ALICK CHILEKWALearning to be a child
ALICK CHILEKWA
Learning to be a child
Alick
is the youngest addition to Vima
Lupwa Home: Although
eight
years old, due to malnutrition he looks maybe four years (if possible).
His yellowed teeth evidencing his past.
The
social welfare office was first alerted about Alick a couple of years ago when
some neighbors reported his mother abusing him. After deciding she no longer
wanted him, she forced him into a plastic bag and waited till it was garbage day
in town. This is an excerpt that was written in the report, “Some people saw
this woman with a plastic on her head going to throw something away. She placed
it in the bin and walked away. Luckily someone threw some garbage after her and
noticed the bag moving”. When they opened it they found that Alick was inside
crying. This is how he went to stay with his father two years ago. Sadly the
situation for Alick did not improve. His father made him beg for money during
the day, while they slept in bars during the night where he was physically,
mentally, and sexually abused. His father became very ill and abandoned him at
the Social Welfare office where he was immediately placed with us. The next week
his father died of AIDS, his mother has fled this part of the country. The most
unbelievable part was hearing his little voice asking to please buy him beer. He
arrived to our home an 8 year old alcoholic. His habits are slowly changing
although it will take time. He now only asks for alcohol about once a week
versus the couple times a day when he first arrived.
Now
when Alick awakens in the morning the house is filled with laughter and singing
at full volume (yes, fully volume at 7 in the morning!!!!) He loves to play guns
with sticks and run around the yard shooting at things. He is still too little
to attend 1st grade, but he attends kindergarten. Each morning as he walks away
to school with his little backpack he waves as he turns the corner.
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