"watoto wa mungu" means "Children of God."
Here is a letter from Dr. George Shoup, a recurring volunteer at Nyumbani, telling of the drama, the need, the tragedy of life for Kenyan children outside of the orphanage:
I am a retired physician who spent 3 months at Nyumbani (Jan. to April of 2005). I am returning to Nyumbani on Aug 28th for another two to three months. While living at Nyumbani, I spent most of my time in the slum Kibera, part of Lea Toto (outpatient clinic). In my 3 months there we lost 11 children- a fact that I have a difficult time putting out of my mind. I will not get political --just do not get me started on the drug industry or our current Washington administration. Nyumbani Orphanage is doing great - they have ARVs (drugs to treat HIV).
When I left there were close to 3,000 kids registered in the Lea Toto program (outpatient, in the slums) --- all HIV+- who had no ARV drugs, only a sulfa drug as prophylaxis against some of the bad complicating diseases of HIV. These are innocent children who are dying while we in the West do nothing. The orphanage is great but it cares for only 94 children, truly the fortunate few. There are thousands of others out there without meds, without family, without food. I have been to homes in Kibera where the head of the household was 11 years of age and some bastard is charging rent. The Nyumbani web site is out of date but I personally think the NyumbaniVillage, being built in Kitui, is a giant leap in solving the African problem. As I understand it now, the first few hundred children and guardians will move into the village this month. I fully agree with Fr. D’Agostino’s letter-- they need money. Personally, I believe that the orphanage needs a child psychologist or psychiatrist. All the Nyumbani children know they are HIV+. Thanks to ARVs these children are healthy, happy, going to school, and in general doing well. Until 1999 the orphanage was really a hospice; with ARVs it has become an orphanage and these kids are growing into adulthood and asking questions- sometimes tough questions like “Why is God punishing us when it was our parents who did wrong?” I think that they need a native Kenyan psychologist/psychiatrist but at present they can not afford this.
Enough of my politics. Just know that I love Nyumbani and what they are doing. If there is a more deserving charity in this world, I would like to know about it. Thank you for reading this.
G. Shoup, M.D.