Florence

She is ten years old, and she is beautiful. But Florence is hiding beneath a kanga because her chest and neck are a mass of painful raw pink and white flesh. She was admitted to the hospital three days ago, reportedly with "porridge" burns. The site of her injury was somewhat unusual. After a few days of gentle treatment, we learned that Florence lives with ten other orphans and a woman (not an ACK Mothers' Union guardian!) who brews changaa. The children help her in the business, in exchange for room and board. Somehow a pot of boiling changaa "spilled" onto Florence's upper torso. We are now beginning some rudimentary physical therapy; otherwise, Florence might never move her head or neck again. Child neglect/abuse occurs in every country of the world, but there are no social workers here. Twombe/Let us pray... for Florence and for children like her everywhere.