LINDA

Linda walked in our Vumilia office in January 2007, frustrated and concerned. She is a wonderful 16 yearolddoing well in high school. After her father died, Linda and her ailing mother and sister were homeless. They stayed with cousins but had no money for food, school supplies or even a candle to study and read at night. She walked for 20km to ask if she could stay at Vumilia so that she could study and do well in school to be able to get a job later and provide for her family. Enrolling in high school for the first time, the school required the whole school fee for the first term paid and a commitment letter explaining how the fee will be settled for the next four years. Vumilia is helping Linda and other girls overcome these obstacles and challenges of being poor and destitute. She is blossoming at Vumilia as a gifted and respected leader of the other girls

“I am tired of being told to behave like an orphan! Teachers, when they spot me wearing smart and clean clothes compared to other orphans think I should look more in despair. I am lucky that Good Samaritan donates the clothes I wear to me, in good condition. Am I seen as a burden to people around and should look and behave in despair?  How am I supposed to behave”?