Story of Monica Waswan  

Monica Waswan (65) is a caregiver from Sege centre in Siaya district. She is a part of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. (NCMI). This program helps children that have been partially or totally orphaned due to the death of one or both of their parents from HIV/AIDS. In this program there are those like Monica that volunteer to be caregivers taking in children and caring for them as if they were their own. She takes care of her five grand children whose parents died of HIV/AIDS four years ago. Monica’s husband had also died many years ago before the death of her son and daughter-in-law. She started weaving baskets last year to have a means of feeding her five grand children.  

She said, “I never used to do anything before my only son died, he was the one who was feeding me. After he died with his wife, life became very difficult for me. I had to start motherhood again to my grandchildren. This is the reason why I started weaving baskets.”  

She also does small scale farming near home. She appreciates the OVC program because her older grandchildren received training on “Agriculture and Nutrition” and they assist her in household chores and on the farm without being told. Before that they used to stay away from home with their friends and only come home to ask for food. She also appreciates the support she gets from the church by way of visits and accompaniment of food during such visits. Groups like the church that supports Monica, also contribute to the OVC program through projects like maize and bean resale with the proceeds going to help the orphans to go to school or have clothes, etc. Many communities participate in programs such as the maize and bean resale. In doing so they are recognizing the need to support their local orphans as well as the importance of education and sending their children to school.  Thank you for donating through CFC.

 
Monica (number 3 on line) during rice distribution.