JEN
Jen grew up in Mbale and then her family (Dad, Mom and her) moved to Tororo. They were a hard working, poor family. Her dad worked for people in the community and her mom stayed home. When Jen was in P7 (similar to 7th grade) her dad passed away one month before her mom was due with a baby. The operation didn’t go well so after she had the baby she didn’t recover quickly and couldn’t work. So Jen wasn’t able to go back to school and continue on to P8 because they didn’t have the money to pay for school fees. Jen started working for people washing clothes, cleaning, working in the field, or whatever she could to earn money to support their family. She did this for a few years and when she was around 18 she got married and had a baby boy, Simon. A couple years after they married her husband started moving on and marrying other women. Jen didn’t want to share her husband or think it was right to do so, so they got a divorce. Jen, in her early twenties, was a divorced and single parent to look after her son. She decided to give God control of her life and give her son to God to provide for them both. That God would continue to provide for them. She got a job working for a family as a house helper which earned her money to pay for rent, school fees, and some food.
Jen has been working at Smile Africa for about a year and her son is now 16 years old and currently on holiday for school. Jen’s job at Smile is to watch over the bathroom area. She makes sure the kids use the toilet properly and that they don’t damage the ground around it or the bathroom building. While she does that she is learning how to bead necklaces, make baskets, and weave mats.
Jen is someone I take time to chat with almost daily. She has such a precious heart, and fun loving spirit. She is a blessing to have around Smile Africa and I’m so grateful she is here!
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