Darby's first resettlement

I started volunteering with a project for street children a few months ago. This organization reaches out to street kids in the Kisenye slum of Kampala.  The work is challenging, and the needs are never-ending.  

Along the way, I met Mark and Keren Riley, and I started learning more about the importance of resettlement.   Initially, I was skeptical about their views, and I held on to my reservations about the possibility of resettlement for most of the children there.  Then one day it occurred to me that it takes no money and no time to pose the simple question, "Where are your parents?"   Enter "Eddy" one of the many, many street kids at this organisation.

When I asked him about his family, it turned out that Eddy had been saying for months, "I want to go home. I want to go back home. I’m tired of living on the street."

  

A few years ago, Eddy's father passed away, leaving Eddy's mother Margaret with 5 children to care for.  His mom moved to another town, trying to make ends meet, but she didn’t have enough money for Eddy's school fees.  The school chased him away again and again until one day he couldn’t take it anymore.  Eddy wrote a letter to his mom saying that he needed to try and make it on his own, and he ran away to the streets. 

He was 12.  

A lot of the kids on the street have run away from abusive situations, and returning home to their parents is not an option, but Eddy's case was different. So we called his mom to tell her he was coming home.  I wasn’t privy to these conversations in the Lugandan language, but suffice it to say, his mom was happy to get the news.

On the day of Eddy’s resettlement, we met at the outreach center and helped him write a letter to his mother saying that he was sorry for running away.  He also wrote about what he’d learned during his time on the streets and how he wanted things to be different in the future.  

After finishing the letter, we gathered up all the boys to say goodbye and pray for Eddy.

We took a few group pictures to commemorate the moment, and then headed through the gate.  Before catching a taxi van to Eddy's town, we went to the market to pick up some resettlement items.  First, we bought 2 kilos of sugar and 2 foot-long bars of soap.  Next, we bartered for a hen and a rooster ($15).  The pair fit neatly into a caveera (aka plastic shopping bag).   We poked two holes for their faces and were on our way to the next stop buying Eddy some ‘new’ pants, shirts, and a pair of sandals.  We bought 2 pairs of pants, 4 t-shirts, and a pair of sandals for $13.

We went to the taxi park and found the right taxi van that would take us to Eddy's town.  He was all smiles and became more and more talkative as we made our way back to his family.  The van dropped its remaining passengers at a gas station, and we began the walk to Eddy's house.  His mom works for a juice factory and lives on site alongside some of the other workers. 

Eddy felt so handsome in his new shoes, shirt, and pants.  After a long walk down a bumpy dirt road, we arrived at the gate to the factory. 

Eddy knocked and then opened the peep hole to peer through.  The door swung open, and he was quickly in his mother’s arms.

Margaret excitedly beckoned us in, and we stepped through the gate to meet her.  She was beaming with joy and gratitude.  It felt like I was watching a live version of the prodigal son as Eddy’s mom sent another sibling rushing to buy sodas and muffins—sodas are a must at any special event in Uganda.
  

One by one we met the rest of Eddy’s family…his older brother who looks exactly like him, two sisters and a cousin.  An older sister was away at church while we were there.  Eddy’s mom insisted on serving us lunch, and we all happily filled our bellies as an afternoon shower came down outside. 

Since the resettlement we have checked with Eddy’s mom a few times, and she says that Eddy is doing very well.  In just a few days, the social worker Liz (below) will take some money to pay for a portion of Eddy’s school fees.  His mom thinks that she can handle the rest.

Liz will also take these dolls for Eddy's little sister and cousin.

Seeing Eddy restored to his family ranks among the highest honors of my life.   A mother got her son back.   Sisters got their brother back.  A brother got his brother back. 

Is there anything better than this?

Eddy is now on the Reunite programme.  To support Reunite please click here.