Case studies

Sophie's Story

Sophia (now 13 years old) lost her brother during a food shortage, lost her mother to AIDS, and lost her virginity as a child as she was severely abused by some of her remaining relatives. She decided to leave home and chance her luck on the streets of Arusha, trying to scrape a living from whatever casual work she could get - washing-up, shoe shining or just begging to obtain money for a little food. Now, however, Sophia is one of over 80 children helped by Shalom Centre and AfCiC, who provide food, clothing, shelter, education, counselling and love. Free now from abuse and exploitation, Sophia can begin to think less about day-to-day self-preservation and more about what she would like to do with her life.

Juma's Story

I was born most likely in 1996. I have never known my father. At the age of 6 my mother left me with my grand mother in the village. I understand she left for Dar-es-salaam in search of a job. I have never seen her. Two years after my mother left, my grandmother fell sick and died. I was confused and did not know what to do. I was taken by an Aunt to stay with her in Arusha. Life was very difficult at my Aunt's place. She had many children and her husband had recently died. She used to sell vegetables for our survival but it was still not enough for our minimum basic needs. We did not go to school because each time we asked her about it she said she did not have money to buy us uniform or exercise books. Life had become so difficult and at times we went without food for two days. My aunt started drinking local brew in the urban settlement and this made our situation worse.

One day one of the children from the neighbor's house asked me to accompany him to town. In the town, he introduced me into begging for money and food. It was tough for me, especially the first days, but with time I got used. When I returned home, my aunt asked me for the money I had begged and she went to drink the whole of it. When I came back without money, she would beat me up and send me away from home. It was horrible as I went sleeping on the shop pavements. Life had become unbearable before I decided to fully relocate to Arusha town. It is here that I lived, ate and slept. It was a bad experience sleeping in the streets for the first time. Older boys would beat us occasionally, besides getting harassed by the night guards. It was more painful to me as I watched one day, one of the older boy hit another one with a stone and killed him instantly.

One day I was hungry and had begged the whole day without success, when one tall nice man came across me as I begged for money from him. He asked me my background, but I was reluctant to tell him. He promised to buy me food, after which I lied to him that I had come from a distant town to trace my relative who lived in Arusha, but had failed to trace him and now I was spending time in the streets. But he was very kind to me, and he insisted that I tell him the truth since he had been seen me in the streets for quite sometime. This is when I decided to tell him the whole truth. He was touched by my story. He introduced himself as Boniface Mouti, working with Action for Children in Conflict - an organisation dedicated to helping children, especially street children. He asked me if I would be willing to go into a street children's home. I was a bit hesitant, but seeing the kindness in this man, I trusted him and accepted his offer. He took me to a place called Shalom Center for Street Children. Here I met most of my former friends from the street. They were happy, healthy and seemed to enjoy life.

Life at Shalom has been very nice. There are good teachers here. They take good care of us. We eat good food at the center, we sleep comfortably and are no longer afraid of street fights and bullies. We attend a nearby government school. I feel like am a whole new person again, because of the support I am getting at shalom. I want to be a good boy, very hard working and want to become a doctor in the future. Once I am a doctor, I will set out to look for my family members and support them in the best way I can. I am grateful to Shalom Center and for the gentleman who brought me here.