Kinder

Our Nice View family is growing… On 13 June 2009, we received once again a phone call from the Youth Welfare Office. A newborn cannot stay with his mother and needs to be picked up. 

On 21 November 2009, we were called to come to the hospital in Msambweni. What we found at the hospital was a malnourished 14-month old girl named Naomi. A mother, entirely desperate or confused, sat at the sick bed with her three little children: Neema around 3 years old, Naomi and a three month old baby. 

Hello, I am Sheila! On July 16^th 2008, my new Mama (Mama Gudrun) received once again a phone call from the police. This time from Diani. Immediately, she sent my two new uncles (uncle Cosmas and uncle Saidi) to pick me up. Before that I had spent 3 days all alone in the flat and was crying a lot. Then, finally, my neighbour forced open the door and called the police. I have been held at the police station 3 times already. Each time my mother had abandoned me.

On 21 November 2009, we were called to come to the hospital in Msambweni. What we found at the hospital was a malnourished 14-month old girl named Naomi.

On Friday, 05 December 2008, I (Gudrun Dürr) accompanied the sick Mwanasha to our general practitioner Dr. Mashanga. In the clinic I received a phone call from the Youth Welfare Office with the request if we could accommodate additional children. They approached us, since recently two difficult cases were assigned to another home in Ukunda.

On 29 January 2007, we admitted Stacey: Three days after Steven came to us, there was another appeal for help of the Youth Welfare Office. A young and single mother brought her little daughter Stacey (11 months old) to a neighbour stating  that she could not take care of the little one anymore. The surprised neighbor was perplexed and informed the police. On the same evening, Stacey's mother was picked up by the police in a disco and was arrested.

Begin of April 2006, Samuel, his little sister Sherine and his mother were found in the bush, almost starved, and brought to the hospital. After taking care of the children in the hospital for two weeks, Samuel and Sherine came to us.

On Monday, 05 July 2005, we received a call from the Youth Welfare Office with the information that a baby was abandoned in Ukunda. It was brought to the hospital by the police on Sunday, and Gudrun went to look for the baby at the hospital on Tuesday. She was deeply shocked. The baby was lying alone in a (cold) incubator with the same napkins it had been wearing since Sunday. Because the hospital was understaffed, very few nurses were caring for it.

A little girl, reduced to a skeleton and approximately 3 weeks old, was found in a bush, nearby Diani-Beach (South Coast). In fact her chances to survive were little, since she weighed two kilograms only and had problems in breathing. But she was lucky, a Youth Welfare Officer brought her to us in Nice View and we immediately took her to the hospital for examination. She received drugs and nutritious food. Now, after 1 week of intensive care, we can see her improving significantly. We are confidence and hope she will survive. Since she came nameless to us, we call her now Jolene.

In the afternoon of September 27, 2008 we received an urgent call from the hospital in Msambweni. I (Gudrun Dürr) was asked to have a look at a four-year-old boy in the children's medical unit as soon as possible. Such a request is always linked to the question whether the respective child would find a place to live at Nice View. At once, Paulah, a staff member in the kindergarten, and I went to the hospital and after completing several formalities we were led to Nicolas' bed.

Begin of April 2006, Samuel, his little sister Sherine and his mother were found in the bush, almost starved, and brought to the hospital. After taking care of the children in the hospital for two weeks, Samuel and Sherine came to us. After on week, Sherine's suffering was over, and since also his mother passed away End of May, Samuel is now the only survivor of this little family. According to the physicians and his dental status, Samuel is 3, and perhaps even 5 years old. Astonishingly, he is smaller than Joshua who turns one in June.

Shani came to us on Thursday, 5th of August 2004, and has somewhat settled down in the meantime. He becomes 6 months on 18 August 2004 and needs a lot of attention and love. He is a friendly baby and smiles when you carry him. He definitely did not experience a lot of love and warmth, since his family has a lot of problems. His mother is approximately 16 years old and was raped. The rapist was put in prison, but this did not really help the family. The misery was too big. The father of his mother has eight children and her mother had run away.

A young mother abandoned her approximately 3 months old baby in the bush, condemned to death. But the little one was lucky. A women passing by discovered her and brought her to the Youth Welfare Office. The Youth Welfare Office asked us to accommodate her and we agreed. Some days later, on 28 October 2003, the court signed the guardianship over to us. Since the name of the little one was unknown, we called her “Sarah”. All of our children and employees admitted her warmly in the “Nice View” family. Another last minute rescue...

It is difficult to say 'No' when children are in need. Therefore, we decided to accommodate four more children on November 26th, 2008. We wanted to avoid the situation of their getting separated and spread over different children's homes. Since it is now getting quite crowded in the children's house, we pushed on with the furnishing of the girl's house, and hope that the first girls can move in January.

As told by Francis: Four brothers had to accept constant changes of location, due to the fathers work. Francis, the oldest, had suffered most, since he had to always change school. In June 2006, he left school in the 5th class. Martin, who is now 7 years old, never went to school. Ndolo is already 5 years old and has never attended kindergarten. Fredrick called "Freddy" is now 2 and 1/2 years old and is actually happy if he gets enough food. The father left the family in June 2006, for reasons unknown to us.

On 12 March 2003, the youth welfare office brought Alina (about 7 months old) to the "Nice View Children's Village". She was abandoned by her mother but luckily found by people passing by who brought her to the youth welfare office. She was immediately examined by a physician, also an AIDS test was performed, which was unfortunately positive. We were deeply touched, she was the first HIV positive child in "Nice View Children's Village'.

Anna has been with us since November 2001. Her single mother died in a car accident and she later came to live with her grandmother, who got then very ill. We decided to accommodate her. She had a hard time and was very fearful at first, cried a lot and did not speak a word. But she settled down very fast in Nice View. Meanwhile she talks a lot, sings, dances and plays with the other children. Anna feels now at home in Nice View and pleases us. We got fond of her and she has now a special place in our hearts. She has attended the private kindergarten since February 2002.

As told by Francis: Four brothers had to accept constant changes of location, due to the fathers work. Francis, the oldest, had suffered most, since he had to always change school. In June 2006, he left school in the 5th class. Martin, who is now 7 years old, never went to school. Ndolo is already 5 years old and has never attended kindergarten. Fredrick called "Freddy" is now 2 and 1/2 years old and is actually happy if he gets enough food. The father left the family in June 2006, for reasons unknown to us.

On Friday, 13 February 2009, two siblings, who are situated in an extreme emergency according to the Youth Welfare Office, were adopted. The girl, Trix is 9 years old, her brother Boni 11.

To date we do not know the exact story of the siblings, there are a number of contradicting stories, and Gudrun and our social worker Cosmas are currently investigating the case. The traces even lead to Western Kenya.

Just one is for sure: it is a long and very sad story. However, the siblings are save now and have found a new home in Nice View.

Kahindi now looks very happy. This was not always the case. In the streets of Kwale, he possibly would face a very different life with his mentally handicapped mother. But he almost has forgotten his bad experiences with people who were not really interested in him. In May 2000, he came to Nice View and gets everything he needs: a loving care, healthy food, education, hope, enjoyment and a perspective for his future.

It is difficult to say 'No' when children are in need. Therefore, we decided to accommodate four more children on November 26th, 2008. We wanted to avoid the situation of their getting separated and spread over different children's homes. Since it is now getting quite crowded in the children's house, we pushed on with the furnishing of the girl's house, and hope that the first girls can move in January.

Saumu lived, after her parents died, with her aunt. After living in an impoverished life Saumu came to us with physiological disorders. She was very reserved never laughed. Her physical condition was also not well. On 13 March 2000, she came to us to Nice View. Now, Saumu is a friendly girl without problems and fears. She laughs a lot and plays with her friends. We are pleased that she is now so happy and carefree. Since January 2002 Saumu attends to a private school. She loves our babies very much and often  plays in her spare time with them.

Fatuma and Mwanahalima lived with their very poor grandmother after the death of their mother (they never knew the father). Since she could not take care of two children, the children got separated and Fatuma came to an aunt. Both had no possibility to go to school. Fatuma is a quiet and a kind child. She has made many friends at Nice View with whom she plays, sings, dances and laughs. Since January 2002, she goes to a private school and has improved her grades.

As told by Francis: Four brothers had to accept constant changes of location, due to the fathers work. Francis, the oldest, had suffered most, since he had to always change school. In June 2006, he left school in the 5th class. Martin, who is now 7 years old, never went to school. Ndolo is already 5 years old and has never attended kindergarten. Fredrick called "Freddy" is now 2 and 1/2 years old and is actually happy if he gets enough food. The father left the family in June 2006, for reasons unknown to us.

Mwanasha came with her two siblings Haji and Suleiman on 13 March 2000 to Nice View. After the death of their parents they lived with their sick and weak grandmother. They had not even a real roof above their heads and not each day they got something to eat. Since their grandmother was very weak, they had to take care of themselves. They did not go to school but had to work in the garden and had to carry heavy water buckets to their home. Mwanasha and her brother Suleiman go since 2001 to a private school, Haji since January 2002. Mwanasha is very diligently in school and has good grades.