Baraka and Emmanuel Mathayo

Brothers Emmanuel (10) and Baraka (12) are from a small village on Mount Kilimanjaro. Life was very hard for the boys at home. Their mother and her boyfriend treated them cruelly and so they decided to go and live with their father. Life at their father’s home was difficult, too. Emmanuel and Baraka’s father was out of work and couldn’t afford to feed them properly. He often become angry and violent, and so one day the two decided to try their luck on the streets of Arusha.

On the streets they fought constantly to find food and a safe place to sleep. The cold evening temperatures of Arusha made sleeping difficult. Emmanuel was fascinated by the army and looked up to the soldiers he saw in the city. One day he approached the soldiers and asked for help. They directed Emmanuel and his brother to Amani Children’s Home.

Now at Amani, the boys are beginning school and making friends with the other children. They enjoy playing games. Emmanuel loves to play the keyboard and Baraka loves to play soccer. Emmanuel dreams of becoming president of Tanzania some day. Baraka wants to be a farmer when he grows up.