Nyanhialik - saved by God

25 March 2020

Maker Lual is among the many supported foster parents, who willingly support children who come to the camp unaccompanied. When he heard that a child had been rescued from a pit latrine, he immediately put in a request to raise Nyanhilik as her own child. Photo LWF Kenya P.Kwamboka

From the depth of the pit latrine to an adorable lovely girl and source of joy for the family. Read how foster parents are giving second homes in Kakuma Refugee Camps.

One would say living in a refugee camp is enough calamity to strike a person, but being born in a refugee camp; stateless, parentless and in the depth of a pit latrine courtesy of your own mother is the worst misfortune that can befall someone. Well, that pretty much sums up Nyanhialik’s introduction into this world.

Nyanhialik’s may never know her biological mother having been rescued from the depth of a pit latrine in a school in Kakuma refugee camp by an LWF security guard at the school. By his own confession, the security guard heard cries in the compound but he could not locate the place nor the source. His instincts led him towards the latrines behind the classrooms. And true to his instincts, the cries became loud and clear.

With his emergency response training, he quickly notified the area block leader for assistance. The area block leader in turn called the Child Protection staff in the camp to aid in retrieving the baby from pit latrine. This culminated into a flurry of activities in the camp; assembling human power and tools to emergency response team. 8 hours later, and baby Nyanhialik was rescued and rushed to hospital.

After one week of hospitalization under the eye of trained medical staff, baby Nyanhialik was discharged from the hospital. But where to? Unknown to her, there was no home, no parents!

Maker Lual, a member of the Dinka community came to the baby’s rescue.They offered a home and the much-needed parental care. The baby was given a name too; Nyanhialik.

Yes, Nyanhialik; meaning the one saved by the Gods in the Dinka language of South Sudan. Her foster parents felt that this name suits because of the mysterious circumstances that she was found in.

LWF is the lead implementing partner for UNHCR Kenya in child protection in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Under child protection LWF offers psychosocial support, case management and sexual gender-based violence awareness services

LWF facilitated the formation of a child protection structure called a Child Advisory Council, which comprises of security leaders, protection focal teachers, community block leaders, and an LWF national caseworkers. The structure ensures the wellbeing of the children in the camp and the host community in Turkana west subcounty, as well as linking LWF child protection with high priority cases

Children like Nyanhialik and other vulnerable children are placed in a foster parent system run by LWF. In ensuring the safety of the children families willing to foster children are vetted and assessment done to the entire family before a child is allowed to be joined in the family. A Foster Placement Form agreeing to take solemnly responsibility of the child is signed by the foster parent

To ensure that most of the basic needs are addressed. LWF facilitates cash support to help foster families to supplement the children nutritional meals and buy basic material for the children with the support of the gift of The United States of America (Population, Refugee, and Migration Bureau)