When living in the orphanage, one is not really hit hard by the feeling of poverty, since, thanks to the Hungarian support, much better circumstances dominate here than among the neighboring families. It was during Mwakio’s father’s visit that the cruelty of life outside the orphanage first struck me. Sister Willy gave a sack of rice or potatoes to Mwakio’s father every single time he visited; he needed these even more than the orphanage for survival, for feeding the six hungry mouths at home.

Because of the lack of money, Mwakio’s siblings cannot study, and their chances upon starting out in life are very precarious. As soon as little Mwakio gets home, he too will be afflicted by the cruel squalor; so, in my heart, he will always remain Sister Willy’s little "orphan", one who will stand in even greater need of powerful support when outside the orphanage walls.