Early life
Letnas is 15 years old and only started secondary school at Dodoma Boystown in January 2025.
Letnas’ mother married when she was just 14 years old, still a child herself, and by the time she was 25 years old, she had seven children.
One day when Letnas was 8 years old, his mother and youngest infant sibling died in a tragic drowning accident. Within a few short months, Letnas’ father suddenly passed away too, leaving the remaining six children orphaned and in the care of their grandmother helped by eldest sister, Miriam. One of the younger children has severe mental disability, requiring ’round the clock care.
Miriam only completed school up until Form 4 and now she works doing any manual labour available to support her five younger siblings. The callouses on her hands show the sacrifice she makes to ensure they have food every day. Life has been unbearably difficult since their parents passed.
Life at school
At 20 years old, Miriam’s ability to get an education has been cut short by poverty and caring responsibilities, but she is doing everything in her power to make sure Letnas has a chance to get an education with the Sisters of Mary.
All of the children in this family have experienced severe emotional and physical suffering but they have resilience and determination in the face of hardship and thanks to a place with the Sisters of Mary, Letnas now has hope.
After just a few months in Dodoma Boystown, Letnas’ smile has been restored. His outlook has been transformed and he looks forward to a much better future for himself and his siblings.