Grace and John Malago

Grace and John Malago’s parents died in the mid 1990s when Grace and John were only 7 and 6 years old. They went to live with their elderly grandparents who were very poor and unable to care for their basic needs. They collected firewood to sell in the market to make ends meet. Their clothes were in tatters and they were very malnourished. The Headmaster of a local school witnessed their plight and asked for them to be admitted to Double Joy. When they were subsequently brought to Double Joy John had no clothes of his own and was wearing a man’s shirt. They both showed signs of being traumatised by their experience. Grace was depressed and in poor physical health and needed many months of treatment to recover her health.

Initially Grace and John were suspicious of Double Joy, not having met many people they could trust, but when John was given some clothes of his own he said: ‘now I will stay!’

Three years on, Grace and John are happily settled at Double Joy and have both grown enormously in confidence. John is bright and enjoys caring for the animals. Grace is doing well in class and developing into a charming outgoing girl.