During our time at LOAMO School, we were blessed to encounter a sweet, smiling boy named Bernard. He had come to LOAMO two years prior, speaking no English. Judging by the size of his smile, and his amazing enthusiasm for his studies, one would think that he lived a decent, comfy life. Unfortunately, Bernard’s life is quite the opposite. At eleven years old, he is a slave for a couple in Arusha. He lives in a pen hardly fit for a dog, that sits behind the decent house that he spends the majority of his life taking care of. Bernard is in charge of cooking, cleaning, and general house care for his “parents”. He is tortured regularly, and works all waking hours, yet somehow has learned English and has become one of the top ten in his class in his first two years at school, which he walks to daily, 30 minutes each way. He is told that his schooling is being paid for by his “house mom”, which in turn will be how she will continues to enslave him for possibly the rest of his life. In truth, Maria, the headmaster of LOAMO pays for Bernard’s tuition. His teachers know about his situation, and Mr. Kimaro has been working towards a way to move Bernard into his own home, where he lives with his own three children. Upon hearing Bernard’s story, Lisa Marie decided something must be done. True, Bernard is probably one of hundreds of boys forced to live in slavery in exchange for an education, but saving one boy is sometimes the best one can do.
With Mr. Kimaro’s help, Lisa Marie hunted down Bernard’s two brothers, John (32) and Raziki (19), who live together in a one room house and share a twin bed, 30 minutes away. The brothers couldn’t have been more thrilled to have Bernard move in with them, and the planning began. Lisa Marie arranged to have him come to school on Monday, the first day of break, with all his belongings and they would then move him out to his brother’s house. Monday arrived and Lisa Marie hadn’t slept. She filled us in on her concerns that the house mother wouldn’t let Bernard leave, or that she would lock him up or hurt him. At about 7:30am, the receptionist at the school texted that Bernard had arrived at the school. His small tattered backpack with all his possessions had been confiscated by his house mother upon leaving the house, with threats that his schooling would end as soon as he stepped foot outside. Bernard had managed to put on 2 shirts before leaving, but was devastated that his school uniforms were taken from him. Lisa Marie and Ava spent the day finding him a bed, mattress, pillow, soap, clothes and shoes (Thanks Tim Mt. Pleasant!) from our donations, as well as new notebooks and pencils. Bernard was astonished at the fresh blank pages of his composition books, no doubt fantasizing about returning to school after break. They also went and bought him 2 sets of new school uniforms, pristine and perfect. Maria at LOAMO was happy to continue to give him free tuition through class 7. Children’s Global Alliance will pay for Bernard’s school supplies and bus fare to/from school for the next year, as well as helping to pay for his food.
Today, Bernard came to the sports program in his new clothes and his old toothy grin. He played soccer, danced, did gymnastics and multiple other fun activities, as well as made new friends. There was never a moment where he wasn’t smiling and laughing. For having dealt with so much horror in such a short life, this boy holds so much wisdom and inspiration. To the world you may be only one person, but to only one person you may have the power to change their world.
