Kanazoe, Harouna

Harouna was 5 years old when we visited his family in March 2009. He lives with his mom, an older sister, Aminata (about 12) and a little sister, Nassirata (about 1).

Mom’s first husband died several years ago, leaving his wife and 3 other children.  Since then, one of those children has died, 1 is in the capital city begging for work, and 1 girl, Ouda, is still with her mother.

Mom remarried (Harouna’s father) and had 3 more children, but he has abandoned them as of about 1 year ago.  

Of these 4 children, Aminata is the only one in school.  She is in her 6th year.  With a sponsor, we will be able to get Harouna started in school as well.  Apparently Ouda is too old to enroll.

Mom and the children live alone in a courtyard in Yako in an area known as Sector 5.  They have no electricity, and their mud brick home is not in good condition.  They do have a donkey which is helpful in the field.  Mom and the kids cultivate a crop of millet together. They get their water from a nearby tap.  They have no other source of income and no other family members supporting them.

It was difficult to get the information from Mom, so we suspect she is not mentally well.  She really has no idea when her first husband died, when the other left, nor how old her children are.  We are guessing at ages based on Aminata’s placement in school and the others’ appearance.  At the time they were all in good health.