Millicent, Iddah and Rose Omwami

Millicent, Iddah and Rose Omwami are three sisters who witnessed their parents becoming very ill and eventually dying of Aids. Millicent (aged 12) cared for her dying parents as well as for her two younger sisters Iddah (aged 8) and Rose (aged 3).

When the parents died relatives took Iddah away to be a maid in Kisii, a town approximately 60 km from her home. She was far from her family with no opportunity to contact them. She was expected to work very hard to pay for a roof over her head and food. She was also in a town occupied by a different tribe with a different language and customs. Maids can often be very young girls who are vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment.

Meanwhile Millicent was left in the family home to care for Rose with no additional support from her extended family. They had no food or income and eked out an existence by eating cassava from the shamba (allotment). With no means to support herself and her sister, Millicent and many girls like her easily slip into prostitution. Girls aged 12 or less are seen as low risk (of having Aids) and are easy prey for older men. Rape of these vulnerable girls is common place. Some HIV positive men regard having sex with a virgin as a cure for Aids.

Fortunately for Millicent, Iddah and Rose, a relative through marriage, who was an active and supportive member of his community, saw their plight and brought them to Double Joy. He collected Iddah from Kisii and reunited her with her sisters. At this time she was suffering from severe ringworm and had scars on her head and face. All three sisters arrived at Double Joy very dishevelled and in poor health.

The girls were terrified of being separated from each other. They needed a lot of reassurance and care to settle at Double Joy. Rose now being the youngest child at Double Joy was showered with affection from the other children. Iddah was quickest to settle and thrive at Double Joy and is now a lively confident child. Millicent was very traumatised by her experience prior to Double Joy and needed special support to develop her self-esteem and sense of belonging.

Iddah and Millicent had received no schooling before coming to Double Joy and initially struggled to even hold and use a pencil. They have joined the accelerated learning scheme at Double Joy and are now making good progress. All three sisters are in good health and live together in their house at Double Joy with the supervision of the House parents.