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Perseverance. It is what she does best. When you first meet her, you wouldn't know it. She just seems like a quiet girl who keeps to herself. When you say hello to her she greets you back, but she is so quiet she can barely be heard.
It is her smile that you hear first.
Her name is Betty. She likes to do what all the other kids are doing. She wants to be included and talked to. She wants to have fun and learn new things. The difference is, it isn't as easy for her as it is for the other kids. Betty was born with a disability. She has Cerebral Palsy. She walks with a limp and a struggle and has to think a bit harder and a little bit longer. But what she doesn't do is give up easily.
Betty tries to keep her eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of her faith, while running the race marked out for her.
The mission statement of Grace International Children’s Foundation is to “establish sustainable loving homes for orphans in East Africa that develop children to reach their full potential”.
Like children everywhere, each child at Lulwanda is unique and special. The rigorous curriculum of Lulwanda Primary School was impossible for Betty to master and she often repeated grades. Lulwanda’s compassionate social worker found a school where Betty could be successful, where she could reach her full potential. She attends a wonderful school for children with disabilities and she is thriving! Lulwanda is still Betty's home and she returns at term breaks. During the school year she boards at the vocational school. She is learning skills that will some day allow her to be a productive member of society and earn an income.
Betty beams with pride as she receives praise from the caring staff for how well she does the laundry and irons clothes. These are marketable skills. Betty especially loves ironing the intricate folds of the habits of the nuns that run the school. She has gained confidence in herself and often assists other children with challenges much more difficult than hers.
We are very proud of Betty.
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