Orphan Sisters on the Verge of Starving

Senegal

Astou and her sisters suffered the tremendous loss of both of their parents. Astou explained, “My mother died from kidney failure. When we came home after almost two months caring for her in the hospital, we found our father sick too. We stayed by his side until he died of a stroke.”

With no way to pay for the fees, Astou dropped out of school and did everything she could to provide for her sisters as the new head of the household.

Astou said, “After my parents died, it was very difficult for us just to find food. I went to the bush and picked baobab leaves to dry and sell in the market. We tried to run a little business together selling ice cream and juice. We earned a bit, but not enough to live on. We were starving. If we knew we didn’t have money for food for tomorrow, we would fast and pray someone would share a meal with us. Sometimes, I wondered, ‘Does God see us?’”

Their pastor told them about Operation Blessing’s chicken rearing project. After training, and together with other women in their village, they started raising and selling chickens.

“We earned a lot of money from this project,” said Astou. “Now we can buy food, and we don’t go hungry anymore. We have everything we need. Thanks to God and this program, we are all back in school. I passed my University entrance exam and I dream of becoming a doctor, so I can help people with serious illnesses like my mom and dad. A very big ‘thank you’ to Operation Blessing and to everyone who helped us. May God bless you a hundredfold in return. May He enable you to reach other places to do what you have done for us. Thank you so much!”