With a number of students being assisted, and the absence of the health insurance coverage, we are occasionally confronted with the sudden needs of covering the medical emergency expenses, which were not foreseen and planned for.
The case of Winston (name changed to protect privacy), half orphan supported by the widow mother, is an example of such situation. He has survived a Matatu (collective taxi) accident, in which 7 other persons have died, but needed an immediate emergency hospitalization and operation, which had to be paid for right away. This initial immediate payment had to come from the Watu Kwa Watu trustees, since there was no time for any fund-raising drive. Next came additional expenses and the final hospital bill, after the, luckily, fully successful treatment. Now, Winston is back in school.
Luckily we received a couple of open-ended contributions from Watu Kwa Watu friends, and one contribution for part of this huge hospital bill, all from Poland. Also, another local recipient of the Watu assistance, who has finished his studies, is already employed, has offered to contribute in small installments money towards part of Winston’s hospital costs.
In similar category is also the issue of responding to other emergencies, such as flooding and robberies affecting our recipients, which we had last year as well.
In all such cases, the open-ended contributions, and willingness of spontaneous contributions are very important and sometimes life-saving.