Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Rehaboth Village


Benjamin’s sister Ola was playing on the porch of the house, which overlooks Jinja Village and the Nile River.
She put down her toys and looked at me as I photographed her brother. Since coming back from Africa, I often look at the reflection of myself in her eyes. What other things will she look at in her lifetime? What can I do to keep her eyes so bright and unafraid?



In the families being supported by AOET in Rehaboth Village, I witnessed a great deal of pride and care in the manner the home was maintained. This attitude clearly extended down to the smallest of children.



One of the programs of Aids Orphan Educational Trust is to provide vocational training and support to HIV positive mothers who have children in the program. This helps them to pay for their own treatment, gives them a skill to pass down to their children, and keeps the family together as long as possible.


AOET supports several schools, one of which is shown in the photo above. This young lady was named Hilde, and she seemed to be a favorite of visitors because she was so outgoing. A very bright child, she became withdrawn when I showed interest in other children as well. Hilde lost her parents when she was 3.




Phoebe lost her parents to AIDS 2 years ago. She and her brother live with their aunt and her children in 3 rooms of a building they rent from a local woman. Her aunt cannot afford to send either of them to school so Phoebe reads and teaches her brother as much as she can remember from her schooling. One of the other rooms in the building houses a church, in which Phoebe is the leader of the youth choir.
She sang the hymn “In the Meadows” for me .