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Chipego's story.
Chipego on arrival 6 months later
Chipego came to us on the 11/11/09, she had been staying at the Monze hospital for the previous few months as Monze police investigated her abandonment, she had been placed in a sack and left beside the road, to Pemba.
Some one walking along the road heard her crying and took her to the Monze hospital, where the staff called her Chipego, meaning “gift”, her full name now is Chipego Pemba, “gift from Pemba Rd.”. They estimated she was about 3 to 4 weeks when found. Her teenage mother was identified, but deemed unfit by the Social Welfare department. Thankfully Chipego’s story has a happy ending as she is loved and adored by her now large family at Mazabuka orphanage.
Astrida & Oscar
Astrida Oscar with brother Oscar family living area
Jeffrey is the father of six children. In August 2008 his wife died giving birth to a son. With a new baby and five other children he was overwhelmed with grief. Being sick himself and a crippled leg the families corn crop failing because he had no fertilizer, Jeffrey had no idea how he would feed his family. His heart was broken as he sent his two older sons to live with his brother and his new baby to a relative of his wife's sister. Jeffrey was unable to feed the remaining 3 and asked if we would take Oscar 5 and Astrida 2.
Jeffrey's relatives were very upset with his decision to place them in the orphanage, they were in no position to assist him, yet placed curses and spells on him and his other son and promised to continue with it until he took them out, he came to the orphanage totally distraught and took the children back with him, we have not heard of there fate, sadly this is not a uncommon attitude in the region.
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Shimby was our third orphan. Her mother was murdered and both mother and child were thrown into a ditch by the road. Shimby was 17 months old and was taken to hospital. Oz Kids was able to care for all her needs along with those of her grandfather, her only living relative. Shimby was brought to the orphanage by her grandfather. Seeing how sick Shimby was we took her back to hospital and after three days later this sweet little baby died.
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