Education is Priceless (or rather, it SHOULD be)

Today I’m going to write about another memory. It’s not a good memory. It’s the kind of memory which leaves you wondering what kind of world we live in.

That day I collapsed to my bed as soon as I arrived home. I was exhausted beyond measure, depressed, angry and helpless.

I had to convince a girl not to abort a child. Usually my stance towards abortion is neutral and I don’t feel a need to voice my opinion because really and truly it’s none of my business. This case was different. I was staring at an 18-year-old girl with a two-year-old baby. She could not even look me in the eye, her pain was something you can feel from miles away, and the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness was unbearable. She knew no English (a friend/nurse translated everything). She was 5 months pregnant. Now if you’re 5 months pregnant and want to abort a child, you’re placed at a high risk of never seeing the light of day again - especially in this country. Also she 'wants' to marry a man she barely even knows and it is him who wants her to abort the child.

I’m not going into what happened but it made me realise how lucky beyond lucky I am. Millions of girls my age – and younger are forced into matters  that they do not want to be in and don’t even know what they want to be in. It was not too hard convincing her otherwise and I got the impression that she has no sense of direction in life. Where are her parents? Apparently miles away and have no idea what is going on with her. And she doesn’t even want them to know because they were pretty abusive. Not to mention the poverty they live in.

However what irks me the most is the Kenyan government who apparently not only does not provide education for free (even children in the slum area have to pay for education) but the schools have to pay some money to the government which takes a toll to investing properly in their schools. What kind of government is that?

So you go in the slums and see children outside – playing and doing whatever. I could not see a future for them. There is nothing much to do but have babies and continue living in poverty and maybe – just maybe if you’re lucky enough, steal something of value.

It’s a world screaming of helplessness and of injustice.







The 'lucky' ones who go to school. With gaps between each wooden plank and corrugated iron, no electricity and too much noise coming from outside during lessons.

But if you/spread the word want to help out, just copy and paste this link and leave a message :)
You will give them a life - to them and to the generations to come.
... It's a Covenant :)
https://www.facebook.com/mammaafricamathare

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