Andreas (10) was found caring for Arnold (7), Joyce (5), Amos (3) & Agripa (baby) near the border with Burundi after their parents had been killed and bandits had stolen what little belongings they had.

The parish worker who found them asked – “Let us pray for these orphans, for Jesus to give them hope. Let’s make their faces smile as they are sad and wounded for missing their parent’s love. It really hurts!”

A donation from a family in Scotland helped build them a house, donors in Guernsey support monthly and an elder sibling was found to care for them. How amazing that now “their faces smile!”.

Judith had been caring for her siblings (Bariki, Yeseti & Joyness) from the age of 12 when her mum died from AIDS.The family were found 4 years later, starving and very close to death.

This is the family a few years later. Judith was able to go back to primary school, aged 16, as were her siblings. They were given a new, safe home with a small ‘shamba’ to farm.

Judith is married now and has two young boys. She works as a tailor after being gifted a sewing machine through a Tumaini Fund micro-enterprise scheme.

Leokadia is a 67 yr old widow, caring for her 6 grandchildren alone after they sadly lost both mum and dad to AIDS, Samson (14), Rajab(11), Elieth(9), Sande (7), Jackson (5) and Jackilina (2).

There were concerns that Leodakia’s house may collapse. The family received emergency support, including this new home and support to access school for the children.

It was a real privilege to visit Leokadia and her grandchildren in Rusoma Parish on the day they moved into their new home. They continue to be supported by parish workers.

In Sept 2017 Kagera was hit by an earthquake affecting many families like Johnmerry’s. He is a widower who cares for 12 orphans, not all his own. His house in Minziro was badly damaged and became uninhabitable.

Tumaini parish workers found this family of 13 sleeping under this tarpaulin.They received emergency help with clothing, blankets and mosquito nets.Their new home is a gift from a Scottish family.

As Dr Susan Wilson says “..this is a modern-day miracle- they live in a remote village  that nobody knows about but because their parish worker contacted the office, help has come to them from over 7000 miles away”