Tears of a Volunteer – Episode 1

Source: Unsplash

Written by : Waruks

Edited by: Topstar Okechi

Morning by morning, Ciku got herself up to work and work hard to be precise. Ambitious as it may seem, she hoped that her hard work would give her a better job someday, that she may get noticed and be elevated. A whole year had gone by and she was still serving at the home of elderly as a volunteer. Jobs were scarce in the country, a scenario that was worsened by the Covid19 pandemic. The country had an influx of graduates moving from office to office in pursuit of inexistent jobs. Those graduates, she was one of them, though she wasn’t moving around a lot. A very small number of people, even smaller than those who believe that the earth is flat knew that she had a Master’s Degree in Public Policy. The old folks at the home of the elderly adored her. She had a good heart and always listened passionately to their Mau Mau stories. Needless to mention that she was very patient when tending to them. The old folks often said that she wasn’t like Nancy. Who’s Nancy you ask?….

Nancy had held the position of head chef before transitioning to a job with USAID. She used to smile magnanimously whenever the visitors, rather wazungus came around. She would speak her big English and fable how the old bones were happy, for lack of a happier word. But in reality, she loathed working there, it was merely a means to an end. She would pitch brilliant suggestions aimed at bringing happiness in the home not forgetting to mention her steadfast bond with the wazees and bibis. She would ride on the fact that old fellas could not decipher any English and so, whenever these clueless Wazungus would visit, all they did was giggle and reply to the random Jambo whilst nodding along. By luck, through a recommendation, she got herself a job at USAID. She was one hell of a schemer, that one…well, let’s go back to Ciku.

They say every dog has its day, Ciku was still waiting for hers. She prayed with the folks every evening, entertained them, cleaned and tended to them as much as she could. She was always there for them, she was everything for them. Most importantly, she loved it. Even as it was for Nancy, volunteers were just that: VOLUNTEERS. You didn’t get paid a penny regardless of your inputs. The only cheque was “God is going to bless you, and bless you abundantly”. But the site manager was paid to run the center and he would be blessed abundantly later on his off days. Lunch, if at all there was any left after serving the cucus & gukas, would be the pay for the likes of Ciku.

She would always leave her home before 6 in the morning and go back only after 10 in the evening after everyone at the center was asleep. A whole year had gone by and she was starting to get worried. Was she ever going to get out? Was there a brighter future being this? She had bonded well with the folks and they held her in her in high esteem. But still, she was in a dilemma: she needed money to survive, she needed to progress.

*****To be Continued****

Disclaimer: While this story is inspired by real experiences of young people, it is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are either the product of the writer’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Stay Tuned…Episode 2 of “Tears of a Volunteer” will be posted tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE