A typical day for Gloria
Update: Gloria is now doing well thanks to your donations. Read a full update on concernfast.org.
Gloria lives in Mathare Valley, Nairobi, Kenya, one of the largest and most dangerous slums in the world. Her morning routine is like anyone else's living in the slums but there is one profound difference. Gloria is only six years old.
She looks after her younger brother and sister all on her own.
Morning routine
Everyday, Gloria wakes up early, washes yesterday’s dishes and sweeps her small tin hut. She then takes her three-year old brother Aggrey Amwanda by the hand. Lifting her 18-month-old sister Musungu onto her back, they all go to the Baruka Health Centre in the heart of Mathare slum.
No clean water
When it rains in Nairobi, the narrow paths in the slums turn into stinking streams. It’s no wonder that children like Gloria are constantly ill.
For small children like Gloria, her brother and baby sister, good food and nutrition is crucial. It helps them to grow up healthily and survive the many diseases that are rife in the slums. To see the children here, living in absolute squalor, is heartbreaking – playing beside the rubbish dumps or on the sewer filled pathways. There is no clean water and not enough food to live on.
Health centre
Gloria and her siblings are given breakfast and lunch at the Baruka Health Centre. They are looked after for most of the day by the staff. Before dark, they return to their tiny hut and unroll the mattress they share, to sleep for the night.
Fears for the future
Gloria has been caring for her brother and sister since her mother was taken to hospital six months ago. She hasn’t seen her mother since and doesn’t even know if she is still alive.
Like thousands of children in Nairobi’s slums who become the carers for their families, Gloria has many fears. Will she see her mother again? How will she keep her brother and sister safe? And how will she get them all food?
Comments
i was reading this story it is heart breaking,iwas just woundering if it is possible to sponsor these kids and if so could you please let me know please.
this story is above sad when i was little i use to always hear stories like this on the feed the children network. its truely a heat braker. and ive always said when i grow up im going to help by donating. i think its time i couldent of even begon to think how those kids feel and hurt. they need love, care , and help. god bless those kids
Hi Niall,I will donate to the Kenya appeal today.Can you write an update regarding the drought in East Africa and Concern's experiences on the ground there, would really appreciate that.Please keep looking after Gloria and her family, they have no one else. Is there an education program that they will be able to attend, eventually? I know water, food, health and shelter are the most important elements for them now, but to survive longterm they will need skillsets.I regularly donate to Concern, I am an Irish expat living in the Middle East, Dubai.I travel alot into Asia, mainly India, where I see alot of need too, but India is a democratic, educated nation, which is pulling itself up off its knees, benefitting the people greatly. God bless,Claire
Thanks for your comment and donations Claire. The situation for many people in Kenya, and surrounding countries, is getting worse. We have posted some recent updates to our blog and Twitter page. I have included those links below:
We've moved! Our new Twitter account: http://twitter.com/Concern
mostly the global food crisis spread in the south Africa.really food crisis is a terrible because it has many bad effects to the health.South African AIDS Orphans Suffering the Effects of the Global Food Crisis just because of the high food prices.so that's why they are suffering from this.actually their economically condition is not so good that they purchased healthy food so that's why they are suffering from global food crisis. so i would like to say thank to u and i would also appreciate to your efforts.
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