a bright student. She is very Fluent in English and enjoys her schoolwork very much. She has a great thirst for knowledge and is ready to read for you.  Faulat appears to have a shy demeanour but is really a sociable and outgoing young girl.

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Junior

Background

Please refer to Faith’s profile for details of family situation. When first seen by African LEAF, Junior was having trouble standing up, his legs were swaying and he appeared to be very weak. His clothes were filthy and were hanging off him. There was a piece of cord tied around his waist to hold up his shredded trousers, his feet were bare and dirty.  He weighed nothing, had a huge bloated belly, his rib cage was sticking out, he had baggy skin around his neck and arms, his eyes were yellow and he had bad fluoride damage to his milk teeth.  He was too young to board at the Farm School so he was housed (together with Diana) in a little house on the school grounds.  The house and a carer were paid for by African LEAF until both could be enrolled in the Kindergarten at the Steiner School as a weekly boarder at age 4.

About Junior

In just a couple of days with lots of fresh wholesome food, care and attention Junior was mobile again but frequently needed to sit quietly to let his body rest.  He is now running about, laughing and even climbing up to the top of the slippery dip and sliding down!  He loves seeing his sister and especially Diana another young African LEAF child.  Junior is now in first class and a very keen student.  He is a happy child, loves playing, and finger knitting, flying kites and tending to the plants in the gardens in his free time. Many are impressed with his fluency in his native tongue.

Find out about the Kamba tribe.

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Faith

Background

Faith and her brother Junior were abandoned by their extremely desperate mother and had been taken in and were living with another family in the village of Mitaboni, near Machakos. But like so many dependants living in poverty they became bottom of the food chain in this household. Faith was underweight, beginning to show signs of malnutrition; she was filthy and wearing soiled clothing, no underpants and no shoes. Faith was being used as a work slave to do all the chores around the household while the other children played.

About Faith

Faith was extremely shy when she joined the boarding at the farm school. Now she has really come out of her shell and she is a very loving and caring child, in many ways way beyond her young years.  She always takes great pleasure in helping out at the boarding with the younger children  She is in year 3 now and is a very studious girl, never giving her teachers any trouble. She is happy to live at the school and has many friends. She adores her brother Junior and is very close to him. To the great joy of the African Leaf supporters who have visited Kenya, she readily converses in English and is very proud to show you around the school.

Find out about the Kamba tribe.