Just like any child would feel secure and loved under the care of both parents, Vivian enjoyed it earlier but at some point, she could not enjoy it any more.
After the demise of her father,three months later, her mother got remarried to another man,Vivian’s’step father, who had also lost wife too. She was in class five.
She was still too young to understand such a family set up, and just went on with her struggles in making education one of her key achievements. When she reached class eight and sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), she had hopes that her struggles would be rewarded by the Almighty.
Luckily, by the time the results were being announced, she had performed better and had got a chance to be admitted to a national school. She was extremely happy and her mother was the first one to receive the good news.
Her mother broke the news to her fatherand the following day, the father called a family meeting and said,”I know Vivian has performed well in the exams but I am afraid, she will not be in a place to join that prestigious national school as I am not in a position to afford the fees. So, she will be admitted to a secondary school here in the village.”
It was a distraught to Vivian, the poor young girl cried uncontrollably, as she could not believe all the efforts she put in her studies had all been thwarted. She leaned on her mother’s lap trying to seek solace and her too was remorseful and started weeping.
Her mother tried to encourage her that she would still make it in life and be a star,if she made it in the local primary school, nothing would deter her from making it to university. Fortunately, she accepted to join whichever school in the village.
One night, Vivian was busy doing her studies when she heard a knock on the door. It sounded strange, and when she was about to turn the knob of the door, she inquired who it was. Her father responded that it was him.
Immediately, she opened to him the door. Before she could ask him what he wanted, he grabbed her by the collar of her neck and threw her on the bed. When she tried to scream for help, her father covered her mouth tightly, tore her clothes and raped her. He also had a knife with him on his hand and he threatened to hurt her if she dared told anyone and left immediately.
It haunted Vivian so much that she could not even sleep.A man he called her father,,,,raped her,,,, how would she live with this? Are some of the questions that kept on ringing on her mind.
She could not keep it a secret anymore, it was a shameful act that needed to be condemned once and for all.
The following day, she broke the devastating news to her mother,Without wasting time, her mother hurriedly packed her belongings and carried away what she could and left with her daughter.
Life became tough and since her mother could not afford to raise school fees, Vivian had to drop out of school.
A bright child that would have shaped the development of the nation,was denied her basic right!
Vivian is not alone, most of us are suffering secretly without the world getting to know the wrath we have undergone and are still going through. In my case, if it was not for the sake of Undugu Society of Kenya that came to my aid, I would be in similar situation of Vivian.
I am very thankful for the way this organization has helped in transforming not only my life, but the lives of many children like me along the streets who had already given up,in ever getting a chance to acquire education.
No one bothered to cater for our needs, to give us a word of wisdom, but one person came,who has offered us with basic education, we can now communicate and write in both Kiswahili and English, apart from our local languages. We know more about environment, from the Science we have been taught, arithmetic is not a big deal either. Undugu Basic Education Programme has done us great things most especially, by giving us the golden opportunity to acquire education.
why people abuse children….its doesnt matter whether they are their own or not.