Made a decision

Yesterday I made the decision to support Fredrick and his young family, Josephine and baby Brenda by paying their rent for one year so that Fredrick can finish his carpentry.

Up until last week, Fredrick had been living on his Uncle's land with his mother, and two brothers and their families. This was the maternal homestead. In Kenya land is passed down from the father to the sons. When Fredrick's mother was divorced from his father (frowned upon in Kenya), they were left with no land and no home. Due to pressure from Fredrick's grandmother, the fatherless family moved onto a very small portion of the uncle's land. They were never welcomed and Fredrick and his brothers were ridiculed for not having a father. Fredrick said at times that he wanted to kill himself.

Fredrick's grandmother was ill when we were in Kenya and has since passed away. She was the force keeping Fredrick and his family on the land. The family has been broken. Fredrick's mother has gone to live with a sister, his brothers have found homes and Fredrick and Josephine have found a small house to rent with the baby. Thanks to Joyce and Matano, who lent Fredrick the money for the first month's rent and negotiated a better deal for them (2,500 Ksh/month), they have a place to live. They were barely getting by with a free place to live and land to grow food. Now they have to pay rent and buy all their food as nothing is planted where they live. I am unclear whether they have a spot to plant for future crops.

Fredrick has been going to carpentry everyday for 6 months, with no pay. And doing boda boda in the late hours of the day. Josephine has been working the business selling used clothing in the market. Carpentry is Fredrick's only chance at providing a future for little Brenda. For $38/month I can give them that chance. How can I not?