A day in the life and home of a child in an informal settlement.
I wake with a grumble and a groan. “Morning Classmates, I am Kella” comes my older sister’s voice. My stomach is very sore from hunger. Ow! My bed is rather hard, but still slightly softer than the floor in the shack. I crawled out of the bedroom and into some clothes. I peered into the small fridge hopeful as could be, only to find it empty. I check the cupboard for some bread sticks. I turn around, breadstick breakfast in my hand, to see my dad carrying my mom down the passage. Carrying! “What on earth?”, yelled my brain. “Where’s the food?”, yelled my stomach. “Coming”, replies my arm bringing the bread stick to my mouth. Crunch! I take a big bite of the bread stick. “Hello Hun” says my mom. “Your dad got a new job and surprised me with a great big secret!”. “What?” I ask extremely excited. “A new house! An E-khaya shack structure. We will each have our own sleeping spots!” By now I am over the moon with excitement. “An upstairs and downstairs will be built.” My mom goes on