The Réalta Story- Gold Stars

In January 2004, whilst working on a research project, we asked Annie, one of the study volunteers, to tell us what being on HIV therapy meant for her. Annie’s husband had died of AIDS a few years previously leaving her with six children to care for. Annie herself had been dying of AIDS herself only six months previously and had accessed medical treatment by enrolling in a study, which was the only way that she could access the medications which otherwise she could not have afforded on her meagre teacher’s salary. Annie answered the question by asking us to visit her at the school in which she worked, Kireka, so that we could see the impact that treating one person like herself could have.

The following weekend we paid our fist visit to Kireka, a school for children with special educational needs. Kireka is a poor school set up by the parents of children with learning disabilities. It received a small amount of aid form the Government, but the majority of funding came from the school fees which the children’s parents, if they were alive, stuggled to pay. When we arrived we were welcomed with open arms and Annie took us on a tour of the school. The school had almost 100 children, many of whom were orphaned and stayed full time in the school. The children had a wide range of learning disabilies, some with very severe deficits including cerebral palsy, brain damage from trauma or cerebral malaria. Others had Down Syndrome, autism, deafness and still others had severe developmental difficulties from abuse or being abandoned as small children.

The children were dressed in old, torn clothes and some had signs of malnutrition. There were no toys or educational materials, ad the schools on e wheel chair had been broken for several years. We saw the bare classrooms, the crowded dormitories without mosquito nets, and the bare medicines cupboard where the containers for basic medicines, like malaria treatments and paracetemol, were all empty. The school nurse had recently left for better pay elsewhere. Finally we saw the graves of the young children who had died in the school, often of easily treatable conditions such as malaria or seizures. The children however, despite such basic material needs, were happy and it was clear that they were well loved and cared for.

Annie explained to us then what treaatment had meant to her. When she was sick and near death she had been unable to care for her own children but also the school children, many of whom had regressed and suffered during that time. However, since she had started treatment and was well and active again the children were doing well again. So treating just one person had a far wider benefit for the community than just her immediate family.

Annie showed us the crafts and skills that they tried to teach the children, in the hope that some of them could become more self sufficient and would have a skill that they could use to support themselves in life. The girls were taught to sew, using old sacks to make dresses. The boys were taught to weave rope and care for an animal such as a goat.

We asked Annie if there was anyway we could help. We had been making mental notes of all the things that were lacking in the school and were wondering what we could do to benefit these children. Her answer however we were not prepared for. The teachers talked excitedly amongst themselves, before she turned to us and said “We would like gold stars”. We were surprised and asked what they would do with gold stars. “When the children learn a new skill, like a stitch”, Annie explained,”It may take several years. But when they achieve it, we give them a gold star, and there is a big celebration at the school. But we have not had gold stars for a long time, and more than anything that is what we would like”.

In that moment, Réalta was born. Réalta is the Irish word for “Stars”. The name reminds us that the answers to Afica’s problems must come from within Africa, with the help of those who care. It reminds us that it is the little things that count and how the smallest of things can make a big, big difference. It reminds us that working together we can make life better for the many who suffer and struggle in poverty. It reminds us of all the dreams, hopes, love and magic that live in Africa, and how we can help each other to reach for the stars.

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