A Gift of Text Books (Digital Download)

How your gift has helped Laughter Africa children in the past:

One of the young people we have given text books to was Sylvanus. He is one of the bravest, most inspirational young people we have had the pleasure of working with. Sylvanus was 14 when we met him and had lived on the streets for 2 years. He lost his mum and dad to Ebola. He went to his aunt’s house but she couldn’t provide for him so he went to the streets to survive. On the streets he did tailoring, electronics and masonry. He first had cancer in his eye when he was 2 years old. He lost his sight in one eye but at least the treatment worked. In 2016, over the course of the year, he had developed a swelling on his face. In some places he was driven away and called a ‘witch’ or ‘devil child’. Everywhere he went people would just stare or abuse him. He was persecuted. He has had it tough but he never let it affect him-he just walked with his head held high. Sylvanus was brought to us by two of our former children in the middle of December 2016 (one of whom- Abdul Aziz- has died since). He had been desperate for help with treatment but couldn’t afford the money needed for hospital, We took him to a hospital straight away and he was officially diagnosed as having Burkitt’s lymphoma (a type of cancer). We paid for his treatments and thankfully since April 2017, he has been in remission. Out of all the 10 children in the ward- he was the only survivor.

Since then Sylvanus has gone from strength to strength and is currently in SS3 and this academic year will be sitting the WASCE (the UK equivalent of A levels).  

A few years ago, Sylvanus knocked on my door, came into my room and started hammering a wardrobe rail into my wall. He had paid someone to make it for him. He then got some coat hangers out and then proceeded to hang about 6 T-shirts and shirts that he had bought for me. When I offered to pay for them, he said, “No. Let me do something for you.” He had saved up all his money from his little jobs for months and months- just to do something for me. I was speechless. These children still find ways to surprise me every day even after 9 years. They might not have much but if you look after them and fight for them, then they will do the same for you! So Sylvanus thank you for my lovely wardrobe hanger! I love it!