In the spirit of an African proverb emphasizing community support in raising children, one man stands out for defying the odds – single-handedly raising not one but seven children, a scenario that might seem foreign to many.
This lone father is taking on the responsibility of caring for seven children, including a pair of nine-month-old twins. Just a few months ago, he and his wife were living together until an unexplained separation occurred, leaving him to navigate the challenges of solo parenting.
The story unfolds as this father recounts the history of his journey:
"I am a father of seven children. We had five children before the arrival of the last set of twins. We spent a month and a half in the hospital, and upon returning home with my wife, we lived together for another two and a half months before she left."
Life was undoubtedly challenging for this father, known as Donut, but it was comparatively more manageable when he and his wife were a united front. As a professional barber, he could attend work daily while his wife took care of their young children. The family's needs, including school fees and rent, were met seamlessly.
However, a sudden twist of fate changed everything. One day, after a regular day at work, he returned home to find his wife gone, leaving behind only a few clothes and some money. The departure seemed suspicious, and his concerns deepened when he couldn't reach her as her phone was turned off.
"I thought she had just gone somewhere and would be back, but when I checked her phone, it was off. I started to look for her because she left the children in the house without informing me. I couldn't find her, but some people informed me that they saw her leaving."
Desperate for answers, he headed to the bus station, hoping to find her. However, the news he received there was shocking – she had boarded a bus to Burundi, her home country.
The reality sank in, and the struggle of raising his children alone became a daunting task. Financial constraints added to the stress, making it difficult to provide even the basic necessities for his children.
The man's journey takes a poignant turn as he grapples with the challenges of single parenthood, embodying the proverbial sentiment that sometimes, it takes more than a village to raise a child.
