Mama Elijah

Theresa Wachera, from Mathari village. Been coming to the sanctuary since 2008. Elijah is now 12 y/o he was born with cerebral palsy, brain damage. She didn't know until he was 3 months couldn't hold his head up and became more apparent as he grew. She has had 5 children, 3 boys and 1 girl but one daughter was tragically killed in a road accident in 2004 (knocked down by a car walking to shop). Thersa's husband left her and all his children with her when he realised Elijah was disabled, at 6 months, due to the stigma and perceived burden. Theresa lived down side of a steep slope and used to have to leave Elijah on his own to go and sell second hand clothes to survive, but she is now re-housed close to sanctuary where she can walk to work the shirt distance with Elijah on her back. She has been provided with financial support and food support in the past, and a specialised chair and matress and physical therapy. Before her job in SA she struggled to find food and educate her other children. Now she can feed her family and never leave Elijah alone again.

What does Sanctuaryartists mean to her?

Mama Elijah: "I not only have a salary but now have new friends who share teh same struggles as I do, I enjoy my work and is has made my life so much easier!"