Dawit

Well....it certainly has been a while since I last wrote in here. I suppose because I've been quite busy. There's a lot to say, but one experience has been solidified in my mind since I witnessed it about three weeks ago.

His name is Dawit. If you have viewed the pictures throughout the past months you are familiar with one of his 'sister's,' Elsa. It is a sibling group of three that now resides at the orphanage, including Beatty, their older sister who is 9 years old. I did not know that Beatty and Elsa were siblings until Dawit arrived. I had never seen them together nor had anyone mentioned that Elsa had family within the orphanage or outside. Most of the children's history is a mystery as I do not want to conjure up painful memories of them losing their parents whether they were abandoned at birth or lost them due to death later in life and therefore still have vivid memories of their parents. And even if I am told, it often is incorrect and inconsistent.

Dawit is about 2 years old. He arrived at the orphanage just three weeks ago. I visited the orphanage on a Wednesday to donate some items that had come in the mail and immediately it was brought to my attention that there was a new arrival. 'His name is Dawit and it is Elsa and Beatty's brother.' I was completely amazed at the revelation. How does a child, one of just 2 years old become abandoned and have two other siblings in the same orphanage?

After constant nagging for about half an hour I learned that Dawit lived with his mother until that Tuesday when he was stripped from her arms. The only caregiver he had ever known, he was separated from her. Irregardless of the reason for why it had to be that way, Dawit didn't know the difference, one minute he had a mommy and the next he did not. Stripped from her arms he arrived at Kechene, without knowing anyone in the home he was brought to his 'siblings' who he had never met, Elsa and Beatty. Beatty didn't show any interest in this new addition to the Kechene family but 5 year old Elsa took it upon herself to care for her little brother.

I've never witnessed such grief nor profound love in my life. Nothing but Elsa could calm little Dawit's heart. He cried when he lost eye contact with her. If her 30 lb little body couldn't hold his weight any longer and she was forced to put him down, he sobbed. He just wanted to be hugged. Just imagine a 5 year old trying to hold and pick up a toddler. The imagine itself is heartwrenching. He didn't want food, he didn't want toys, he just wanted someone to love him, someone to comfort his fears in this new place. Elsa was now a mother, at 5 years old. She couldn't eat her lunch without having to comfort him and help him eat. She couldn't run around the orphanage grounds playing tag with the other kids cos Dawit couldn't keep up and would cry if she was more than 5 steps away, Elsa couldn't color with the rest of the kids because Dawit didn't want to sit near the others. Her childhood has been lost, and though I hope that Dawit will soon acclimate into the environment of the orphanage, no child should have to do so nor should any 5 year old have to parent a toddler. But it happens and often in the worst of circumstances. Elsa is considered lucky in most respects, she has the staff and children of the orphanage to help support her. Others her age do not, but live within the community on their own, sometimes discriminated against due to the reason their parents died. First orphaned and left alone and then stigmized against without any protection and felt to fend for themselves. I think of this little boy and Elsa everyday and the impact her trying to hold her little brother in her arms has had on my life.

*I apologize for any mistakes, I've only had 1 hour of sleep in the last 36 hours. I must get to bed.