2006
in 2006, I met on my first Kenya travel Antony Shahenza in Mombasa. He worked as a volunteer for a charity that served children with cancer. We became friends. I accompanied him on his visits to children in the hospital and I got to know his siblings and their children. The modesty of how these people lived me impressed. Compared with our way of life, it also from me.
The father of Antony is lost since the Uganda war. His mother died when Antony was 8 years old. It was his 8 years older sister Mary, which at that time took care of Antony. It was probably no easy time, but Mary was a good cook. Their bean dish was very popular and known in labor circles. She cooked every day on the road in Mombasa and not lack of clientele. Soon, she was known as „Bean-Mary“ and funded the school of Antony with their purchase.
The Family
Antony ended the College as Mary pregnant was. She had to get married and gave birth to daughter Bijuma. Then son succeeded Omar and later daughter Jamila. The husband of Mary and father of the children had no school education. He can neither read nor write. A dear husband and a good father, but he could not support the family with his occasional work. It was „Beans-Mary“, which resulted in that family was somewhat through the rounds and could the children to school.
Antony was from then on on your own. Also, he has assumed the responsibility for his nephews, Lenox and Levi and brought to Mombasa. This after the death of the mother of the nephew, father succumbed to alcohol and was no longer able to take care of his sons.
When I met Antony
That was where I met Antony in 2006. I decided to help him, because Antony trained as a social worker wanted to make sure to get a steady job. I took over the University cost of Antony and helped in the often financially where it was possible to me. I sent many packages with useful things for the children and that not only on Easter and Christmas. Our emails exchanged in this time could fill books.
In one of my other trips to Kenya, Mary was highly pregnant and gave birth to Tino shortly thereafter. A boy she named after me. Although Antony spoke much about family planning with Mary, there were now four children. Mary was proud of Antony, who was now in the last half of University and grateful for my help. We spent a nice time with BBQ at the beach and the children were very happy. It all seemed so hopeful.
At the age of 26, Antony completed his training as „Counsellor and Community Developer“ and got a job at „Save the Children“ in Mombasa. Finally a regular, if even modest income! The joy was great.Mit 26 Jahren schloss Antony seine Ausbildung als „Counsellor and Community Developer“ ab und bekam eine Anstellung bei “Save the Children” in Mombasa. Endlich ein geregeltes, wenn auch bescheidenes, Einkommen! Die Freude war sehr gross.
Summer 2010
All seemed well on the way, as in the summer of 2010 Sister Mary again seven months pregnant became ill and died unexpectedly after a short time in the local infirmary. That was a big shock and grief was huge. This destiny a big hit especially the children. Her mother was always as a provider for the family. The kids lost everything they could believe and hope. They had to take off with her father from the simple home, because they could no longer muster the rent. Also the school fees could no longer be paid. The children were taken to the grandfather in a seedy slum paternal hut. To the school, they no longer could.
The loss of her mother took the livelihoods of these children. You have become a load without hope and future. Mary had left debt at various retailers. This whole tragedy and the loss of her beloved mother weighed heavily on the souls of Bijuma, Omar, Jamila, Tino and his father during this time.
The birth of BOJATI
That was the birth of BOJATI. I organised a charity party and could win a few friends for the project. We paid Mary’s debt and the first fees for the children. My whole family behind the young project turns on Christmas Eve 2010. You and some friends support it until today with monthly contributions.
The name BOJATI consists of Bijuma, Omar, JAmila, TIno.
Antony oversees the project volunteers on the ground in Mombasa and cares for the children and their concerns and affairs. He is our project manager on the spot. Antony is responsible for the targeted use of resources and will report three times a year about the progress and plans. He does it with much care and passion for children. Each donor receives via E-mail (English) this three-month period. Read it and keep track of the progress and growth of BOJATI in the „Reports“ section.
We focus on the essential. Each donated CHF comes with no expenses (other than bank charges) directly in the welfare of the children – there are now eight children (!), that benefit from BOJATI. We give help to help themselves. This includes in particular education, medical care and health. For this is our logo – the Apple for the health and the book for the training.
Jambo! Thank you very much!
Martin Hübscher
President BOJATI
PS: It may seem strange sound in the ears of a society in which comes the State for all the survival basic needs of its citizens, that there is not exactly that in many countries. Life is there no right – we must afford it.
BOJATI 