This book is first and foremost a compelling story about children, written for children. It combines elements of Oliver Twist, Robin Hood and Dick Whittington, all told out in a contemporary African setting. The setting is the real-life experience faced by HIV/AIDS orphans in southern Africa.
In addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic, governments and international aid agencies have focused on prevention and treatment. Little attention has been paid to a large group of victims of the pandemic for whom neither of these interventions apply. The plight of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS has been largely unrecognised and their story has seldom been told. In his new work, “Dumb” Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy, author Allan Low throws light on the lives and prospects for these hidden victims of the pandemic.
SYNOPSIS
“‘Dumb’ Orphans: the Bundu Bunch Trilogy” is a novel based on the real lives of the hidden victims of the deadliest global pandemic of our time. A group of left behind and left alone orphans are called “dumb” by others in their southern African community. They struggle to overcome this label and unfair treatment by their community headman.
In the first book, Sipho takes readers on a journey through the lives and interests of his six fellow orphans, all aged 5-7 and known collectively as the Bundu Bunch. The group faces discrimination from both the headman of their community and other children who belittle them for being unable to spell their own names. Although they yearn for an education, the headman does not allow them to attend school because of their inability to pay the fees, instead forcing them to work for him. This bleak reality leads Sipho to worry that he’ll never achieve the same success as other children in his community. But the Bundu Bunch refuses to be held back by their circumstances. With the guidance of Aiyasha, the 15-year-old orphan who heads their household, they band together to devise a plan to improve their lives. Though they encounter unexpected obstacles along the way, their perseverance and talent ultimately lead to a surprising outcome with some help from an unexpected source. Through their achievements, Sipho’s concerns are allayed, and he feels optimistic about his future.
In the second book, Elah takes over as the narrator. Sipho and his sister Jabu found Elah as a baby abandoned by the river. Elah is in awe of the older orphans, the Bundu Bunch, and wonders if Aiyasha will ever be as proud of her as she is of them. Aiyasha’s success with her orphans offends the community headman, she faces an attempt on her life and two new friends from England help her and Elahto flee their country. Elah sees their situation as a great adventure and relishes exploring new places. Their journey across Africa is a mixture of scary moments and enlightening experiences.
As an illegal immigrant and asylum seeker in England, Aiyasha discovers that prejudice exists in other cultures as well as her own, but she also learns that friendship and a shared purpose can overcome it. She also realises that international aid promises are not always reliable. With the help of her new friends, Aiyasha uses her special talent to counteract the consequences of government cuts in foreign aid budgets.
In the last book Elah takes the narration to its conclusion. Aiyasha increasingly relies on Elah for her support and empathy as she manipulates her way to a powerful position in her own country of Initawse. Aiyasha implements pro poor policies which are opposed by the privileged, who mount protests and demand that she is removed. Then tragedy strikes and Aiyasha disappears, presumed murdered by her political enemies. Sipho joins with one of the English girls to investigate but they hit a dead end. Meanwhile the talents of the rest of the Bundu Bunch shine ever more brightly in their own country and internationally. Elah watches on in dismay as she realises how much in their shadow she remains. Finally, Aiyasha reveals her secret whereabouts to her orphan family. She explains how, in reaching her ultimate goal, she has relied in equal measure on the various strengths of all her orphan charges, including Elah.
“Dumb” Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy is now available:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allan Low has worked with rural communities in Eastern and Southern Africa over a span of forty-five years. He first worked with families on improving their agricultural production. He wrote a book on how semi subsistence farm-households in the region respond to new farming technology. Eleven years ago, Allan set up the charity SHAMBA with his late wife, Anne. SHAMBA works with communities to enable their most disadvantaged children from AIDS affected households gain access to high quality early childhood care and education through their “Bright Future” preschools. Allan now lives in Wetherby, UK, and continues to visit the charity and manage its work.
To see more about Allan’s motivation for writing this children’s book visit his author website: www.alow.magix.net/allanlow.
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