Distraught family’s changing fortunes

EXACTLY one year ago, Isai Alfred, a mother to three, abandoned her children at Okakango village in Oshikoto region.

The eldest of the siblings, 21-year-old Petrina Johannes was thrust into parenting and had to find ways to fend for herself and her siblings.

The other two children, Petrus* and Nelson* (not their real names to protect the identities of the minors) were aged seven and 10, respectively.

During an interview with last year, Alfred had said poverty drove her from home at Ekuku village to search for ways to make an income.

This resulted in Johannes struggling to fend for her siblings, and depriving her of her own youth.

Alfred, however, returned home a day after the story broke, and has never left again. She realised that nothing was for free and she had to survive on the fruits of her labour. A year later, fortune appears to be turning in favour of the family.

The family’s living conditions have improved drastically.

Alfred and her children have now acquired national documents with the help of the councillor of Okankolo constituency, Hans Nambodi, so they will soon be able to register for the government’s social grants.

Their mahangu field, a vital source of food for the family, has been properly fenced off to stop animals straying in and destroying their crops during the growing season.

Johannes and Alfred, recognising this reporter from earlier engagements, joyfully invited the team into their home.

Petrus and Nelson were at school at the time of our visit.

“I am so happy to see you. I was wondering how to tell the nation about how grateful I am for what they did for my siblings and I. Life has changed for the better and I can never stop saying thank you,” Johannes said.

The load of looking after her siblings, Johannes said, was eased when Alfred returned home as she was now helping out with chores.

Fetching water, cooking and cleaning are all tasks now shared between mother and daughter.

The family did not have proper shelter at the time, as Johannes and her siblings shared one hut, which was a bedroom as well as a kitchen.

In the kitchen, only two pots made up their cookware.

The three now have a two-roomed corrugated zinc house, and an extra one for the boys.

Johannes shares her own with her mother and uses the other compartment as their kitchen.

They have received pots, dishes, clothes and blankets from well-wishers. They now also have enough beds to sleep on. Nelson and Petrus have school uniforms and shoes, although “like all children, they have lost some pairs”.

All these have been possible through good Samaritans who assisted the family.

Last year Petrus was diagnosed with malnutrition through a programme run at the school by the health ministry. He has since recovered and is in good health.

Last rainy season, Johannes ploughed the family’s field and she uses the mahangu harvested as a source of income and on some days, she makes a traditional brew (ombike) which she sells at the nearby cuca shops. She also weaves baskets for sale.

Johannes still dreams that one day, she will have her own basket weaving business. She also wishes to enrol in adult literacy classes – an ambition that is yet to yield results as literacy classes are not offered in her village.

Read’s story on Isai Alfred from one year ago .