Getting to Know the Rafiki Kids … Joel & Jerome
Joel and Jerome are brothers who came to Rafiki right when the orphanage had just started taking children in February 2010. While both parents are alive, they doubted their abilities in taking care of the two boys. Joel is 10 years old and in primary five. Jerome is 8 years old and in primary two.
When the ministry first took in these sweet brothers, we were informed that their father had died and their mother had abandoned them. Through tracing and multiple assessment the ministry learned that both parents were still alive and living together. The parents had left the brothers with their grand parents in the village.
Immediately family assessments were started and the brothers started visiting their parents during holidays. The visits helped the brothers bond with their family, get used to their parents, and the brothers started talking about their family with the other children in the home. We decided to reunite the brothers with their parents who were all happy and welcoming!
On February 18th, 2015 Joel and Jerome were resettled with their parents in Munyonyo. The ministry was able to help find a school for the boys. We empowered the family to begin a project that could generate extra income. Our social worker, Florence continued to visit the family and make sure that the brothers were doing well at home and doing well in school.
Towards the end of 2015 the brothers were brought back to Rafiki for a short holiday with other children. The parents had a misunderstanding and the father abandoned the mother right before the boys were about to go back home. The mother tried to look for the father, but without success. The mother decided to continue with the plan of taking the boys home to the village. After two weeks at home with their mom she got ahold of our social worker Florence. Florence was notified that the brothers were having health problems and the mother could not get them proper treatment. Rafiki stepped in and brought the boys to a hospital to get treatment.
The boys have recovered, but continue to stay at Rafiki so they can attend school.
If you are interested in sponsoring these brothers please contact us at sara@rafikiministries.org.