Shakira lost her father when she was just one year old, and two years later, her mother also passed away. Orphaned as a toddler, Shakira was taken in by her aunt, who lived in a distant village with her husband. But stability was short-lived, her aunt’s husband refused to accept Shakira. Her aunt, torn between love and survival, made the painful choice to send Shakira away in order to save her marriage. Shakira was sent back to her grandmother.
Back in the village, life with her elderly grandmother was filled with struggle. With no steady income and only small-scale farming to rely on, food was scarce. Malnutrition quickly set in. Shakira became so weak and frail that she was hospitalized, where she received life saving care, nutritious meals, and milk, a turning point in her fragile young life.
Even after returning home, her grandmother continued to battle poverty. Some days, generous neighbors would bring food. Other days, they went to bed hungry. Yet even in the midst of hardship, Shakira held on to hope. She started school, though hunger and exhaustion often kept her from attending regularly. Despite everything, she remained determined to learn.
Everything began to change when Orphan Shade discovered Shakira’s situation. Shakira was welcomed into a loving Orphan Shade foster home in the Pangeti village. She now receives regular meals, learns the bible, receives emotional support, and uninterrupted access to education.
For the first time in her life, Shakira feels safe, cared for, and truly at home. Today, Shakira is not only surviving, she is thriving. Healthy and full of energy, she attends school and dreams of becoming a nurse.
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