In honor of Adoption Month and World International Children’s Day, I want to share a little bit of some motivation and encouragement to my colleagues in this field. May you always remember WHY you are doing all these and above all continue choosing, believing, and fighting for this cause and helping to invest and reimagining a better world for every child without parental care.

This is a conversation I had with a 3-year-old boy in an orphanage of him informing me that he had found a family. I was just returning home from my daily errands, but once the boy saw me, he came running towards me and asked me to hold his hands and insisted that I follow him.

Boy: Wawila, Oola! (the name the kids call me at home), come with me

He goes to get me a chair then asked me to sit down as he had something tell me

Me: Okay, I am already seated. Niambie sasa (tell me now)

Boy: Inama kidogo nikwambie eeeeeh kitu kwa masikio (Lean in a little so I can say something into your ear)

Me: I look at him then lean in

Boy: Smiles, Wawila! Gai umeinama, umeinama (Ooh my God! Nyawira you have leaned)

Boy: Songa hivi kidogo ndo unikaribie kabisa. (Move a little bit so you can get close to me)

Me: eeh, nimeinama my dear, sema sasa (Yes, I have already leaned in. Tell me now)

Boy: Breathes into my ear then murmurs something into my ear

Me: Nini? Sijakusikia What? I have not heard you

Boy: Looks at me, smiles, and then goes to finally say whatever he wanted to tell me

Me: I smile back

Boy: Leo mama wangu alikuja,na akasema atanipeleka home (Today my mom came, and she said she will take me home)

Me: Wow! Feeling a bit overwhelmed after he conveyed the good news to me. Finally, he had found a family.

Boy: Goes quiet then gives me the biggest smile ever after ensuring I had heard everything; he was trying to communicate to me

Me: Looks into his eyes and I smile back at him. He then leans in for a hug and asks me to hold his hands.

Me and Boy: Hio ni mzuri (That is good)

I remember feeling so happy for him after having this conversation and was super moved by his sweet gestures and for allowing me to share in his happiness. For him go the extra mile and offer me a seat and take his time to tell me that he had found a forever family. I never take such moments for granted, they teach me to see and appreciate the little moments and the joy that life brings. I was also shocked that he was finally speaking, I have always known him as a reserved boy and for him to just get excited about all these and openly share, was and still best moment for me this year. If this is what happiness looks like for many other children like him, I want to be part of it too, and help make it a reality. 

Sometime back, I had the privilege of working with adoptive parents during bonding the process and up to the moment of releasing children to their parents. A journey that has helped me appreciate the beauty of adoption and enabled me to look at it from different lenses. By interacting with adoptive parents and experiencing the adoption journey, I must say I am grateful for adoption and always celebrate adoptive parents for choosing to take this journey, a journey worth taking and loving their children deeply. Seeing a child light up at the thought of having a family and even start understanding and engaging with the concept of being home or having a family, could just be that one thing that makes all the difference. 

I am glad that for this year’s World Children’s Day, UNICEF is calling and challenging us to come together to create, reimagine a better world for every child and invest in their future. For every child, whose concept of home or family is just but a vague concept, I pledge that through my eyes you will be heard, seen, and will be felt wherever I go. I will continue advocating for changing the narratives and attitudes of children without parental care, promoting care reform, and the need for children to grow in a safe and nurturing family. I look forward to when we can invest and reimagine a future where every child can grow and thrive within their family and the community. I want to wish every child of the world, A HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY

7 years ago this month(September), you gained some wings but still remain with us. You are one of those angels that came into my life and have never left cause you forever remain in my heart and inspire me always.When I talk to people about my life and what I am grateful for, I always tell them of our lil moments together because I want to continue spreading that light and hope that the world smiles back and love to love like we did😄😄.

I remember those days you would ask me to accompany you to hospital for your dialysis sessions and ensured I knew all about the procedures and kept me updated on everything so that I did not miss on anything.Sometimes, I would be so worried and wished that I could take away all your pain but you would just hold my hand and tell me that things were gonna be okay and that I should not worry.

Those were hard times and am grateful that I can reflect on those moments and feel deeply honored and privileged that you chose me to journey with you and experience it all with you. I was never the same again and have learnt to treasure those great times. I do mourn a little bit that you left and also smile because you transformed my life in ways that I did not expect so I will forever honor and respect your memory. When I used to worry or get upset that I could not do so much to help with your situation, I learnt that it was indeed those little moments that we had at the hospital and at home that meant everything and the only way home.Christy, may you know you still live in our hearts, you are dearly missed and deeply loved.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😔❤❤❤❤❤❤

Continue resting in love and reminding us to live our purpose.

Your sis

Raha,

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Maisha ni safari na safari ndefu….Haiya haiya ta imagini😂😂😂😂😂😂 this has been me lately after realizing that graduation week is here 🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓.This week is special with two main events in my life which make me appreciate life more and be deeply grateful to celebrate and be surrounded by people who have always believed in me and supported my journey.

You people make the world a better place and have enabled me to become a better person.
May I never forget all the great things you have done to me, and may I use that to inspire me to be kind, to love and to give wholeheartedly wherever the world leads me.My hope is that as I progress in the next stage of my career and life you can smile and know you are why Rahab has become HER❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.

I want to say hadithi hadithi(story! story) of the way to receive and to be found in love lol does that make sense✍✍✍✍✍✍✍👌👌👌👌.My win is yours too. I don’t need to mention any names because I know you all know it and connect with me on that level.I am honoured and always grateful for the gift of all of you😍😍😍😍😍.May you continue being those angels our universe needs and have Blessed week♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️.Cheers to grad week and more wins.

Yours,
Raha.

We are already in my favourite month. Why do I always get excited for this particular month? It is my birthday month, Social Workers and women month. Thanks to Elizabeth Evans Hagan for the daily motivations you share with me that I get to reflect on. One of the post you shared I remember this one question: Do you find yourself reflective on your birthday and if so, how?
It hit me hard as for the past few months a lot has been going in my head as I have been thinking a lot on the direction I want to take in my life and what it really means to me. I have been feeling disturbed a lot because there is a certain word that has been on my head and since coming to UK and everything I found myself questioning a lot of things in my head. Can I call it a skiza tune? When go I sleep I still hear it.Help! What does it really mean to help? what is it really?

One time, I remember I was just a young girl and somebody asked what I wanted to become in future. I told her I wanted to become somebody who would help other people not to go through any more suffering like did in my childhood. I did not understand what it really meant, all I knew was that I wanted to ease the suffering of others and make somebody happy. Now that I am a grown up my perspectives and understanding on it has changed as I can see myself in this help context and how it played out in my life. I thought I was a bit insane because I have never thought of an issue this much. As I talk and tell people what I intend to do in future Its a thing these days I want to listen to myself first and then give a BIG SMILE because its what I believe has always and will continue to set my heart and soul on fire for I know that’s where I am meant to be.

As I look back, am actually not surprised with the woman have become today because it was that very statement which I have based my character ,actions and career. Fast forward 2019! I am somewhere far away from home doing what Children Youth and International Development course. Amazing, right! I was feeling scared but the more I keep looking at what I envision to be a better world and all that I aspire to do, I can as well continue to be disturbed, keep believing and doing. My prayer for my new year is as I reflect on the word HELP I may know better, do better and keep trusting that God will lead me in the right direction.

All the amazing human beings in my life may you too have an incredible fulfilling month and am G.R.A.T.E.F.U.L

Love Raha,

Raha( front row to the right)

For all my life, I did not imagine that I would become who I am today because my circumstances made me think I was just passing through life and just survive. This picture here carries a lot of memories and a reminder of what it means to choose hope and to keep going even when you feel like your strength is fading.

Whenever I share my story mostly what I get is a ‘woishe‘ of feeling(pity) or just sad look and some wondering why am not crying whenever I share such stories. I was listening to a talk by Oprah and she shared something like really amazing I thought I should share ‘’ we should own our stories, own our place in the world and sing it LOUD no matter how different we will sound from everyone else.’’ This quote just sums up my life in every aspect. It is only when I came to this realisation, I began to see light and embraced who I was something that I really struggled with for a long time.

Sometimes I wished things were different but what have come to learn and appreciate about my journey is that no one is ever a mistake and everything we go through is only a path to our purpose in life. I do not look back and weep anymore because I found a purpose in my life and to just tell everyone else who feels like they do not belong that you are not alone. Own and embrace your journey and be that light whenever you go.Among the things that keeps me going and motivates me is when I came to know that no matter your circumstances you matter, you are important.

Lastly, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE IT IS VERY VALUABLE.

Love, Raha.