Amazing Xmas cheer for 12-year-old breadwinner
Amazing Phiri

Amazing Phiri

Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
A twelve-year-old Mberengwa orphan-turned breadwinner got an early Christmas present for his household after some donors learnt about his plight through the media before tracking him down to shower him with goodies.

Amazing Phiri’s situation of juggling between school and looking after his 77-year-old blind grandmother and a 56-year-old mentally-ill uncle was published in The Herald last month and since then, well-wishers have been pouring him with presents and food aid.

In an interview, the boy said he was grateful to The Herald for making public his situation, a development that has seen the donor community and well-wishers extending hands.

“I am excited with the kind of support and help that I am getting from donors who read about me in The Herald,” he said. “Some came down to our rural home to see my situation for themselves. Some made me travel all the way to Harare for the first time.

“I have been receiving gifts and presents from different people.”

Amazing said he had ceased to be a child in order to head the family since the death of his parents some years back.

“It’s a difficult situation, but I am now used to it,” he said. “Its looking easier now that there are well-wishers some of whom promised to assist me even with my school fees.”

Amazing said some suggested to adopt him, but he turned them down citing the need to be close to his ailing granny and uncle.

A neighbour, Mr Sorton Shumba, who had to accompany Amazing when some well-wishers called him to Harare, said they were happy with the help that he was getting from individual well-wishers.

He appealed to the donor community to continue assisting the boy.

“We are mere villagers and can’t help much, but the boy has been getting some help now after his case was published in the media,” said Mr Shumba. “We hope the aid will continue coming.”

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