Please help Ishmael rebuild his life

Ishmael is a 10-year old genocide survivor. When his village in Darfur was attacked by the Sudanese Government and the Janjaweed militia, the attackers grabbed Ishmael and threw him in a fire, just because he was a boy. He was six at the time.

His father was shot before his eyes, and his mother died of shock. His one-year old brother died when they arrived at the refugee camp. He is left with an older sister and his grandmother who cares for them.

Without his grandmother’s intervention, Ishmael would have perished in the fire. Now it is us up to us to reach out where he cannot help himself. Having seen video footage and photos of the young boy, doctors in the UK believe Ishmael can regain the use of his hand and arm. The medical structures Ishmael so desperately needs are absent in Chad. Network for Africa is therefore raising funds to enable Ishmael to seek professional medical help abroad and cover the cost of operations on his arm.

The gift of wholeness will become a testimony of courage and survival and an example of hope to others. Regaining the use of his hand and arm will also help ensure Ishmael a productive future, where he in turn may provide for his older sister and for his grandmother in her old age.

Please help Ishmael by sending a cheque made payable to Network for Africa, with a note indicating that the donation is to support Ishmael.

Ishmael's Journey

It is 7:30 am when we arrive at Ishmael’s enclosure and the heat and dust is fast upon us. The neighbours quickly surround the little family and welcome us in. Ishmael’s story belongs to them after all. The women chatter excitedly and it takes some convincing to leave us alone; we do not want to shame Ishmael beyond what he already has to endure.

Settling on the mats, Ishmael sits quietly, surreptitiously glancing at me. His older sister Kadija sits dutifully among them. Hala, the tribal language translator introduces us and we take turns exchanging blessings and thanks.

Grandmother Amira is excited that the khawaya – the white woman – heard the call for help and came to visit them. Maybe someone in the West will now hear their voice and find a solution. “ Ishmael was six when our village was attacked”, she explains “his dad was shot before Ishmael’s eyes and his mom collapsed from shock and died shortly after. The Janjaweed with the Sudanese army circled our village and started chasing and killing people and burning the village. The Janjaweed grabbed boys and threw them in the fire, and then they took Ishmael and threw him in the fire. The attackers were too busy killing others and fortunately they never noticed I was able to snatch Ishmael out of the fire”.

I look at Ishmael. His eyes are downcast in shame. “Ishmael, do you remember what happened to you?” He barely looks up at me and keeps staring at some distant point. “I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember about being thrown into the fire, but I do remember about my father being shot before me and my mother’s death. I saw many attackers but I cannot actually remember what they looked like I was too scared and confused.”

“How do you feel now? You have been in this camp for almost four years.”

“I feel embarrassed all the time, from the incident and of my father’s death and now I see myself as a handicapped who has no future.”

Ishmael breaks down; he can no longer control his feelings. Embarrassed he lowers his head. As tears flow freely, the vivid memory of his father’s death and his disability weigh heavy and he is unable to continue his story. The women watching him suffer are overcome with emotion and everyone rallies around him with encouraging words.

Hala clarifies: “The issue of the orphan is very sensitive. Now we thank God that the grandmother is there taking care of those children. It will become more severe when the grandmother is no longer alive”.

This is of course the greatest worry. If Ishmael’s arm is not restored, he will become increasingly marginalized and unable to provide for his family once he is old enough.

Humanitarian doctors at the camp assure us that his arm and hand can be fully restored and that Ishmael will be able to have a normal life, on condition that he receives an operation along with trauma counselling.

Ishmael is a genocide survivor. Without his grandmother’s intervention he would have perished. Now it is us up to us to reach out where he cannot help himself. The gift of wholeness will become a testimony to courage and survival and an example of hope to others. Regaining the use of his hand and arm will also assure him a productive future, where he in turn may provide for his older sister and for his grandmother in her old age. It will ultimately restore his pride and dignity.

Waging Peace is therefore raising funds to enable Ishmael to seek professional medical help abroad and cover the cost of the operations on his arm. Please help Ishmael by sending a cheque made payable to Waging Peace, with a note indicating that the donation is to support Ishmael.

read an article in the Telegraph about Ishmael