"How Will She Eat if She Doesn't Sell Alcohol?" Akili's Impact on Lillian Akoth
Posted on October 11, 2016
In the news for the wrong reasons
Whenever you see Obunga Slum in the local or international news channels, it is always for the wrong reasons such as, " 3 armed men were today shot dead for terrorizing residents", "A man stabbed his wife to death after an argument over $1," "Police raided illicit brew dens and arrested vendors with over 2000 litres of illicit brew," and so on.
Posted on October 11, 2016
In the news for the wrong reasons
Whenever you see Obunga Slum in the local or international news channels, it is always for the wrong reasons such as, " 3 armed men were today shot dead for terrorizing residents", "A man stabbed his wife to death after an argument over $1," "Police raided illicit brew dens and arrested vendors with over 2000 litres of illicit brew," and so on.
Local News Channel Airing Story About Illicet Brew in Obunga
Families determined to survive
But behind this negative publicity are hardworking residents determined to improve their lives. The Obunga slum has a myriad problems. Families here lack appropriate housing and decent jobs. Poverty drives them to look for whatever solution they can find to survive. Women bear the greatest burden of raising their families alone. They fry and sell fish leftovers, charcoal, tomatoes, and vegetables to earn income to support their families and send their children to school.
But behind this negative publicity are hardworking residents determined to improve their lives. The Obunga slum has a myriad problems. Families here lack appropriate housing and decent jobs. Poverty drives them to look for whatever solution they can find to survive. Women bear the greatest burden of raising their families alone. They fry and sell fish leftovers, charcoal, tomatoes, and vegetables to earn income to support their families and send their children to school.
A woman Sun-drying Fish Leftovers in Obunga
Local Greengrocers Buying Tomatoes at Obunga Demonstration Farm
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Selling Charcoal
Selling Vegetables
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Sometimes, the choices are limited
It is not uncommon to see other women venture into risky businesses like brewing and selling illegal alcohol and commercial sex work to fend for their families. They cannot just sit back and watch their children suffer. They must do something. Unfortunately, engaging in these illicit activities always bring them more misery than good. Often, they are arrested and fined heavily, leaving them in debt and even poorer than before. Sometimes they are even raped/sexually harassed and beaten up by drunkards.
It is not uncommon to see other women venture into risky businesses like brewing and selling illegal alcohol and commercial sex work to fend for their families. They cannot just sit back and watch their children suffer. They must do something. Unfortunately, engaging in these illicit activities always bring them more misery than good. Often, they are arrested and fined heavily, leaving them in debt and even poorer than before. Sometimes they are even raped/sexually harassed and beaten up by drunkards.
Law Enforcement Officers During One of the Raids on Illicit Brew in Obunga
They are their children's teachers
As they go about the business of trying to earn a living, their innocent children observe and learn from them and go on to employ the same strategies to survive. Some alcohol vendors take advantage of stupefied drunkards and give them less change, or empty their pockets of all they have. Drunkards on the other hand misbehave by touching the women inappropriately before their children. Fights at illicit brew dens is nothing out of the ordinary.
How will she eat if she can't sell alcohol?
She is only 10 years old. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher. "I am happy and strong" are the words she says to describe herself. Her favorite food is chips and eggs. She is afraid of lions, is good at singing, would like to learn how to cook, finds math to be hard and would love to visit Nairobi someday. If she could be an animal, she would be a dog so she could chase thieves away. And, like many of these girls, her house is the one thing she would like to change in her community.
Like many girls at Akili School, she lives with her grandmother, who brews and sells illicit alcohol to support their family of over 8 children and grandchildren. Her grandmother is a member of several women self help groups in the community. She regularly attends group meetings. When she does, she cannot close her business. She has to keep it open at all times. It is necessary to keep the throats of all of her loyal customers watered and their thirst for alcohol quenched. And, of course, to earn her the much needed income.
As they go about the business of trying to earn a living, their innocent children observe and learn from them and go on to employ the same strategies to survive. Some alcohol vendors take advantage of stupefied drunkards and give them less change, or empty their pockets of all they have. Drunkards on the other hand misbehave by touching the women inappropriately before their children. Fights at illicit brew dens is nothing out of the ordinary.
How will she eat if she can't sell alcohol?
She is only 10 years old. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher. "I am happy and strong" are the words she says to describe herself. Her favorite food is chips and eggs. She is afraid of lions, is good at singing, would like to learn how to cook, finds math to be hard and would love to visit Nairobi someday. If she could be an animal, she would be a dog so she could chase thieves away. And, like many of these girls, her house is the one thing she would like to change in her community.
Like many girls at Akili School, she lives with her grandmother, who brews and sells illicit alcohol to support their family of over 8 children and grandchildren. Her grandmother is a member of several women self help groups in the community. She regularly attends group meetings. When she does, she cannot close her business. She has to keep it open at all times. It is necessary to keep the throats of all of her loyal customers watered and their thirst for alcohol quenched. And, of course, to earn her the much needed income.
Lillian Akoth
Whenever her grandmother goes for the meetings, she tells Lillian that she cannot go to play with her friends. She must stay behind and sell the alcohol. The other siblings and uncles are older and in high school. But someone has to stay and keep the alcohol den open. Otherwise, they cannot put food on the table.
Recently, her grandmother left for the meetings as usual and left her to sell the alcohol. One after the other, the customers flocked to their house, and glass after glass, she served them their favorite drink. "The bitter the better," they say.
Having learned the skills of trade from her grandmother, she watched as the potent brew took the better of one of her customers and decided to give him less change. No sooner had she handed the man the lesser change when he descended on her with hot slaps and kicks resulting into chaos in the house. The ensuing commotion attracted the neighbors who rushed to her rescue.
Among the onlookers was her classmate Vera from the Akili Girls School who later reported the incident to the school. This prompted teacher Annette to summon her grandmother.
Recently, her grandmother left for the meetings as usual and left her to sell the alcohol. One after the other, the customers flocked to their house, and glass after glass, she served them their favorite drink. "The bitter the better," they say.
Having learned the skills of trade from her grandmother, she watched as the potent brew took the better of one of her customers and decided to give him less change. No sooner had she handed the man the lesser change when he descended on her with hot slaps and kicks resulting into chaos in the house. The ensuing commotion attracted the neighbors who rushed to her rescue.
Among the onlookers was her classmate Vera from the Akili Girls School who later reported the incident to the school. This prompted teacher Annette to summon her grandmother.
"If you don't want her to help me sell alcohol when I'm away, how will she eat?" her grandmother posed when asked why she was exposing the child by letting her sell alcohol.
Teacher Annette talked to and advised her against the dangers of exposing her grandchild to drunkards and potential sex predators as well as being a bad influence to her by selling alcohol in the house. She promised to change and support her grandchild through education. Since then, she has been coming to Akili School often to talk to the teacher and check on her grandchild's progress. Her uncle, who is in high school, has also been very supportive, helping her with homework.
Lillian has since registered marked improvement in her studies. In January 2017, she will join the Akili Girls Boarding school in Obambo, a safe home where she will be protected and allowed to grow, thrive and reach her full potential.
Just like Mary and her friends at the boarding school, Lilian has so many rights! She has the right to feel safe; no one is allowed to hurt her. And all adults, like her grandmother and teacher Annette, must make decisions that are best for her.
Teacher Annette talked to and advised her against the dangers of exposing her grandchild to drunkards and potential sex predators as well as being a bad influence to her by selling alcohol in the house. She promised to change and support her grandchild through education. Since then, she has been coming to Akili School often to talk to the teacher and check on her grandchild's progress. Her uncle, who is in high school, has also been very supportive, helping her with homework.
Lillian has since registered marked improvement in her studies. In January 2017, she will join the Akili Girls Boarding school in Obambo, a safe home where she will be protected and allowed to grow, thrive and reach her full potential.
Just like Mary and her friends at the boarding school, Lilian has so many rights! She has the right to feel safe; no one is allowed to hurt her. And all adults, like her grandmother and teacher Annette, must make decisions that are best for her.
Lillian and Teacher Annette at Akili School's Junior Campus at Obunga
She will eat without selling alcohol
The quality education we are giving her will enable her to be the teacher she wants to be. She will earn an income and support not only herself, but also her family and community without having to sell illicit liquor to make ends meet. Go teacher Lillian! Go!
Support our teachers and ensure that Lilian and her friends can continue to access free quality education (www.globalgiving.org/projects/supportakilitechersandstaff/)
The quality education we are giving her will enable her to be the teacher she wants to be. She will earn an income and support not only herself, but also her family and community without having to sell illicit liquor to make ends meet. Go teacher Lillian! Go!
Support our teachers and ensure that Lilian and her friends can continue to access free quality education (www.globalgiving.org/projects/supportakilitechersandstaff/)
