2nd of December 2011

Posted on 14 dicembre 2011 by Flottilla

The second of December 2011, at 6am, Amani called one of his sponsors, crying and in complete panic, and said that Boniface, the anglican priest of Upendo village, had come to wake them up and told them to pack their things as they were leaving for Malindi for ever.

The sponsors and friends tried to calm him down and told him not to worry, that they would call Dora, and to continue the day as planned, that is, attending an art course organized by a local NGO.

The sponsors tried to reach Dora and Boniface on the phone, but none of them answered the call. So they sent them a message, which said: “kids should not be treated like postal packages. If the problem is to find them a new children home, then we will find it, but not in Malindi, where the kids still categorically refuse to go“. Again, no answer.

So they decided to contact again the director of another children home that had previously helped them. The director called Apoko to have information. Apoko told him that he would meet the sponsors and the friends of Amani, Albert and Jackson, that same afternoon at 2.30pm to clarify the situation.

At 2.30pm, Apoko arrives with Dora, Humphrey, Amani’s brother and uncle fo Albert and Jackson (that abandoned them months earlier), and two policemen. The kids are there because, after they finished the art course, they went there to meet with Apoko.

From the beginning, Apoko made it clear that he was not there to talk or to listen to anyone, but only to communicate decisions that had already been taken.

He was rude and clarified that he was non there to give any explanation. According to him, in fact, all the people there had no right to know what will happen to the kids, and that they had to mind their own business, because they did not know the Kenyan law. Everyone tried to tell him that he should at least listen to what the kids had to say. His answer was “Not always kids know what is best for them and what they want is not always important”.

Dora, the director of Upendo, who never dared to look at the kids or any adults straight in the eyes, said that no one knew the situation or the “poor” mothers of the kids, which she knew better as they had been in Upendo Village twice during those months the kids were there. This left the kids speechless because they did not know their mothers went to Upendo Village as they not even went to say hi to them.

While the discussion was going on, Albert and Jackson went to hide behind some of their friends, while Amani tried to discuss with Humphrey and was trying, without any success, to tell his side of the story to Apoko.

Amani told clearly but politely to Dora that he did not want to go back to Malindi. Dora turned to him and told him “Don’t you dare to talk to me like that. I am the one that took you in my children home for almost a year”.

In the meantime, while the adults were still arguing with Apoko, the policewoman kept telling them to shut up or she would arrest them.

Dora and Apoko became very nervous when it was asked them to show the official documents regarding the transfer of the kids from Upendo to Malindi, or the name of the children home where they were going to stay or of their new school. Apoko was again very elusive and aggressive as he said “this is not your business“. It was asked many times to Dora why she did not let the kids or their sponsors and friends know that the kids were going to be moved back to Malindi. Again, no answer.

Before they took him away, Amani broke down in tears and told Humphrey “Don’t you ever dare to call me brother again”. During the whole discussion, Humphrey never talked to his brothers and never looked at them or tried to calm them down.

Apoko, Dora and the two policemen then forced Albert and Jackson to exit the shop were they went to hide and, while they were crying desperately, grapping on to everything they found, they took them away. Jackson was even barefoot and they did not even gave him the chance to take the shoes. Amani left his schools bag behind.

left shoes and backpack

The big remorse everyone has is that everyone was so busy to fight for them, to defend their rights, that they did not have the chance to talk with the kids before they took them away, to let them know that they will fight for them, not to worry, to stay calm.

That evening Amani managed to call one of the sponsors, telling them that they were brought to the police station. The chief of the police told Humphrey to go back to Malindi. Amani and his brothers clearly told the chief they did not want to go back to Malindi.

After this, the chief told them to go back to Upendo Village for a few days to make up their minds, and that it would have been better for everybody if they listen to what Apoko, Humphrey and Dora were saying and decided quickly to go back to Malindi, otherwise, they would put them in jail.

Amani also said that when Dora was questioned by the police chief about what she wanted, she said “I want to be the one managing the money of the sponsors. I do not want the sponsors to choose the school even if they pay for transport. They must give me all the money and leave everything in my power. I do not want anyone else to be involved“.

Here there are some of the possible reasons for what happened: money and power.

Kids have not been seen at church on Sunday where they usually go or at the tuition lessons they were attending during the holidays.

Since that call Amani made on the 2nd of December 2011, his friends and sponsors did not have any news from or about the kids.

Photos were taken of the police bringing away the kids.

WHY “SAVE AMALJA”

Posted on 13 dicembre 2011 by laila

AMALJA is the acronym of Amani, Albert and Jackson. They are three Kenyan kids, aged 15, 12 and 11 who are now living a nightmare as their rights are being brutally infringed on once again.

For years they experienced privation and abuses from both their family and the children home where they were abandoned by their own relatives. Finally, a year ago, they had the chance to have a new life and a better future in a new city, a new children home and a better school.

They were finally given the right and the opportunity to study, to evolve, to improve, and to grow up with better prospects and to become proud and responsible Kenyan citizens.

Amani, the oldest of the three, in one of his letter where he explains why he does not want to go back to his family, writes “If it is true that a son should take his mother and family as models to grow up, then I do not want to go back to be like them. I want to stay here in this school and with the people that are helping me to be a better person”.

Amani, Jackson and Albert

What and who are preventing Amani, Albert and Jackson to be better Kenyans?

The answer is: power, economical and political games. One children officer, the director of the children home where they were staying and their family are treating them like postal packages. They moved them from one place to another and used them as bargain chips. Without any notice, from one day to another, they dragged them with force and the help of two policemen, brought there with the only intention of scaring the kids. They were so taken away from the place where they had settled in and from the people that had supported them with love and responsibility for over a year. They are moving them as if they are animals without personal willing, feelings and rights. They are not asking them what they want: what made them happy about their new life? where is “home” to them now? what will make them unhappy if they return to their family and to another children home, where they know privation and abuses will start again?

This is happening in Ukunda (Diani Beach), south of Kenya right now . The kids have been forcedly torn away from the place they wanted to live and have been terrified, on the 2nd of Dicember 2011.

If you are an honest person, with an upright soul and consciousness, please help us to give Amani, Albert and Jackson the life they deserve. Help us to spread their story, which is then the story of hundrends Kenyan kids.

Follow the story of Amani, Albert and Jackson and the people that love them on their website www.saveamalja.org

A group of people of different nationalities, cultures, religions and life philosophies, who know the kids and have helped them in the last year, has decided to come together through SAVE AMALJA. All this with one aim: to help these kids and to find them a lawyer that defends their rights and makes sure that no children officer, family member or children home director can, in the future, represent a threat to their happiness and safety.

Save Amani, Albert and Jackson. Save Amalja.

Signed by:

A.Ghezzi, D.Kyee, E.Obungu, G.Arrigoni, G.P.Velutti, J.Kaloki, Sister Juliana, K.Amwoka, L.H.Hassanein, Father L.Gallina, P.Velutti, Sister Magdalene , M.Munyeo, M.Onsinyo, R.Nganga, R.Onsinyo.

Cosa è AMALJA

Posted on 5 dicembre 2011 by laila

Amalja è l’acronimo di Amani, Albert e Jackson, tre bambini del Kenya di 15, 12 ed 11 anni che stanno vivendo un dramma dopo che i loro diritti sono stati completamente e per l’ennesima volta calpestati.
Dopo anni di stenti e di abusi, sia da parte della loro stessa famiglia che della casa famiglia che li ospitava, un anno fa, dopo essere scappati da quella realtà, avevano finalmente trovato la speranza di avere una vita ed un futuro diversi e migliori. Una città ed una struttura nuove, una scuola migliore che hanno dato loro la possibilità di studiare, evolversi e migliorare. Crescere con più ampie prospettive, così da diventare cittadini migliori e orgogliosi di essere kenyoti.

Amani, in una sua lettera in cui cerca di spiegare il perché non vorrebbe mai tornare indietro dalla sua famiglia d’origine, scrive: “Se è vero che un figlio crescendo, deve prendere esempio dalla madre e dalla famiglia, allora io non voglio essere come loro. Voglio quindi rimanere qui in questa scuola e vicino a persone che mi aiutino ad essere migliore.”

Cosa e chi sta impedendo ad Amani, Albert e Jackson di esserlo?

Giochi di potere, economici e politici: un ufficiale dei minori, la direttrice del nuovo orfanotrofio che li ospitava e la famiglia di origine, che li considerano semplici pacchi postali da muovere a loro piacimento, usati come merce di scambio e guadagno.

Da un giorno all’altro e senza preavviso, li hanno trascinati con la forza e l’ “aiuto” di due poliziotti, i quali sono stati chiamati con l’unico scopo di spaventare i bambini ed obbligarli ad andare via. Via dal luogo e la scuola in cui si erano ambientati e dalle persone che li hanno seguiti con affetto e responsabilità nell‘ultimo anno.

Spostati, spediti come animali, senza che nessuno abbia chiesto loro cosa desiderino.

Cosa davvero li faceva star bene della loro nuova vita? Cosa significa per loro “ sentirsi a casa”? Cosa li farà soffrire tornando a stare con la loro famiglia o in un altro orfanotrofio? Loro ne sono certi: ricominceranno i problemi, l’impossibilità di studiare e gli abusi.

Se questa storia vi ha colpito, se siete persone diverse, con una coscienza ed con un’anima, aiutate Amani, Albert e Jackson ad avere la vita che hanno diritto di vivere! Aiutateci a diffondere la loro storia, che è poi quella di centinai di altri bambini Kenioti!

Seguite la storia di Amani, Albert e Jackson e di chi li ama, li rispetta e li vuole aiutare davvero, sul loro sito.

Questa storia sta accadendo ORA ad Ukunda (Diani), nella costa sud del Kenya. I bambini sono stati portati via con forza il 2 dicembre 2011.

Un gruppo di persone di razze, culture, religioni e filosofie differenti, che conoscono i bambini e li hanno aiutati negli ultimi mesi ad uscire dalla triste realtà in cui stavano sprofondando, si è riunito ora dando vita a SAVE AMALJA con un unico grande scopo: aiutare questi bambini, senza girare la testa altrove! Trovar loro un avvocato che faccia si che i loro diritti vengono rispettati e che nessun ufficiale dei minori, direttore di orfanotrofio o membro della loro “famiglia” possa, in futuro, minare nuovamente alla sicurezza, alla felicità e alla stabilità cui Amani, Albert e Jackson, hanno diritto.

Salviamo Amani, Albert e Jackson, salviamo AMALJA!

Firmato:

A.Ghezzi, D.Kyee, E.Obungu, G.Arrigoni, G.P.Velutti, J.Kaloki, Sister Juliana, K.Amwoka, L.H.Hassanein, Father L.Gallina, P.Velutti, Sister Magdalene , M.Munyeo, M.Onsinyo, R.Nganga, R.Onsinyo.