Ellen Daniels-Howell, Executive Director of Global Interfaith Partnership

My command of the Dhluo language is limited to a few essential words, including “erokamano” which means “thank you.” I love listening to people’s prayers because I hear “erokamano” said so frequently I feel I actually understand almost all of the prayer.

Yesterday was no different as I went on home visits with some of the Hope Women’s Group to deliver our greetings and a small supply of food to 8 elderly grandmothers. Except in the case of one grandma who was too ill to speak, all of the elderly women wanted to offer us a prayer before we departed. Erokamano… Erokamano… Erokamano.

For the most part, these grandmothers have nothing, making their prayers of gratitude all the more poignant. Almost all are too frail to work for others and some were too sick to work their own gardens. In every case but one, several orphaned grandchildren live with them. Just to give you an idea, here are a few of the notes I took along the way:

Susana, 80 years old. Lives with 5 grandchildren and ill daughter-in-law. One granddaughter profoundly disabled. School-aged children attend Marera Primary and receive school lunch and other support through Umoja.

Serefina, 67 years old. Lives with 4 total orphans (both parents deceased). Works when she can for food. Has one surviving daughter-in-law, who has no home so sleeps at Serefina’s house. Children attend Marera Primary and receive school lunch.

Helida, 78 years old. Lives with 4 total orphans. Co-wife lives on compound with 5 total orphans. Home is dilapidated and wet when it rains. Children all home sick. When well, they attend Marera Primary and receive school lunch and other support through Umoja.

Pauline, 80 years old. Found her sitting in the sun by her garden, unable to move. Couldn’t speak much other than to say she hadn’t eaten in a long time. Desperately ate a cracker handed to her. Lives with one grandchild who attends Marera Primary. Child gets school lunch but goes to school hungry each day.

Rosebella, 76 years old. Stays with 9 grandchildren. No source of income. One child attended Marera Primary, but had been sent home from school because couldn’t pay fees associated with testing.

Hearing story after story was exhausting, but what a great opportunity for me to better understand family issues which affect the children we serve. And how humbling it was to hear these stories of poverty and loss, and then stand with the grandmothers and lift up prayers of thanksgiving. Erokamano.