Case studies

Paul's story

Paul is seven. Meningitis when he was four left him deaf and dumb. His mother has no regular work but many boyfriends. She couldn't cope with Paul and threw him out of the house. He lived on the streets of Thika for two years. Younger children on the streets are often sexually abused by older boys, cajoled into sniffing glue and used for errands and to beg.

Somehow Paul survived. When AfCiC found him he was malnourished, withdrawn and scared. With time and care he began to interact with staff and other children and to take an interest in education and games. For months his mother refused to talk to AfCiC about her son but she eventually started to take an interest in him.

Paul had a medical assessment and a boarding school for the deaf was recommended. AfCiC found a school and a sponsor to pay fees. Paul has completed his first term. He is thoroughly enjoying school, has picked up sign language quickly and is showing considerable academic promise. Paul's relationship with his mother is not close but they do have contact. When he visited AfCiC in the school holidays he was healthy, happy and communicative.