This now 13-year-old boy was living in a shanty with his very ill parents who were suffering from TB .  Due to their severe illness they were unable to care for him.  From a very early age he has been the main provider and caretaker for his parents.  In order to bring food home, he had been begging in the streets and was often beaten by bullies. Due to severe malnutrition resulting in lack of basic vitamins and minerals, his body did not grow properly, meaning he is small for his age.  

He has been one of the most aggressive boys in the home due to his constant need to survive the bullies – he has a temper issue and it has taken a lot of patience working with him and getting him to understand that violence is not part of his new life.  He is extremely athletic and is ready to play a game anytime and anywhere:  his favorite sport is soccer, which he loves so much that he will make soccer balls out of plastic bags in order to be able to get a game going.  No, there are no soccer balls available, but these children are incredibly inventive. He is always willing to help tend the garden, feed [and chase] the chickens, and has a laugh that is so contagious he manages to get anyone in the entire house to laugh.  He attends school daily now where his greatest challenge is trusting his teachers and avoiding fights. 

NOTE:  Our goal in Vima Lupwa Home has always been to empower Zambians to help themselves.  Recently a distant relative of Perfious came to Vima Lupwa Home requesting him to come live with them.  Unfortunately the happy reunion was short-lived, as this relative brought him from one orphanage to another trying to “sell him” for money.  We are presently in the process of working with the Zambian Social Welfare office to have Perfious returned to Vima Lupwa Home.
Needless to say, this situation has caused a great set-back in the trust that he was learning while in our home.