OneWorlders have chosen Kenyan AIDS caregiver Pamela Adoyo as one of their People of 2008. In addition to raising her seven children, Pamela manages 45 local women who are caregivers to the sick, checking regularly on 365 men and women in the area who are "down" with HIV/AIDS and the nearly 2,000 AIDS orphans and other children affected by the epidemic. Pamela and her women have also built an orphanage, which houses 20 girls and plans to take in its first group of boys soon.
Pamela is ready to answer your questions about her life and work and the impact of AIDS in Africa. Post your questions or comments below by Mar. 6 and we'll send them on to Pamela's son Patrick, a university student in Nairobi, who will take them out to Pamela in her village of Dago (six hours away by bus) and bring back her responses. (If you don't mind, please include your name and location with your post.) And click here to learn more about Pamela Adoyo and all the finalists for OneWorld's Person of the Year award.
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Comments: 6
I'd like to know more about your orphanage. When did you start it? How many kids are staying there? How old are they? What is the daily life like for them? Do you have a large staff to run the orphanage? Where do the kids go to school?
There must be more kids in the area who need help like this, right? How do you decide which kids can come stay at the orphanage and which kids can't? What happens to the kids who can't stay at your orphanage? Do you have plans to make the orphanage bigger? Is there anything we can do to help you from here?
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, and congratulations on your great work!
- Jeff in Minneapolis, USA
Here's my question for her: You must already be busy as a mother of seven children, yet you've shown great leadership with your work as an AIDS caregiver. For those who say they are too busy with their personal lives to help others in need, what advice could you give to them to motivate them to take action and volunteer in some small way?
Sarah Virgo, American Eastern Institute.org, USA
My question is how do you handle the loss of some of the children? How do you explain to the other children when they loose one of their child friends in the orphanage?
Nicole
ameda Ultra