Pamela M.
St. Al’s Graduation Class of 2009
Pictured at right - “Like Sisters”…Emily, Winnie, Pamela and Alice
Shaping a Future Life From a Tragic Past
Pamela M. says that she barely remember her mother because she died when Pamela was very young. Her father was drunk when he died in a tragic house fire here in Kibera in 2005. Her older brother died of an illness when he was 17. Pamela’s older sister ‘disappeared’ on her way home from school when she was in 8th grade. “After the death of my father I was taken to live with my aunt who was unable to provide for me.” This aunt, her mother’s sister, is Pamela’s only known relative. Pamela attended three different primary schools as she bounced from place to place. Finally Pamela ended up in an orphanage where she lives while attending St Aloysius Secondary School.
She says, “I had nobody to support me in paying for my education.” She was directed to St Al’s by a “Good Samaritan” fellow church member. “Without St Al’s, I would not be in school at all, hence my future could have been terrible and as hopeless as a street child.”
With her characteristic self confidence and a bright smile Pamela proclaims, “My ambition is to become a doctor so that I can help find a cure to HIV/AIDS.” She adds that, “God willing, I would like to help those children who are orphans like me.” Meanwhile here at school she especially enjoys biology and history and in her free time she likes to watch Nigerian movies “because they have good teachings about life.” She also listens to hip hop music.
With great affection Pamela speaks of her best girl friends at St Al’s. She says that they “treat each other like sisters.” She says that they eat lunch together, study together and help support each other. Being a total orphan, Emily, Winnie and Alice are really “family” for Pamela. “Sometimes when you are alone, you feel like you have big problems, but when you hear other peoples’ stories, that are worse than yours, you don’t feel so bad.”
“St Aloysius School wants each and every student to shape their future life with this great education.” She says that her fellow students “are serious with their gratitude for this educational opportunity.” “This school allows high quality, inexpensive education for the benefit of students who are otherwise unable to afford school at all.”
She concludes, “I want to pray for them being so generous, and may God bless them.”
~ by Jim Collins, SJ
To learn more about and support St. Al’s, please visit the website http://www.sagnairobi.org/ or call 1-800-922-5327 at the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus - http://www.jesuits-chi.org/
