Lily and I had a conversation about how
some orphanages are businesses to pull money out of foreigners. People need to be extremely
cautious about where they donate their money because sometimes things aren't as they seem to be. Lily told me that in Nepal,
seemingly orphanages have a lot of children with living parents and they are sent here
to receive better food/ clothing and of
course, there are the corrupt orphanages where the money doesn't really go to the
children. There is nothing wrong with children who are in need receiving the necessities but the process needs to be more transparent. The people who are donating have the right to know where their money is going. This shows that there are many even with parents, who are in dire need as well. Some more than others, whether you are in an orphanage or not.
Hanging out with the girls
We visited an orphanage called Brother
Joseph orphanage near the Kisian Junction today. You have to make an
appointment with them if you want to visit and take dry goods with you to
support the orphanage. This orphanage
turned out to be only for girls and they were a lot older than what
we expected. Most of them were
in grade 6-7 and some were in high school.
Many still have guardians such as grandparents, aunties or uncles but
they stay at the orphanage because if they stay with their guardians, they are given too
much work which deviate their focus from studying. So they remain at the orphanage for most of the
year and go back ‘home’ to their families during school breaks. These girls were very well kept and they seemed content. Their rooms were far better than
most houses in the area and they had electricity, which is a luxury in the villages. I think it is crucial that these girls are
able to live happily and confidently as Kenyan women in this country. Seeing their living condition and the well-structured orphanage building begs the question of whether this is the place for me to donate money or goods. Children in orphanages have sponsors that can pay for their school and school materials. Most orphanages prosper and do very well.
