Christine and John have had the pleasure of meeting Shida for the first time over the last month. What a wonderful, spirited and happy young girl she is. She has grown so such since her arrival, despite a completely new environment and the onerous journeys for her eye operations. The children have made her feel so much at home and Shida has a special bond with matron, who has been with her on each of the hospital trips (five in total and a distance of over 5,000 miles).
Shida has formed a special relationship with a little girl called Edina. One of the photos shows Edina helping Shida with her drawing and writing. While some sight has been restored in the right eye, the left one seems beyond repair. Nevertheless, Shida gets around unaided and while unable to join in volleyball she happily acts as ball girl.

We have yet to show her the video clip from the Shindig for Shida (we don’t want to overwhelm her) and she faces another follow-up at the Kilimanjaro Medical Centre in April. School is not yet a possibility, while her eye recovers, and where she will receive an appropriate education remains an open question. She has had no schooling at all up until now.

Many thanks to all who have contributed to the ‘Shida Fund’. We are heartened by how well she has settled at Mayega and what a special child she is.