Aggie's family

Agness Siachobe's family comes from a family compound about an hour's walk from the village of Simpweze.

Simon Siachobe has 3 wives and they all have had many children. Some of the children have died and some of them have left kids behind for the grandparents to raise.

Agness's mother died shortly after childbirth and the dad left and never returned. Agness inherited HIV from her parents. She was started on ART when she was a very young girl - but she was almost dead when brought to Kasensa as a very young girl. Today, she is 13 years old and as I type she is repairing her school bag as term 2 starts tomorrow!

Simon Siachobe married the 3 wives before he became a Christian and then...he just kept the wives. Polygamy has many challenges and one is always how to only have one wife when you've married 3! (or more).

The family that remain are VERY hardworking and diligent and walking into their compound is like arriving at the garden of Eden! Bananas, mango, guava, oranges, limes, lemons, and even 2 apple trees. As well, maize, groundnuts, monkey nuts, melons....and cattle. Jonah, Aggies' uncle who is 30 year old and very articulate and a true gentleman toured us around and introduced us to the grannies (who are healthy and strong) and the various cousins and other kin....

What is Aggie's future? She is in grade 3, quite delayed at school related to damaged ear drums, related to infections as a baby (due to HIV). In the past year she's had both ear drums repaired at Beit Cure Hospital in Lusaka and she can even hear us whisper! But...she's got lots of catching up to do at school. This week I'll speak with her teachers at school and perhaps in the future she will be able to go to a boarding school and learn some other great life skills!