Thanks to YOU, stories like Samuel’s are possible!
“Hello, I'm Samuel, and my 15th birthday is just around the corner. I'm the oldest of four siblings, and we live with our grandmother and her husband. It's been challenging for my dad to take care of us for various reasons. Given circumstances that were considered dangerous for us, it was decided that we should live with our grandmother instead of my dad.
You see, my dad used to go out with his friends, mainly to cockfighting contests. He mentioned that he occasionally placed bets, but winnings were rare, or at least, he didn't always have money on hand. Finding a stable job was also quite sporadic for him. He tells me that since his time in prison, many employers are hesitant to hire someone with a criminal record. So, my dad tries his best to earn money and provide us with food. He always makes an effort to take us out for walks. Honestly, I don't think he's a bad dad. If anyone should be criticized, it should be my mom, who left us when we were young in pursuit of employment. It doesn't matter anymore; perhaps I stopped loving her, and she hasn't visited us either. In fact, I've almost forgotten what she looks like, and my younger brothers barely remember her. My grandmother doesn't appreciate my candidness about this, as she believes a mother is a mother and should not be disrespected. I don't disrespect her; I'm merely acknowledging the consequences of her choices.
I hold my grandmother, the anchor in our lives, in high regard. She's a strong woman who often reprimands us and keeps us occupied with chores. She occasionally talks to my dad too. Yet, I love her immensely because she takes care of us, shields us, and imparts wisdom to ensure we become good children, or in my case, a good young man.
When we moved in with my grandmother, who now has custody of us, we were introduced to the Project. Three remarkable women have shown genuine interest in us, our grandmother, and even my dad. They're attempting to reach out to my mother to remind her of her responsibilities, but, honestly, I've moved past that. Besides providing monthly food supplies, they offer advice, uplift our spirits, and teach us to look after ourselves. They've also educated us about emotions, which I find intriguing because, as far as I can tell, my grandmother's primary emotion seems to be anger.
This leads me to think a lot. The Project has also emphasized the importance of forgiveness, to keep our hearts at peace with my mother.
This year, the Project, in addition to the monthly food supplies, blessed us with new backpacks for me and my brothers. Inside these backpacks, they included a list of school supplies. It's wonderful to have new backpacks at the start of the school year; they say it's to inspire us to study, and I'll give it my best shot. I may not particularly enjoy studying, but I recognize that it's the only way to ease my grandmother's frustrations and make my dad happier. He often tells me, "Samuel, you're the eldest, you should set an example." I may not relish being the older brother, but I'm determined to do what it takes to make things better for my family and ensure that we all turn out just fine.”
