Taken

Today during lunch a friend accompanied me to the headquarters of Chisomo Street Children’s Project. My intention was to talk to someone about Ganizani and friends/brothers who would be able to do a better job of researching their situation and background. Cosmas a nice Malawian in his late 20s greeted us and invited me to tell him what I knew about the boys. I told him about the boys in City Center and their house in Saint, about the conflicting stories of the whereabouts of their families, and the conflicting stories of their relationship to each other. When I finished Cosmas said, “Ganizani Nelson, both his parents are alive. He has been moving between relatives and may have finally left home due to the lack of freedom.” Apparently, he was in their system but preferred smoking marijuana to attending elementary school and was consequently kicked out. Cosmas struck me as a very patient and kind person with a strong no-nonsense streak. I was not really surprised by what I heard; it makes me laugh at myself and at Ganizani. I told Cosmas that next time I saw Ganizani I would let him know that we met – I’m sure he won’t be pleased by that fact. He’s 13. He deserves another chance and another but I need to be a little tougher. I think the new tactic will be the promise of food if and only if he goes back to the program. I am glad that there are social workers roaming the streets trying to get kids back into school and back into families.