Lucky Vincent survivors now back to school

One week after they returned from the US where they had gone for treatment, three survivors of the horror accident that claimed over 30 lives have reported back to school.

It was an equally emotional return for Doreen, Sadia and Wilson as they got to meet their fellow pupils whom they last saw over three months ago.

Life finally seems to be getting to normal as they joined their friends in class for the daily routine; something that many didn’t believe would have been possible in May.

Doreen Mshana who still needed crutches when she arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport last weekend was seen being aided by classmates to get into the classroom which she once shared with her departed friends.

The other two Sadia and Wilson were all on their feets and did not require much help to get on with what was going on.

Speaking to this paper the head of Lucky Vincent School, Ephraim Jackson said the three students had show great desire to get back to school and that they have put in place a programme to make sure they catch up.

“As I speak to you they are in class with fellow pupils doing a test but we want to make sure that we assign teachers who will help them catch up,” said the school head.

Whereas in May it was tears of pain and grief, this week they were tears of joy and hope to see the children back on their feet again joining fellow pupils.

Fellow pupils who didn’t get the opportunity to meet them at the airport when they returned were eager to meet them at school, encouraging them on. The three had left Tanzania on stretchers aboard The Samaritan Purse with hope of them making it almost gone and had to undergo major surgeries while in Charlote USA.

The three children, Sadia Ismail, Doreen Elibariki and Wilson Tarimo were the only survivors of an accident that killed 29 other pupils from the same school in Karatu on May 6. Speaking briefly on their arrival all the three children were thankful to both the government of Tanzania and the US and to all those contributed to their treatment and eventual recovery including well wishers for their prayers.

The children killed in the accident, which occurred early morning in Karatu district, were Standard Seven pupils aged 12 to 13, on their way to visit another school for exam trials.

It is still not clear whether the pupils will go on to sit for the final exams given that they were out of school for such a long time.

Whether they make it academically or not, Lucky Vincent School is once again a place full of smiles though it is one that is likely to come with some sad memories too.