Life changed for Abel when his father died of HIV/AIDS in 2010, leaving him with his mother, also HIV positive. As the oldest child, the boy had to work to feed his family and missed a lot of school.
Michael Nyangi found out about his situation from a public school teacher. When Abel enrolled at Achungo as a boarding student in 6th grade, Nyangi had to inform the area chief and church priest. To find support for Abel’s family, Nyangi personally wrote a letter to Plan International, an organization that supports HIV positive widows. As ill as she is, Abel’s mother cares so much about Abel’s education that she attended Achungo’s Education Day (similar to our “Back to School Night”) last summer to meet his teachers.
Abel is now at Tonga Boys Secondary School.