Having been appropriated by the younger generation I feel that the word ‘awesome’ is somewhat overused these days. It was thus that I quite surprised myself when the words ‘I am in awe’ came quite unbidden my mind recently. Few people in my life have inspired me to think of them in this way.
This month I was privileged to be part of a team visiting the Children of God Relief Institute (CORGI) Nyumbani, in Nairobi, with a group led by Rotarian Alison Stedman of the Arbroath Club in Scotland. There were 14 of us in total and we had all agreed to raise funds in support of CORGI, whilst also spending two weeks painting, decorating and doing general maintenance work for both Nyumbani and a nearby village in Kitui district that was set up in 2006, and now has 32 houses with 100 ‘blended’ families in residence. These families are made up of grandparents who have taken on responsibility for their grandchildren where their parents have died as a result of HIV infection. In addition to their own grandchildren they also act as surrogate parents to other children; the concept is unique, and very successful.
As a wine writer, my own contribution towards the impressive £31,000 raised had been several wine tasting events. To further boost this contribution towards the annual running costs of $5 million it is hoped that match funding will be provided by Rotary Foundation.
The orphanage, set up by Jesuit Priest Father D’Agostino in 1992, provides a home from home for 120 children affected by HIV/AIDS. They are housed in cottages in groups of 15, with two ‘mums’. For many this is the only home they have ever known.
During our visit, my first, but Alison’s 17th (!) we were introduced to the key people involved in the day-to-day running of this orphanage. Sister Mary Owens, the Executive Director, a recipient of the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship in 2008, welcomed us and explained in some depth the aims and aspirations for the future of Nyumbani.
It was during our meeting that I began to feel in awe of her. Originally from Ireland, and now 78 years old, she has been in Nairobi for 48 years. Her professional background was in education but she quickly came to realise that in almost all cases the children who are brought to live in Nyumbani, had suffered significant trauma in their young lives. Many will have been the main carers of their parents as they lay dying, and left to look after younger siblings. Sister Mary decided that one of the best ways to support these children would be to study psychology and then train to become a counsellor.
I soon learnt that Sister Mary does not let the grass grow under her feet. Not content with this, and conscious of the high cost of running Nyumbani and the associated laboratory, in addition to the clinic open to the wider community, she began to consider ways in which they might become more sustainable. This led to the setting up of a farm as well as the planting of several thousand hardwood trees to provide another source of income. Realising that she knew little of either agriculture of farming she has now embarked on a project to learn as much as she can to ensure the project’s success.
Whilst the rest of us, on reaching our 70s, will be looking to slow down a little, with so much still to be done Sister Mary is clearly still a force to be reckoned with.
Oh, and did I mention that she has twice been held up at gunpoint. An awesome lady indeed.
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