Despair to Hope: Irene's Story

by Lydia Schaeffer - TOA Executive Director

“She is a waste of classroom space,” the fifth grade teacher stated unsympathetically, shocking us with her bluntness when we went to inquire about Irene.

Eleven year old Irene had been living with her grandmother when she ran away from home. Her young life had been marked with abandonment, tragedy and loss. Her mother had died of AIDS and her father walked out on the family when Irene was very young. Irene’s grandmother was involved with witchcraft and treated Irene harshly. Because her home situation was so difficult, Irene ran away and found shelter at a home for street boys. The director of the home, an American missionary, contacted Treasures of Africa Children’s Home and asked if we could take Irene in. We gladly accepted her.

When Irene came to live with us, we arranged to have her transferred to the local elementary school where our school-aged children attend. In order to complete the transfer, we had to visit her previous school to collect her transcripts. That is when her teachers and the principal told us that Irene was taking up classroom space and was not worth the effort to educate. They explained that she was not a good student and had a poor attitude.

But what huge a difference love and attention can make in the life of a child. Irene began to receive one on one tutoring from our staff teacher at TOA. Within just a short time, Irene began to realize that she had the ability to learn and succeed. Her attitude changed from a quiet, sad girl to someone who always has a smile on her face. Irene’s seventh grade year was her most successful. She worked hard and had the grades to prove it.

The beginning of the school year in Tanzania starts in January. This past month Irene started Secondary School. This is a tremendous privilege, as only 20% of the population of Tanzania ever moves beyond Primary School. Already Irene has shown herself to be a diligent and dependable student. She is attending a private Secondary School, which means the majority of the classes are taught in English. Over the past two and a half years with us, Irene has developed a tremendous enthusiasm for learning English. Many of the students at the secondary school are fluent in English because their parents were able to send them to private English medium elementary schools. Though Irene did not have that same advantage, Irene’s teachers tell us that she is doing just as well as these students and even better than many of them. She has become the class monitor, which is a privileged position given to a responsible and hard working student.

If you asked Irene today what she would like to be when she grows up, she would tell you an Evangelist, a teacher, a singer or a pastor. She has big dreams now because she knows that she has a future and a hope!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)
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Editor’s Note:
When you make a donation to Treasures of Africa Children’s Home, you not only help feed and house orphaned and abandoned children, you give them a future and a hope by helping to provide an education for them.

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