Born in Captivity

Every monday morning, one of our staffmembers, Esther, goes with one or two other people to the local Prison in Soroti. Maybe one year ago we were visiting one mother, who was put in jail because of trying to burry her baby alive. It sounds terrible and it is terrible, but after talking with the lady we could understand a little bit why someone does a terrible thing like this. We always took her baby with us when we went to see her and you saw her eyes lightening up, when she saw her baby. She really loves her child and feels very sorry for what she did. She is still in jail, her baby is now together with her parents, waiting for her release.

By that time we talked with the prison officer and he told us that there are often mothers in jail with small children, that there is not much what they can offer these little ones.

As Amecet leaders we talked this over and we decided to help those little children. From that time, Esther goes every week to visit those mothers with small children in jail. We bring them porridge flour, sugar and soap. Sometimes some clothes, sometimes we help with medicines. We provided some potts, to cook the porridge.

                                                                                                                           

Last week we got a telephone call from the prison warden. One of the pregnant ladies was about to deliver, if we please could help. Josephine and Els drove fast to town, to buy the nessesary things they need to bring to the hospital for delivery. And after that we drove to the prison to pick the lady and bring her to the hospital. When we came there, we heard that we were too late. The baby was already born! We went to see them, in one of the rooms, in the middle of bunkbeds the little boy was born. Surrounded by a group of female warden, a medical person was busy with the lady and we saw the little baby. Born in the prison, how sad.  On the picture you can see the baby, laying in the towel we brought,  on the prison blanket. We pray that he will receive all the love and care he needs. That he will not have to stay too long in prison and that it won't effect his personality.