Michelle Loves School

At first glance, Michelle looks like any other six year old girl. She is shy around visitors but proud of the flower in the center of her pink dress. As she runs away, she smiles and sticks out her tongue, pretending she doesn’t want to be chased. Fiercely independent, Michelle is no longer a baby and refuses to be treated like one. She wants to do everything herself. She loves to brush hair and pretend, but becomes embarrassed when someone intrudes on her game of house.
It is impossible for someone who knows Michelle to look at her and not think of where she came from. Michelle is from Kibera, an informal settlement with hundreds of thousands of people inhabiting a 1.5 square mile area. Startling at first, those statistics take a much more disturbing turn when applied to a household. Michelle was one of twelve children living with their grandmother in a single square room. The room had no windows and no beds. It was common for the children to fall asleep hungry. Food was a luxury. School was an unrealistic dream. The the smell of urine and feces consumed the air. Alongside the children, rats also called this place home. Twelve pairs of eyes with dirty bodies and torn clothes pleaded in silence for something – anything.

It is not only the children who suffer. Michelle’s grandmother is struggling to survive. A terrible disease, HIV/AIDS, that has ravaged her continent, her country, and taken her husband  is now running its devastating course in her own body. She is constantly under the attack of opportunistic infections. Every day, walking takes more effort than the previous day. Her weak body is unable to do the only thing she truly wants: take care of the children in her home. Michelle’s grandmother is a hero. She has opened her home to suffering children and done her best to provide for them. Her only fear is their well-being following her inevitable death. She came to the deaconesses at her church for assistance. During a home visit, it became clear that there was need for an emergency intervention.
Our hearts wanted to care for all of the children. Our budget said otherwise. Michelle’s grandmother was very adamant that Michelle and the other girls be removed from their present vulnerable situation. A pub is located next to their home and drunk men often harass the girls, who are often forced to run away or sneak into their home; the threat of sexual abuse is a constant reality.
Michelle’s mother is mentally handicapped. She was not capable of succeeding in school and is unable to care for children. Bribing her with small pieces of bread worth not even six cents, drunk men took advantage of Michelle’s handicapped mother. Those same men pose threats to Michelle and her cousins. Without being rescued, Michelle’s grandmother saw a similar fate for Michelle.

Michelle was taken to the CSCM Rescue Center. CSCM continues to work with Michelle’s grandmother, providing the family with food and other essentials. Michelle’s grandmother used to fear what would happen to her children when she dies.  Now she constantly expresses her appreciation to CSCM because she trusts they will be cared for.
Michelle’s story is not unique. CSCM is currently supporting over 100 vulnerable children in school. The well being of our children rests in our ability to fund raise enough to care for them. We rely on Christ for His never ending grace that continues to sustain us in any situation. Through the generous hands of mercy extended through His followers, we have been able to continue reaching out to vulnerable children in the name of Christ. We are working hard to ensure that when Michelle’s grandmother dies, there are enough funds available to take care of the children she leaves behind.

Michelle is six years old and attends kindergarten at a local school. Deaconess Lorna says, “She a very bright little girl with an outstanding personality.” Whether showing off her school uniform or asking for help with her homework, it is clear she is thankful for the opportunities granted to her; opportunities every child deserves. As we watch Michelle, we are increasingly thankful to all of our supporters who make this work possible.

When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor. Her favorite subject is Math. Michelle loves school. Help us keep her there.

To request fliers to distribute, contact CSCM at info@cscmkenya.org or 708 446 9846.

Send donations to: CSC Ministries, P.O. Box 501, Crete, IL 60417

Education Support, Rescue Center, Supporters, Updates