Today I want to tell you the story of Christine, a girl of 9 years old. I have to go back to the end of May: The family of Christine had had their struggles; the first wife of the father died and their 2 children were living with them. The second wife left the father around 1 year ago and took the 2 youngest children with her. The 2 oldest children (Christine and her sister) stayed with the father.
Owning land means wealth, food and having a home, a place to live. There are many problems about who owns which land. In families people will kill their own brother, because of the land. In the family of Christine were also land issues. And at the end of May 2014, someone threw a granate through a hole in their hut, while the family was sleeping. There was a big fire, the father and the 2 children from his first wife were killed instantly. Christine and her sister were injured and brought to the hospital. Her mother was called and she stayed with them in the hospital. The sister died shortly after that in the hospital. Christine survived, but was very fearful and traumatised. The hospital staff and her mother requested if she could stay for some time in Amecet, while her wounds were healing and also her emotions got some rest and healing.
Christine was fine within the Amecet compound, but when we would take her only for a little walk or to do some small shopping, she was very scared and would not let your hand go. Some counsellors from the hospital came to talk with her and also our staff and social workers kept encouraging her. Last week we took her on a trip to her mother in the village. Her mother went back to her parental home and Christine is very welcome there. She met her two little siblings, her grandparents and other family members as well. It was so good to see her relaxed and happy,
Such a tragedy, Christine has seen so much and has gone trough so much! But she still can smile!! Here she sits together with her mother, we believe that she still has a future with people who love her and will care for her!
Owning land means wealth, food and having a home, a place to live. There are many problems about who owns which land. In families people will kill their own brother, because of the land. In the family of Christine were also land issues. And at the end of May 2014, someone threw a granate through a hole in their hut, while the family was sleeping. There was a big fire, the father and the 2 children from his first wife were killed instantly. Christine and her sister were injured and brought to the hospital. Her mother was called and she stayed with them in the hospital. The sister died shortly after that in the hospital. Christine survived, but was very fearful and traumatised. The hospital staff and her mother requested if she could stay for some time in Amecet, while her wounds were healing and also her emotions got some rest and healing.
Christine was fine within the Amecet compound, but when we would take her only for a little walk or to do some small shopping, she was very scared and would not let your hand go. Some counsellors from the hospital came to talk with her and also our staff and social workers kept encouraging her. Last week we took her on a trip to her mother in the village. Her mother went back to her parental home and Christine is very welcome there. She met her two little siblings, her grandparents and other family members as well. It was so good to see her relaxed and happy,
Christine was sitting with her grandmother (near the tree) and even she was a bit shy in the beginning, after a little while she was looking around and smiling. Together with the family, we agreed that we will bring Christine back to her mother in 2 weeks. We can prepare her a bit more and she can still go to school there and will not miss too much.
Aangrijpend.
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