Helping Hands Children's Home Children
Helping Hands Children's Home Children
ARUNA
Aruna comes from a Muslim background, his father had two wives. His father died of a sudden sickness when he was just one . His step-mother also died and his birth mother was left with all the children of the family. It has been a struggle for his mother to look after him and his older siblings.
His mother had converted to Christianity and was completely ostracized from the Muslim family making it very difficult to provide for the children. Helping Hands Children’s Home usually doesn’t except children that have a parent alive but in this case we really felt it was wise to take Aruna as he future was very uncertain. Please pray for his mother, that she will stand strong in her faith despite the persecution she is facing.
BLESSED
Blessed and his mother were the sole survivors in their family compound. It’s unknown how the other members of his family died. When Blessed was 2 1/2 years old his mother died after an extended illness (although we suspect that she had AIDS and died from another illness because of her weakened immune system). It’s unknown where his father is. A neighbor took Blessed into her home after his mother’s death. She was a friend of one of
our other HHCH children’s teacher. It was the teacher who alerted us to the need to rescue Blessed. Although he has a full set of teeth, is walking well and starting to say a few words he is very small for his age (just a little taller than his new brother-who was just 8 months old at the time, another HHCH rescue). Soon after arriving he was tested positive for HIV and diagnosed stage 1 level 4 (the onset of AIDS). He is on ARV medicines and with a much better diet, he has greatly improved. We are expecting him to start growing well now.
CIDONI
Since her parents death Cidoni was placed with an Uncle who was a drunkard and physically abusive. When asked about the burns on her arms she explained that it was something that is done to all of the children in her village. When her Uncle tried to sell her off to be married to a 45+ year old man she ran away and took refuge at a Teen Mission’s orphans rescue unit run. Since
they are not equipped to handle children in her situation they contacted us. She was rescued in May of 2009 and placed in the Helping Hands Children Home where she has been doing really well
DORCAS
Dorcus came to the Children’s Home with her two siblings, Noel and Meranda. They came from a very desperate situation in the village. About a year and a half before they were rescued, their father died of AIDS and their mother shortly after that. An uncle took them and another brother (Francis) in, who in turn gave them to another aunt who was
already looking after four other children. All seven children lived in one tiny room. Meranda, her older sister, became the main care giver of Dorcus. She was extremely underweight and small for her age, she weighed only 17lbs. She couldn’t walk and had large calluses on her legs from being continually carried around on her sister’s back. All these siblings had been neglected and malnourished. After working with Dorcas and giving her extra milk for calcium she started walking and has been doing really well.
FRANCIS
Francis and his 3 siblings (Meranda, Noel and Dorcas) came from a very desperate situation in the village. About a year and a half before his siblings were rescued, their father died of AIDS and their mother shortly after that. An uncle took them in, but then gave the 3 siblings to another aunt who was already
looking after four other children. These 3 siblings were rescued soon after, but Francis remained with his uncle. When Francis’s uncle died a year later he was reunited with his 3 sibling at HHCH
GODWILL
Godwill came to the Children’s Home with his sister Sakina. Their parents died of an extreme sickness. They went to live with their grandma who was already looking after other children. It was a real struggle for her to provide for them. Godwill was very small for his age. Besides being
malnourished when he came to us, he had a bad cut on one if his toe that looks like it has been there for a long time. He was treated for it. Soon after he came to us he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer common to the children in his region. We were able to catch it early. He underwent chemotherapy twice and has been declared cancer free. Praise the Lord!!
JOEL
Joel’s father died when he was just a baby of an unknown sickness. His mother died a little while later, he doesn’t remember her. Joel’s uncle took him in but he struggled to provide for him since then. His situation in the village was very desperate.
KARI
Kari’s parents both died when he was 2 years old. Since that time his elderly grandparents struggled to provide for their grandchild and themselves. He was rescued in May of 2009. Kari came to us malnourished, anemic and his feet were also infected with worms and a bad fungus.
He was treated and recovered nicely. Kari also had stomach problems and was generally weak but has also fully recovered from that.
MALI
Mali’s mother died of an unknown disease. Her father had abandoned the family. After her mother died her Grandmother and Grandfather (who were already caring for 5 other grandchildren) took the children in. Shortly after taking them in, the Grandfather died. It was struggle for the Grandmother to look after not only Mali and her 2 young siblings, but the other 5 children in her care. These 3 grandchildren had been unable to attend school. Mali started school in September of 2012. Her English was very limited but we
are blessed to have several Cameroonian staff members who speak her native language and will help her to learn English quickly. One of the first things she said to the staff was….”Auntie we are having fish today”…..”Auntie we are having plantains the same day!!”.
MARY
Mary is a twin. Her mother became pregnant out of wedlock and the father abandoned her when he found out. Her mother decided to go back to school and left Mary and her brother with their grandparents. Mary’s mother was schooling in Nigeria when problems broke out in the Bauchi
State. When she was fleeing, she was attacked with a machete and her arm was seriously wounded. She went to the hospital and the wound started to heal. She returned to Cameroon but died a few months later. This was in the year of 2006. Mary and her brother continued to be in the care of their grandparents who struggled to keep them in school and provide for them. Mary then went to live with an uncle who was helping to put him through school. When Helping Hand’s Children’s Home was opened in 2009, Mary's grandparents applied for the position of the “Pa and Ma” of the orphanage. They were given the position and Mary and her brother came to live at the Home after a few months. They were very happy to be living with their grandparents again. Pa and Ma continue to do a wonderful job of parenting all the children at HHCH as well of Mary. Mary is a very smart, responsible girl with a beautiful singing voice. She has recently joined the choir in church and has a real passion for music and Jesus.
NESTOR
Nesto’s mother abandoned him soon after he was born and she has not been seen again. He was left in the care of his father who unfortunately died in 2002 when he fell from a palm tree. Since that time Nesto’s grandfather cared for him and they struggled to survive. In the village, Nesto followed in his father footsteps,
doing the dangerous job of climbing tall palm trees (120 ft) to tap palm wine for his family and to sell. He was rescued in May of 2009 and placed in the Helping Hands Children Home where he has been doing really well. Nesto could barely read and write but is now doing well in school and hopes to be a doctor. When he came to us he was malnourished and anemic. He was also having trouble walking normally as his feet were seriously infested with Chiggers (parasites) and his toenails had a severe fungus infection. He was treated and recovered nicely.
NOEL
Noel came to the Children’s Home with his two sisters, Meranda and Dorcus. They came from a very desperate situation in the village. About a year and a half before they were rescued, their father died of AIDS and then their mother died shortly after. An uncle took them in, who in turn gave them to another aunt who
was already looking after four other children. All seven children lived in one tiny room. Noel and his siblings have been extremely malnourished and neglected. When we went to pick them up from the village, no one knew where Noel was and he had to be brought to us the next day when they found him. Since coming to the HHCH Noel has been doing great.
PERSEVERANCE
Perseverance’s parent’s died a while before we rescued her. Since that time she went to live with relative and it had been a struggle to survive. She was rescued in April of 2009 and placed in the Helping Hands Children Home where she has been doing really well.
SAKINA
Sakina came to the Children’s Home with her brother, Godwill. Their parents died of an extreme sickness. They went to live with their grandmother who was already looking after other children. It was a real struggle for her to provide for them. Since coming to the HHCH Sakina has been doing great.
TAHIRIH
Tahirih’s mother died a day after she was born due to complications from a long and difficult labor. Her father died of AIDS when she was just two. Tahirih then went to live with an aunt who neglected her. Sometime later, another aunt saw how Tahirih was being treated
and brought her to live with her. It was a real struggle for the Aunt to look after Tahirih and provide for her. Since coming to the Home, Tahirih has been doing great. She always has a smile on her face and has fit right in with the other children.
WILLIE (Godwill)
Willie’s 17year old mother died just a day after giving birth to twins (Willie and his sister). Sadly, his sister died a week later. The father and family were struggling to provide food for him as formula was just too expensive for families living out in the village.
They were feeding him a cornmeal solution called “pop . The family contacted us and asked us to takeWillie as they did not want him to die like his sister. Since this was an extreme situation we decided to rescue him even though his father was still alive. Willie weighed less than 4 pounds when we first got him. From the extra skin on his body it was evident that he had lost a substantial amount of body fat since being born. He would not have lived much longer had he stayed in the village. He and Sara spent a 24 hour period in the hospital where he was examined and found to be otherwise healthy. He spent the next 3 months in our home because he was just 2 little to be at the children’s home. Since he went to HHCH (when he reached 10 lbs) he spent another week at our home when he had malaria and another week when he got sick and needed extra TLC. Until he was 1 year old he spent one day/night a week at our home so we could monitor his progress. He is right on target developmentally and is doing great at the children’s home.
BENA (Benadith)
Benadith’s father died of an illness. In early 2009 her mother also died in a tragic fire accident. Benadith and her three siblings (Osilia, Marvelous and Congeline) were left in their elderly grandmother’s care who had a serious leg infection and was finding it impossible to
provide for their basic needs. The children were malnourished when found and struggling to survive. We rescued all but Congeline who at 16 was too old for the orphanage and was needed to help care for the grandmother. We did try to help the grandmother (she was treated with medicine and later had her leg amputated). Several weeks after the children were rescued, we returned to check on the grandmothers’ condition and to give her news of the children’s condition and progress. Congeline was also doing somewhat better
BLESSING
Blessing’s parent’s died awhile before we rescued him. Since the time his parents died he was staying with relatives who struggled to survive. He was rescued in May of 2009 and placed in the Helping Hands Children Home where he has been doing really well.
DEREK
When Dereck was three, his father was killed by lightning. When he was five, his mother also died from a prolonged illness. Dereck went to live with his grandmother. It was a struggle for her to provide for him since that time. He came to us malnourished and with a wound on his head from a stone.
FARAWA
Farawa had grown up in a Muslim village all his life. His mother died in June, 2011 of a undetermined sickness (possible AIDS). His father was unknown. Farawa then went to live with his grandparents. Then in October of 2011 his grandfather died. His grandmother was in mourning for 4 months, during this time she
was unable to leave her room. She was very elderly and was unable to look after him. The family was neglecting little Farawa. He came to us with malaria, typhoid, parasites, and he was malnourished. Although he had never been to school he knew quite a bit of English (besides his tribal language). Farawa is very happy to be going to school now. He is also attending church, another first for him. We are happy that Farawa is now being raised in a Christian home where he will grow up knowing about the love and saving grace of Jesus.
GAMBOH
Gamboh came to us very malnourished but was otherwise healthy. Her mother died of an unknown disease. Her father had abandoned the family. After her mother died her Grandmother and Grandfather (who were already caring for 5 other grandchildren) took the children in. Shortly after taking them in, the Grandfather died. It was struggle for the Grandmother to look after not only Gamboh and her 2 young siblings, but the other 5 children in her care. These 3 grandchildren had been unable to attend school. Gamboh started school in September of 2012. Her English was very limited but we are blessed to have several Cameroonian staff members who speak her native language and will help her to learn English quickly.
JENNIFER
In 2010 we rescued Jennifer’s sister (Cidoni) from an abusive Uncle. Shortly afterwards Jennifer found herself in that same situation. Her sister, Albertine (then just 17), took her away from the Uncle to live with her in the city of Douala. There Albertine tried to earn a living to support herself and Jennifer. When Albertine was unable to she turned to prostitution (like many of the young women in Cameroon have to). When she no longer wanted to live this way
she thought of HHCH and brought Jennifer to us. We took Jennifer in and helped Albertine to start a small business selling phone credit. We are so blessed to have Jennifer with us. Her sister, Cidoni, is so excited that Jennifer is with her. We have tested her for her schooling level. While she graduated from a primary school we found the schooling to be substandard and she has been placed in level 4.
JOSEPH
Joseph is a twin. His mother became pregnant out of wedlock and the father abandoned her when he found out. His mother decided to go back to school and left Joseph and his sister with their grandparents. Joseph’s mother was schooling in Nigeria when problems broke out in the Bauchi State. When she was fleeing, she was attacked with a machete and her arm was
seriously wounded. She went to the hospital and the wound started to heal. She returned to Cameroon but died a few months later. This was in the year of 2006. Joseph and his sister continued to be in the care of their grandparents who struggled to keep them in school and provide for them. Joseph then went to live with an uncle who was helping to put him through school. When Helping Hand’s Children’s Home was opened in 2009, Joseph's grandparents applied for the position of the “Pa and Ma” of the orphanage. They were given the position and Joseph and his sister came to live at the Home after a few months. They were very happy to be living with their grandparents again. Pa and Ma continue to do a wonderful job of parenting all the children at HHCH as well of Joseph. Joseph is a very smart, responsible boy. He recently joined the praise team at church where he plays the drum.
KINGSLEY
Kingsley’s parent’s died while before he was rescued. Since the time of their death he went to live with relatives struggled to survive. He was rescued in April of 2009 and placed in the Helping Hands Children Home where he has been doing really well.
MARVELOUS
Marvelous’s father died of an illness. In early 2009 his mother also died in a tragic fire accident. Marvelous and his three siblings (Bena, Osilia and Congeline) were left in their elderly grandmother’s care who had a serious leg infection and was finding it impossible to provide for their basic needs. The children
were malnourished when found and struggling to survive. We rescued all but Congeline who at 16 was too old for the orphanage and was needed to help care for the grandmother. We did try to help the grandmother (she was treated with medicine and later had her leg amputated). Several weeks after the children were rescued, we returned to check on the grandmothers’ condition and to give her news of the children’s condition and progress. The Congeline was also doing somewhat better.
MERANDA
Meranda came to the Children’s Home with her two siblings, Noel and Dorcus. They came from a very desperate situation in the village. About a year and a half before they were rescued their father died of AIDS and then their mother died shortly after. An uncle took them in, who in turn gave them to another aunt who
was already looking after four other children. All seven children lived in one tiny room. Meranda became the main care giver to her sister, Dorcus who was only one. This was a huge strain and responsibility for her. Meranda and her siblings had been extremely malnourished and neglected. Meranda has been flourishing at the children’s home and in school.
NKEH
Nkeh’s mother died of an unknown disease. Her father had abandoned the family. After her mother died her Grandmother and Grandfather (who were already caring for 5 other grandchildren) took the children in. Shortly after taking them in, the Grandfather died. It was struggle for the Grandmother to look after not only Nkeh and her 2 young siblings, but the other 5 children in her care. These 3 grandchildren had been unable to attend school. Nkeh started school in September of 2012. Her English was very limited but we are blessed to have several Cameroonian staff members who speak her native language and will help her to learn English quickly.
OSILIA
Osilia’s father died of an illness. In early 2009 her mother also died in a tragic fire accident. Osilia and her three siblings (Bena, Marvelous and Congeline) were left in their elderly grandmother’s care who had a serious leg infection and was
finding it impossible to provide for their basic needs. The children were malnourished when found and struggling to survive. We rescued all but Congeline who at 16 was too old for the orphanage and was needed to help care for the grandmother. We did try to help the grandmother (she was treated with medicine and later had her leg amputated). Several weeks after the children were rescued, we returned to check on the grandmothers’ condition and to give her news of the children’s condition and progress. Congeline was also doing somewhat better
RODINE
Both of Rodine’s parents died of HIV/AID’s in 2000/2001. Since the time of their death, he had been living with his Grandfather. They struggled to survive. Even though he was in a loving home, it was a struggle to feed and clothe him. In the village, Rodine did the dangerous job of climbing
tall palm trees (120 ft) to tap palm wine for his family and to sell. He came to us with Typhoid and was malnourished and very skinny. He complained of constant stomach pains and frequent headaches. We praise God that he tested negative for HIV even though his parents died of this disease. He is in perfect health today. Rodine was rescued in May of 2009. Although Rodine was one of the older children rescued, he could barely read or write and didn’t even know his colors. And while he still struggles some with his school work he has been progressing steadily.
SANDRINE
Sandrine’s village name meant worthless. She had so many worms in her feet, knees, legs and hands that she couldn’t walk. She had to be carried everywhere. She lived with her grandparents after the death of her parents. Her grandfather was blind and they struggled daily to survive. Sandrine was in danger of being left by the river for “Mami Water” (to basically die). We rescued her, took her to the hospital where they removed
more than 60 worms. We worked with her and purchased a walker. When it became apparent that she needed more help than we could give we took her to a nearby hospital where she stayed for a month for therapy and to be fitted for braces. In the summer of 2012, she went back to that same hospital where she had surgery to lengthen a tendon. She is walking so much better and even runs. She still has a ways to go via exercise, but has made so much progress.