Sometimes you hear a story and you get to be a part of totally changing someone’s life. That’s my invitation to you right now!
Clementine has no legs and actually walks on her hands. My colleague Eloge drove past her this week, and felt prompted in his spirit a few minutes later to turn around and go back to talk to her. He asked her what her story was. Here goes:
Clementine is an only child, and aged 4 she was struck with poliomyelitis and became disabled. Her father abandoned the whole family because of her, and she’s never seen him since. When she was 12, she was raped by a stranger.
She refused to have an abortion despite lots of pressure from those around her, given her situation. She duly gave birth to a boy, and named him Jacque*.
During the political upheaval of 2015, Clementine’s mother was killed, and now she lives alone with her 12-year-old son. She has a vibrant faith and is praying for God to supply school materials (£7.50 / $10) for her son, as school starts this week. She refuses to beg as most people in her situation do. Instead she works with her hands as she seeks to provide for her son’s needs. Her small avocado-selling enterprise was destroyed in the troubles in 2015, but then she had the chance to learn to sew. She would love to get her own sewing machine (£115 / $150). She is about to be kicked out of the house she rents, as she owes 3 months of rent (£150 / $200). To get home, she takes 3 hours from the bus stop, walking the rest of the way on her hands.
She hopes to get a tricycle for disabled people one day (£300 / $400) and the means to rent a house near the easily-accessible main road.
Folks, we can cover all that, and more! Let’s do it! If you want to help, go to www.greatlakesoutreach.org/donate and put Clementine in the message box at the bottom of the form.
I want to set her up in business and have a scholarship fund for her son to get through to university, let’s say £5300 / $7,000. Wow! It’s a joy to be able to launch her into a new life.
PS Your donation will help us support Clementine and her son for the long term – we estimate we will need £5300 / $7000 USD to do so. If we receive any surplus, we will put it towards other vital work supporting the most vulnerable in Burundi.