Barbara

Barbara is 8 years old. Two years ago, at the age of 6, both of her parents died of AIDS, leaving her in the care of a neighboring husband and wife. The couple were living at the wife's fathers home, but soon after the recieved Barbara he died. In his will, he left all of his land to his 2 sons, and nothing to his 3 daughters. The family was now forced to leave and live with the husbands parents on the far side of the river. About one year after the move, the wife's parents were violently killed so out of fear, the family fled once more, across to the otherside of the river. Today, they are temporarily living in a mud and stick house on someone elses property. I say temporarily because at any time, they can be told to leave, with no warning. Entering the dark, cool hut, i greeted the wife, who's clothing was tattered and exposed her breast our entire visit. She made us tea and freshly picked groundnuts to snack on. Barbara has been progressively gettin sick over time and they now think she too has been captured with AIDS. She takes medication twice a day (once in the morning and once at night) which make her feel dizzy and nauseated and distract her from her studies. She loves school and hopes one day to be a teacher. As I left, I took this beautiful photo of the family-Barbara is in the pink dress. Out of a feeling of helplessness, I gave the wife everything I had in my purse...a pineapple, a few decorative head scarves, and 9,000 TSH ($10 USD).