False Alarm

   While working at Neema House last week a man walked in the front door holding a small child. He said that the boy was his grandson and his daughter has ran off weeks ago. The child, Frank, was a very happy and healthy little boy. We were all very curious as to why the grandfather would want to leave him at an orphanage an hour from his village. The grandfather was not very old and was in good shape. The grandfather said that he could not keep his grandchild because he did not have anyone to watch the boy during the say. He brought all the necessary paperwork from the police station and social welfare office to get the boy admitted into the orphanage but we collectively decided that this case needed a home visit.
   I am serving as outreach to Neema House so I immediately started thinking about ways to keep the boy with his grandfather because it was obvious he was well taken care of and loved. We went to the grandfathers house a couple of days later. To our surprise the house was nice and the grandfather had goats and crops. We asked to see Frank and he said that he was staying with a neighbor. We went to the neighbors to check on Frank and found him very content playing with other children. We asked the grandfather again, what the problem was? The neighbors were more than willing to take care of Frank during the day and even said it was no problem if the grandfather went out of town.
  Now, this all would have been very confusing if I didn't already know that what was happening was a problem. A problem that orphanages had caused. Orphanages are much too willing to take in any child that is dropped at its door without home visits. A certain mentality has been formed because of these orphanages. Many people think that they can just drop there kids off at orphanages where they will be fed, housed, and educated then come and pick them back up once they are grown. Its like a free boarding school. This is a problem in Africa. There are orphanages that are full of children with parents that just don't want the hassle of having a child. Its unfortunate but it is not the Tanzanians fault, it is the irresponsible orphanages.
  In the end, Frank stayed with his grandfather who told us he would hire a house girl to watch him during the day.