Lili

My name is Lili.  I am 10 years old. I live in Kondele in Kisumu.  I am HIV positive.  I live with my mother who works at night.  I don’t know what work she does but she goes to work at night leaving me locked in the house.  I am on ARV treatment and it is very bitter. 

When mum comes back in the morning I ask her to help me take the medicine but she is sometimes too tired to help me so I end up not taking the medication every day. When mum goes to work at night I sleep alone in the house. I used to be very scared initially but nowadays I pray and feel better before I sleep.  I keep listening to footsteps passing by the door because I know there are bad people out there who attack children.  When mum leaves I ensure I have locked the door properly. I stopped going to school when I was 7 years old because the teachers wanted me to pay some fees, buy school uniform, shoes and desk.  Mum could not afford these. So I stay at home while other children go to school and when they come back I go to play with them.  I hope one day I will also be able to go to school like them and get new clothes for Christmas.  I also hope one day my mum will sleep with me at night so that I don’t get scared.

I also hope that one day I will have school fees, school bag, books and uniform and a desk so that those teachers who sent me away can accept me back in school.