Adopting My 3 Orphaned Nieces

Growing up on the coffee farms in Southern Ivory Coast, we knew only two places: School and the Farm. My desire has always been to succeed against all adversities so I can help my parents out of poverty and the typical farmer's hardship in an emerging country. That meant walking two hours to school and carrying on when others encouraged me to give up. That meant working the night shift at a gas station to daytime work as an electrician, and then to school in the evenings. What I kept hearing was, don’t you already make enough doing those two jobs? Why not focus on those and stop wasting money at school?

The way I processed this has always been simple. It wasn’t about me and will not be about me. It’s always been about others, my family, friends, and needy strangers. I wanted a life where I could help others and prayed for strength to keep me going. I am thankful I can help my brothers and sisters with their children's schooling. Assist those who reach out for need during tough times. Assisted my late brother in starting a business that allowed him to take care of himself and his girls as a single dad with the help of our mother.

My brother lost his wife after a very short illness. She was sent to a traditional healer instead of the hospital, typical in the villages. I last saw her in 2014 when I was back home for my dad's funeral. A very energetic young mother, bubbling with joy and life. No non-sense dedicated mother. It was a shock to anyone who knew her. She was gone too soon. Her youngest girl was only a little over three years old then. My mom took care of all three girls; I saw them care for each other, helping grandma care for the youngest one. All three girls were taking care of each other. Now they’re all in three different cities in two different countries. This situation they are in now is heart-wrenching.

I am so grateful for my parents' love and effort. Though none of them ever went to school, they understood the power of education. Everyone in our big family was given a chance to go to school. But when you have mouths to feed and fewer hands to help on the farm, any unexpected expense is enough to disrupt a kid’s dream. The cycle then starts with that dropout. Girls get pregnant and are sent away to their boyfriend’s homes. Good riddance when you struggle to feed them. For my little brother, exam fees cut his education short in primary school.

My parents emigrated from Burkina Faso. We have a big extended family back there. Though I never visited Burkina Faso while growing up, my chance came when students went on a strike in Ivory Coast and schools closed for almost six months. So my dad decided to move me to Burkina Faso so I could continue my schooling in 1992. An education journey will take me to Ghana in 1998 and then to the United States in 2002.

In 2018, I planned to stop at my in-laws in Mali and then to Burkina Faso, as I haven’t been there since 2010. I told my mom that I had made it safe to Bamako, Mali and on my way to Burkina. That’s when she told me my brother was critically ill. His whole right side was paralyzed. I rearranged my trip to visit him instead and canceled the trip to Burkina Faso. Things were getting better, though we knew it would take him time to walk again. Sadly, it was a rollercoaster instead. At one of his multiple hospital stays, the doctor asked us to take him home. When we returned a few weeks later, the doctor was surprised he was still alive. That gave me hope. He is a fighter, and he will win. It’s been a long battle that weakened him and his immune system. He couldn’t keep the fight going. We lost him.

As soon as I heard about his passing away, my mind turned to the little girls. After talking to my wife, we agreed we must help them. We must adopt them. Having no parents is not easy in those parts of the world. You could be given to marriage at a very young age to unload caretakers; if you don’t get pregnant first and handed over to the delinquent who did that if he can be found. For us, it’s god’s calling to do his will by watching over the orphans. We have a boy who will be happy to have sisters at home to play with. Someone to play tag in our backyard. Someone to chat with and play games with during our long road trips.

Your support will make this come true. It will provide these girls with a chance at success.

Picture Details:

From left:

Mariam Koncobo (eldest of the nieces)

Mika Koncobo (in the middle. My son)

Zali Koncobo (youngest of the nieces)

Note: the middle girl is not pictured as she was in a different country when we were on the Ivory Coast for my brother's funeral.