By Rosalind Kalumba
I am Rosalind, a fourteen-year-old albino girl. I have never lived with my mother; I did see her but at this time I cannot say how she looks as I have limited vision. I have never seen my father, but I saw his coffin, not himself. But that is life. Listen to my story!
I was born outside marriage. My father was at the Teacher Training College when he impregnated my mother who was in grade ten at Nchelenge Secondary School. He was doing his teaching experience for three months, September to November 2008.
When I was born at the hospital in June 2009, my mother immediately expressed her disappointment at having an albino girl baby. She cried and cried, (my grandmother told me this) and breastfeeding me was an issue. When my father was told, he completely refused to acknowledge me… both my parents refused (just imagine)! Through God’s love my grandmother (mother to my father), took full responsibility for me and an agreement was made by the two families that after weaning me, my mother would surrender me to my grandmother. It happened just like that and fortunately I become the favourite of my grandmother. She showed me how to pray because she was dedicated to church and an active member of the St. Anna lay movement and well known at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Nchelenge.
In 2015, on the 29th of June, the feast of St Paul and Peter, my parish celebrated the patron saint of the school. It was the great day when the hospital had an official opening of the eye clinic. Many people where invited and it was at that feast, that Sr Agnes Bwalya saw me and talked to my grandmother at length. My grandmother was very much willing to take me to school. Sr Agnes told my grandmother and my family that, “Rosalind will be taken in August when the school opens”. August came and I was taken to school where I was very happy and my grandmother told everyone in the family that I had started school, including my father.
My grandmother never minded about the behavior of my father. He started work as a secondary school teacher in North Western Province and never bothered to support me directly, however I benefitted from the money he was sending to my grandmother for buying food. She became sick and died of malaria when I was in Grade 4. May the soul of my grandmother Rosalind Kalumba rest in peace, amen. I do remember her day and night, and am happy because I was named after her, Rosalind Kalumba.
When my grandmother died, I was taken by my aunt Hellen Musonda, (sister to my father) who was married to a clinical officer and working at Mbereshi hospital. My aunt’s husband loved me so much and supported me and I felt happy to be asked to live with them. I lived with them up to grade five until they divorced and my aunt decided to go back to school because she was married when she was in grade twelve, and my uncle also decided to join his first wife with his four children. My aunt had no child and it could be the reason why they divorced.
I am so lucky, to have people who love me and encourage me to be more focused and have a positive mind set. When I was at St Mary’s Special School in Kawambwa my class teacher Madam Catherine helped me not to think more about the past but concentrate on the present. She introduced me to sports, which I love especially netball, I even have my own ball. I have made a lot of friends out of this game and I spend time playing cards and snakes and ladders with my friends. These indoor games have really developed my mind and I am very good at mathematics and science and religious education, but very poor at cooking (laugh).
Now when I was in grade seven in 2020, stories about my father’s sickness reached my ears, I felt no impact because I had never seen him, and when he died and his body was taken to Nchelenge for burial. I didn’t view his body because I didn’t know him, I just saw the coffin and I didn’t cry, I was just looking at people and immediately after burial I went back to school with Madam Catherine.
When I was in Grade six the elder brother to my Father (where am staying now) decided to take me because he had found a job in the ministry of Agriculture and was posted to Northern Province. Because of the distance, Sr Agnes and my family decided that I should join St Odilia Special School in grade eight. It was not easy for me but I had no option. I never wanted to leave my friends especially Promise Mambwe.
I wrote my grade seven composite examination and passed with good marks and I am at St Odilia in Grade 9. This year I will be writing my final examinations for me to enter the senior secondary level.
My social interaction with the community and other family members is good. I have a lot of friends at home and I interact well with my age mates especially Rhodah who is also albino but learning at the Mbala special unit. I have introduced her to sports and we meet from time to time. She is also in grade nine like myself. During holidays we study very hard and she has helped me to have a positive mind set.
This year I represented my school during Social Science District Competition and I won and came first in Religious Education, junior category. My subject under discussion was prayer. It was a paper presentation and I came second. What an achievement! (Smile with me).
Life is what you make of it.
Thank you to Inverness County Cares and Chalice. We truly appreciate your support.
Inverness County Cares (ICC) is a local charitable organization, founded in 2012 and based in Inverness County, NS, Canada. ICC works in partnership with Chalice.ca, a Canadian charity, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Chalice provides guidance and assistance to help us provide a better life for the children at the Kawambwa schools. The Kawambwa Project involves supporting two schools for albino and visually impaired students, in Northern Zambia. Inverness County Cares always welcomes new members. Individuals who wish to donate, can use the donate button on our website https://invernesscountycares.com When using E-transfer, please include your mailing address for CRA tax receipts and a thank you message. E-transfer address: [email protected] or send a cheque to Inverness County Cares, 5414 Route 19, Judique, NS, Canada, B0E1P0. Taxation receipts provided for USA and Canada.
