Arafat Bakari Mlumba is 16 years old and lives at Upendo Home.
Arafat was born in the village of Musimi, where he lived with his mother and grandmother. His mother tried to provide for the family on her own, but the scarce resources were often not enough. When Arafat’s mother decided to move to another region to find work, he stayed behind with his grandmother. He was eleven years old at the time. Everyday life was not easy: there was often a lack of school materials, clothing and sufficient food. It was not possible for Arafat to attend school regularly.
At the age of 13, Arafat fled to the city of Singida in the hope of finding a job there. But life on the streets brought its own challenges: Arafat collected tin cans to earn some money and slept on terraces in the open air. He experienced violence and illness and met children who were struggling with the consequences of drug abuse. An encounter with a social worker was a turning point for Arafat. They brought him to Upendo Home. For Arafat, this not only meant a safe home, but also the opportunity to go back to school.
Today, Arafat lives in the Upendo Home and uses the time to improve at school and discover new interests. He particularly loves playing football, painting and realising creative projects such as sewing bags. The opportunity to pursue his passion for football is particularly important to him, as is an environment that encourages him to try new things and pursue his interests.
Looking into the future, Arafat has big goals: He wants to become either an aeroplane engineer or a professional footballer.
