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A typical day for Gloria
Gloria lives in Mathare Valley, Nairobi, Kenya, one of the largest and most dangerous slums in the world.
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.
With this feeding programme, Concern is trying to reach the most vulnerable children.
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?
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Comments
It doesn't help to cry when you see what kids like Gloria goes through in life at her age. I wish i could fly them them to South Africa and care for them , take them to good schools/creche until Gloria is old enough to look after her siblings.God knows i do not have means.What must i do to help?My problem is only finance the only thing i am giving them right now is my prayers , my thoughts , love and my wishing them help , soon.
In fact i don't really know what to say but to thank you for the work and dedication God is Blessing you every minute.
Stay Blessed and strong and dont give up.
I've wondered the same thing. But I believe all our prayers combined can move mountains for Gloria, her brother and baby sister. Sometimes prayer really is the best thing we can do.
I think this current problem in third world countries could be easily solved if celebrities donated more money. It really pisses me off, I mean for example Tyra Banks(model) earns 1Million Euro a DAY........ her wages for a week could feed an entire third world country and stop starvation. We are all part of the universe no less than the trees and the stars....... We all have a right to be here.
Everyone is equal...................... I don't think so. Do you?
I remember seeing a child as young as Gloria pick an infant up from the gutter as traffic swept past. That was Mombai. Thanks for the reminder of how fortunate we are.
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