The Unending Cycle of Child Labour: Rembo's Harsh Reality

Rembo's mother lives in a small rented single room within a cluster of eight similar rooms. While only two children live with her, she has sought help from neighbours to accommodate her other children. Sadly, four of her children reside in a children's home in Busia.

Their living conditions are poor, with no bed for the mother, who uses her clothes as bedding. Cooking and washing utensils are done outdoors, and the toilet and bathroom are located outside. The landlord pays electricity on their behalf. There is a big playground for the children nearby.  Access to clean water has become problematic since the school pump broke down. Now, they must fetch water from a nearby river. Rembo currently lives in a neighbour's house with two rooms, one sitting room and one bedroom.

Rembo lived with her parents in another village before relocating to their current residence. Her father, employed in a hardware shop, battled addiction. From as early as Grade 2 (primary school level), Rembo witnessed her father's abusive behaviour towards her mother, resulting in severe injuries. The family often endured hunger, added to episodes of violence. Their living conditions got worse, with Rembo and her siblings suffering from jiggers, making life unbearable.

Rembo vividly remembers her father's attempts to harm her mother, who was forced to flee, leaving Rembo and her siblings vulnerable. The younger children were placed in a children's home by the eldest brother, while Rembo lived with her teacher for three years. However, when her teacher relocated, Rembo moved in with her aunt, enduring abuse and hard labour. Eventually, Rembo's mother returned, and they moved to a small rental house. Due to space constraints, Rembo ended up living with a neighbour.

Since Grade 3, when she was 12 years old, Rembo has been taking up various casual labour tasks to support herself and her family. These tasks range from farming to fetching water and washing utensils for neighbours, earning her between 0.35 to 2.8 euros, though sometimes she isn't paid. Despite her mother's efforts to secure her payment, promises made by neighbours often remain unfulfilled.

Currently, Rembo resides and works at a neighbour's house, performing household chores like cleaning and washing utensils before attending school. However, she endures mistreatment from her neighbour, who occasionally beats and scolds her if she does not do the work assigned to her. Her mother remains unaware of this mistreatment, as Rembo believes that she will advise her to stay strong and continue to work. 

While she has access to three meals per day, Rembo's constant worrying leaves her with little appetite. Additionally, the physical toll of the workload coupled with emotional distress, affects her school performance and concentration. 

Rembo's academic progress is still affected by frequent absenteeismces due to her inability to pay school fees or procure necessary school materials. Teachers have expressed concern for her well-being amidst these challenges.

“I feel bad and sick. My head hurts a lot. My concentration in class is poor. I think I will do well but I don´t do well at all.¨ Rembo explained.

During school days, Rembo's routine begins at 5:00 am when she wakes up and attends to household chores like washing utensils and sweeping. By 7:00 am, she heads to the nearby school, sometimes arriving late due to her earlier work responsibilities. Throughout the school day, she studies various subjects, with limited time to play with her friends. Returning home at 5:00 pm, she resumes her chores, including washing utensils, fetching water, and cooking. Despite the long day, she dedicates an hour from 7:00 to 8:00 pm to reading before going to sleep. 

During holidays or weekends, Rembo's day starts at 6:00 am, where she follows a similar routine of tending to household chores before heading to the farm from 7:00 to 9:00 am to gather greens for cooking. Her afternoon hours are dedicated to cooking and washing utensils, while her evening is spent on additional chores like fetching water, bathing, and preparing supper. Despite the demands of the day, she sets aside an hour for reading before going to sleep. She enjoys relaxing, reading, playing football and running during her free time.

Rembo continues to face significant challenges, including missing school due to a lack of fees and experiencing persistent emotional distress. She has to work for her neighbour before she goes to school and before she sleeps. She still faces mistreatment in that house. She struggles to engage in typical childhood activities, such as eating and playing with friends, as her mind is preoccupied with worries. 

The looming threat of her father's potential return adds to Rembo's burden. Her mother, working on her husband's farm further complicates their situation, with concerns for their safety in the event of his return. Her strained relationship with her mother has left them emotionally distant and disconnected.