Jacinta in Kenya

The Olney based charity, Advantage Africa, works to help those like Aids orphans or disabled children who often suffer poverty and neglect.

Jacinta Sweeney, who works for the charity, spoke to OlneyOnline about the lasting memories of her recent trip to Eastern Kenya. In particular, the six year old boy whose photo is now on her computer desktop. It's a smiling Makau Collins, who has cerebral palsy. In the picture he is holding onto his wooden scooter.

The scooter was made for him by the Kikumbulyu Disabled People’s Organisation in Kenya, an organisation the charity supports. Jacinta said:

"Makau wasn't always such a cute little grinner – the first time I saw him in October, 2008, he seemed unhappy and disinterested in his surroundings, a little boy lost in the yard of his home." She explained that the difference between the first and my second visit was the impact on Makau of his grandmother: Janet. 

"Without his gran there to look after him, nurture him and educate him, Makau’s palsy may perhaps be less well understood in the village of Siembene where people’s first priority is often to go to the farm to harvest their beans and maize for the family at large or to seek assistance for illness at the local clinic."

Advantage Africa aims to support inspirational people, and Jacinta finds that in her job as a programme manager she meets deeply inspirational people in Kenya and Uganda on each visit. 

"Janet is one of a number of grandmothers I met on my most recent trip to Kenya, all of whom inspired me with three things: their humility, their commitment to the grandchildren they are now bringing up due to the impact of HIV & AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and their pride in the small steps of success being taken by their children on a daily basis, such as those taken by Makau as he happily pushed his scooter along the yard with Janet by his side".

Jacinta said the desktop picture (seen above) is great inspiration for her work every day. Click here for more Olney charities or for Advantage Africa.