WINDHOEK – Following an article in last Thursday’s New Era which reported on the plight of a 17-year-old girl who looks after her two younger siblings, many readers touched by the children’s plight have donated food and blankets.
The teenage girl now has to raise her two siblings after their mother last September unceremoniously packed her bags and left without saying where she was going, and the children do not know where their father is.
Since New Era initially ran the story donations have been pouring in from sympathetic readers and others have indicated they are willing to help.
The children who live in Havana informal settlement depend on the goodwill of neighbours and good Samaritans to survive, as they are still in school.
The teenager said in a recent interview that their mother is not in touch with them while they do not know where their father is.
She said they are forced to go to school on an empty stomach when their food runs out. Two good Samaritans on Thursday donated food that will last for the next few weeks and even some blankets to shield the childen from the cold.
The food includes a 10kg bag of maize meal, two 10kgs of rice, 10kg packets of sugar, tinned fish, Easter bunnies and three blankets.
Both readers said they were touched by how the children live and felt compelled to contribute towards bettering their lives.
“Being a father myself and wanting to make a difference in the lives of people I was touched by their story,” said a reader who chose to be anonymous.
Abel Malyenge another reader who also contributed on Friday said: “I am an orphan so I know their struggle.”
He also spends time with the children to share some love and jokes.
Yesterday, a diplomatic spouse who also chose not to have her name mentioned donated bags of food to the three children. The diplomatic spouse also briefly interacted with the three children, saying she was touched by their story.