community aid: supporting eight children in need - tubman.network e.V.

Six months ago, a young woman from Kenya, Jillian Akinyi Bwoga, tragically lost her life while raising five children and completing her training in Berlin, Germany to become a care worker for the elderly and sick.

Today, her sister Valerie is looking after these five children, along with her own three. Two of the eight children are infants. Most of us can only try to imagine what it means to feed, dress, and nurture eight children, keeping them engaged in play and school activities. The psychological pain they all feel is compounded by daily struggles, from financial difficulties to inadequate living conditions.

My name is Mascha Lehr-Bozovic and I have been working with this family as a social worker in Berlin, but I feel compelled to do more. While Germany’s social support systems offer some assistance, I believe that we, as a community, can provide timely and meaningful support.

The burden of raising eight children should not fall on one woman alone. We cannot allow her to be overwhelmed by debt. Our goal is to provide essential aid and support to the most affected families in our neighbourhood. We organise food distributions, medical care, and educational initiatives for children who cannot attend school due to the current circumstances.

The family currently resides in Prenzlauer Berg, a locality in Berlin, in a flat that is neither big nor functional enough for their needs. Valerie wishes to secure a larger flat in the area, as the children attend school there. I would like to ask you to help with a donation of any amount you can manage. Additionally, while finding a larger flat in Berlin is challenging, it remains a goal. If you have any ideas or can offer assistance, please contact me at masa.bozovic+gmail.com.

In organising help for this family, I was fortunate to receive assistance from tubman.network e.V., an organisation focusing on supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

If you know anyone who might be able to help, either by reaching out to a larger community willing to contribute or by donating themselves, it would be deeply appreciated. For details about the donation procedure and Amal’s contact information, please see below.