A Dream Christmas For An African Child

I was inspired to write this piece when I observed a certain family living in one of the poorer parts of the Lagos Metropolis in Nigeria. It was a classic case of want in the midst of plenty, abject poverty in the midst of vast riches. A family of three; mother, son and daughter living on less than a dollar a day, it is very common scenario in these parts. It was the early in the Christmas season, Christmas lights and decorations were just starting to come up on only a few buildings and streets. I wondered how is Christmas spent in this family, what are their plans and what does Christmas mean to them? Do they look forward to Christmas the way  many of us do? 

Christmas

 It turns out the 8-year-old son of this single parent had just a vague idea of what Christmas means. To him it simply is just another holiday, not to say holidays make any difference to him. He doesn’t go to school, he would hawk fruits and vegetables with his mum and younger sister, watching kids his age go to school. He would sit under the shade to rest after hours under the scorching sun. He’d watch in envy as kids giggle and play together as they make their way back home from school - some even buy fruits from him.

An African Child

At sunset, he goes home with his mother and sister, weary and hungry, covered in a mix of sweat and dust, they have dinner in the shack they call home. The boy goes to bed and dreams. He dreams of one day going to school, to wear a school uniform like the one he sees the other kids wear, to have friends to play with, to one day make enough money to give his mother and sister a better life. The next day, the boy wakes before sunrise as usual and begins the family routine of prayers, chores, breakfast and then get ready for the market.

There are many families in Africa and indeed all over the world living in similar, even more severe conditions. By the time you finish reading this paragraph, a child would have died from hunger. Let us give, let us share this Christmas, let us make a child’s dream come true.

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