Saturday, December 5, 2009

Eunice is a young woman that we met at the Ewasuo Primary School, which is about 8 kilometres away from Najile. Eunice was 12 years old when her dad told her that he was going to sell her to a 60 year old man as his 3rd or 4th wife, for the equivalent of about $200. Eunice had seen this happen to her two older sisters and knew that she did not want this kind of life. The night before she was to be married she ran away. She ran for two days and nights, and ended up outside the gates of a primary school. In the morning, a teacher found her, listened to her story, and took her into his family, and raised her as his daughter. Eunice's story is not unique. It is common. It is her courage that is strikingly unique and amazing. She is now 17 years old, and is the leader of the Peer Educator group at the Ewasuo Primary School, and is finishing grade 7. She went through four grades in one year. Her teacher, Timothy Tanin, has become a true father figure to her, and his encouragement and support has allowed her to grow in confidence and to share her story with other students. We were so touched by her courage to tell her story. We videotaped her two times, trying to get all of the details of her story. When she was done, she was exhausted and wept in our arms. The video does not do justice to the trauma that she has faced. But it clearly shows her courage and strength. I will never forget her.

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