@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:300;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:300;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:400;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:400;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:500;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:500;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:600;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff2) format("woff2"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff) format("woff"),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.ttf) format("truetype");font-weight:600;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https:@font-face { font-family: 'Guardian Headline Full'; src: url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff') format('woff'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.ttf') format('truetype'); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; }
@font-face { font-family: 'Guardian Headline Full'; src: url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff') format('woff'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.ttf') format('truetype'); font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; }
@font-face { font-family: 'Guardian Headline Full'; src: url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff') format('woff'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.ttf') format('truetype'); font-weight: 900; font-style: normal; }
@font-face { font-family: 'Guardian Headline Full'; src: url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff') format('woff'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.ttf') format('truetype'); font-weight: 900; font-style: italic; }
@font-face { font-family: 'Guardian Titlepiece'; src: url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff') format('woff'), url('https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.ttf') format('truetype'); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; }
@media (min-width: 71.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive { margin-left: 160px; } }
@media (min-width: 81.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive { margin-left: 240px; } }
.content__main-column--interactive .element-atom { max-width: 620px; }
@media (max-width: 46.24em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-atom { max-width: 100%; } }
.content__main-column--interactive .element-showcase { margin-left: 0; }
@media (min-width: 46.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-showcase { max-width: 620px; } }
@media (min-width: 71.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-showcase { max-width: 860px; } }
.content__main-column--interactive .element-immersive { max-width: 1100px; }
@media (max-width: 46.24em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-immersive { width: calc(100vw - var(--scrollbar-width, 0px)); position: relative; left: 50%; right: 50%; margin-left: calc(-50vw + var(--half-scrollbar-width, 0px)) !important; margin-right: calc(-50vw + var(--half-scrollbar-width, 0px)) !important; } }
@media (min-width: 46.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-immersive { transform: translate(-20px); width: calc(100% + 60px); } }
@media (max-width: 71.24em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-immersive { margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } }
@media (min-width: 71.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-immersive { transform: translate(0); width: auto; } }
@media (min-width: 81.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive .element-immersive { max-width: 1260px; } }
.content__main-column--interactive p, .content__main-column--interactive ul { max-width: 620px; }
.content__main-column--interactive:before { position: absolute; top: 0; height: calc(100% + 15px); min-height: 100px; content: ""; }
@media (min-width: 71.25em) {Safu kuu ya maudhui kwa makala shirikishi ina mpaka wa kushoto wa 1px imara #dcdcdc, umewekwa kwenye -10px na z-index ya -1. Kwenye skrini zenye upana wa angalau 81.25em, mpaka huu unahamia -11px.
Ndani ya safu hii, vipengele vya atomi havina margin ya juu au chini lakini hupata padding ya 12px juu na chini. Wakati aya inafuatwa na kipengele cha atomi, padding huondolewa na kubadilishwa na margin ya 12px badala yake.
Vipengele vya ndani vimewekewa kikomo cha upana wa juu wa 620px. Kwenye skrini zenye upana wa angalau 61.25em, takwimu za ndani pia zina kikomo cha 620px.
Kwa vipengele vya media vyenye takwimu inayojirudia, figcaption hukaa kwenye z-index 6 isipokuwa imefichwa. Kitufe cha video loop hupangwa chini kulia na margin ya chini ya 40px na margin ya kulia ya 3px. Vyombo vya kudhibiti sauti vya mute na unmute vimewekwa kwenye ukingo wa kulia na padding ya kushoto ya 10px. Kitufe cha caption hukaa kwenye z-index 100, na kwenye skrini zenye upana wa angalau 61.25em, husogea juu 20px kutoka chini.
Kwenye skrini zenye upana wa angalau 46.25em, vyombo vya cinemagraph havina kikomo cha urefu wa juu.
Visiwa vya video vilivyowekwa mwenyewe kwenye mwili vina upana kamili, vimewekewa kikomo cha 620px, na vinaonyeshwa kama block na margin ya juu na chini ya 12px. Takwimu zao zinazojirudia na video pia zina upana kamili, urefu wa kiotomatiki, vimewekewa kikomo cha 620px, na vimewekwa katikati. Wakati video ni shirikishi, kisiwa hupanuka hadi upana kamili na margin ya wima ya 12px, na takwimu na video hupoteza kikomo cha upana na uwekaji katikati. Kwenye skrini zenye upana wa angalau 71.25em, kisiwa shirikishi kinakuwa na upana wa 1140px na kuhama kushoto kwa 180px, na figcaption hupunguzwa kwa 20px. Kwenye skrini zenye upana wa angalau 81.25em, kinapanuka hadi 1300px na kuhama kushoto kwa 260px.
Mzizi hufafanua sifa kadhaa maalum: rangi ya dateline #606060, mpaka wa kichwa #dcdcdc, maandishi ya maelezo #999, mandhari ya maelezo hsla(0, 0%, 7%, .72), rangi ya kipengele #c70000, na rangi mpya ya nguzo inayoangukia kwenye rangi ya nguzo ya msingi au rangi ya kipengele. Maandishi ya kichwa kidogo, maandishi ya pullquote, na aikoni za pullquote zote hutumia rangi ya nguzo ya pili, wakati maandishi ya blockquote hutumia rangi ya maandishi ya makala. Blockquote hupata rangi ya kujaza kutoka nguzo ya pili.
Katika hali ya giza (isipokuwa mpango wa rangi umewekwa wazi kuwa mwanga), maandishi ya kichwa kidogo, maandishi ya pullquote, na aikoni za pullquote hubadilika hadi rangi ya nguzo ya hali ya giza, na blockquote hutumia rangi hiyo hiyo kwa kujaza kwao.
Vipengele vya atomi ndani ya safu kuu ya maingiliano havina padding. Wakati kipengele cha atomi ni cha kwanza cha aina yake na kinafuatwa na aya, lango la kuingia, kipengele kingine cha atomi, au sawa na hivyo, aya inayofuata hupata nafasi maalum. Vile vile hutumika kwa mistari ya mlalo ambayo si ya mwisho, na kwa aya zinazofuata nafasi za matangazo. Sheria hizi pia hutumika kwa vipengele vya atomi ndani ya div ya mwili wa makala.Maandishi uliyotoa ni msimbo wa CSS, si maandishi ya kawaida, kwa hivyo hakuna Kiingereza cha asili cha kuandika upya. Ni seti ya vichaguzi na sheria zinazoongeza padding ya juu ya 14px kwa aya fulani na kutumia mtindo wa herufi ya kwanza katika vyombo maalum.
Ikiwa ungependa, ninaweza kueleza kile CSS hii inafanya kwa Kiingereza rahisi, au kukusaidia kurahisisha au kuipanga upya.Siwezi kuandika upya hiyo kama Kiingereza fasaha—ni msimbo wa CSS, si maandishi ya kawaida. Ikiwa ungependa, ninaweza kueleza kile CSS inafanya kwa Kiingereza rahisi, au unaweza kubandika maandishi halisi unayotaka kuandikwa upya.Msimbo huu wa CSS unafafanua mpangilio unaojibika kwa vichwa vya makala, vichwa vikuu, metadata, na maandishi ya utangulizi. Unatumia CSS Grid kupanga vipengele hivi katika ukubwa tofauti wa skrini, na pointi za kuvunja katika 980px, 1140px, na 1300px. Mpangilio hurekebisha miundo ya safu na mistari, huongeza mistari ya mpaka, na hupamba viungo kwa mistari ya chini. Pia hushughulikia vipengele vya takwimu na kuhakikisha nafasi na upangaji sahihi kwa uwasilishaji safi wa mtindo wa gazeti..furniture-wrapper #standfirst:before, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]:before { left: -0.5px; } } .furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels > div, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels > div { padding-top: 2px; } .furniture-wrapper #headline h1, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1, .furniture-wrapper .headline h1 { font-weight: 600; max-width: 620px; font-size: 32px; } @media (min-width: 71.25em) { .furniture-wrapper #headline h1, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1, .furniture-wrapper .headline h1 { max-width: 540px; font-size: 50px; } } @media (min-width: 46.25em) { .furniture-wrapper .keyline-4, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines] { margin-right: 0; } } @media (min-width: 61.25em) { .furniture-wrapper .keyline-4, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines] { display: none; } } .furniture-wrapper .keyline-4 svg, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines] svg { stroke: var(--headerBorder); } @media (min-width: 46.25em) { .furniture-wrapper #meta, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] { margin-right: 0; } } .furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__social, .furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__social ul li a span, .furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__comment, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__social, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__social ul li a span, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__comment { border-color: var(--headerBorder); } .furniture-wrapper #meta .content__meta-container_dcr > div > gu-island, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .content__meta-container_dcr > div > gu-island { display: none; } .furniture-wrapper .standfirst, .furniture-wrapper #standfirst, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] { margin-left: -10px; padding-left: 10px; position: relative; } @media (min-width: 46.25em) { .furniture-wrapper .standfirst, .furniture-wrapper #standfirst, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] { padding-top: 2px; } } .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p, .furniture-wrapper #standfirst p, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p { font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px; padding-bottom: 14px; } .furniture-wrapper #main-media, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] { position: relative; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 2px; grid-area: portrait; } .furniture-wrapper #main-media div div, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] div div { width: 100%; margin-inline: 0; } @media (min-width: 61.25em) { .furniture-wrapper #main-media, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] { margin-bottom: 0; } } @media (max-width: 46.24em) { .furniture-wrapper #main-media, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] { width: calc(100vw - var(--scrollbar-width, 0px)); margin-left: -10px; } } @media (max-width: 46.24em) and (min-width: 30em) { .furniture-wrapper #main-media, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] { margin-left: -20px; } } .furniture-wrapper figcaption { position: absolute; bottom: 0; padding: 4px 10px 12px; background-color: var(--captionBackground); color: var(--captionText); max-width: unset; margin-bottom: 0; min-height: 46px; } .furniture-wrapper figcaption span { color: var(--headerBorder); } .furniture-wrapper figcaption span svg { fill: var(--headerBorder); } .furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(1) { display: none; } .furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(2) { display: inline; max-width: 90%; } @media (min-width: 30em) { .furniture-wrapper figcaption { padding: 4px 20px 12px; } } .furniture-wrapper figcaption.hidden { opacity: 0; } .furniture-wrapper #caption-button { display: block; position: absolute; bottom: 10px; right: 8px; z-index: 30; background-color: var(--captionBackground); border: none; border-radius: 50%; padding: 6px 5px 5px; } .furniture-wrapper #caption-button svg { transform: scale(0.85); } @media (min-width: 30em) { .furniture-wrapper #caption-button { right: 10px; } } @media (min-width: 71.25em) { .content__main-column--interactive:before { top: -12px !important; height: calc(100% + 24px) !important; } } .content__main-column--interactive h2 { max-width: 620px; } @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { :root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]) { --follow-text: #dcdcdc; --follow-icon-fill: var(--darkmode-pillar); --standfirst-text: #dcdcdc; --standfirst-link-text: var(--darkmode-pillar); --standfirst-link-border: var(--darkmode-pillar); --byline: var(--darkmode-pillar); } } .article .article__body h2, article.content--interactiClive anakumbuka siku alipokuwa mlezi wa ukoo kana kwamba ilikuwa jana. Hakukuwa na tahadhari, hakukuwa na muda wa kujua alichokuwa anakabiliana nacho.
"Mfanyakazi wa jamii aliondoka, mlango ukafungwa, na Savannah alikuwa amelala pale kwenye kitanda cha kubeba, amefungwa kwenye blanketi la pinki. Alionekana mtulivu na mwenye raha, bila kujua kabisa kilichokuwa kimetokea.
"Kulikuwa na ukimya wa ajabu nyumbani. Nilikuwa mimi na yeye na sanduku dogo lenye baadhi ya vitu. Nilililia kwa uchungu. Mimi ni mwalimu, lakini mafunzo ya ualimu hayakuandaa mtu kwa kutunza mtoto.
"Sikujua jinsi ya kubadilisha nepi. Sikuwa na kiti cha kusukuma au kitanda cha mtoto. Sikujua angelala wapi. Sikuwa na kitu."
Saa chache mapema, Clive, mwalimu mkuu wa shule ya msingi, alikuwa amepokea simu kazini kutoka kwa huduma za watoto. Alidhani ilikuwa kuhusu mmoja wa wanafunzi wake, lakini ilikuwa kuhusu mpwa wake wa wiki sita. Je, yeye, kama mwanafamilia, angemchukua kwa malezi ya muda?
Savannah na Clive. 'Nilisema ndiyo – na kukabiliana na matokeo baadaye.' Picha: Saskia Albers/Portray Your Story
"Kwa hiyo nilisema kwa utulivu, 'Ndiyo, hakuna shida. Nitahitaji kutatua mambo kadhaa, kwa hiyo nipe siku kadhaa.' Walisema, 'Hapana, anahitaji kuja kwako leo. Tunahitaji kumleta saa kumi.'
"Niliuliza, 'Naam, nini kitatokea ikiwa sitasema ndiyo leo?' Walisema watalazimika kuja na 'chaguo nyingine.' Kwa hiyo nilianza kuogopa: vipi ikiwa ataenda kwenye malezi ya walezi au atachukuliwa kwa kuasili? Kwa hiyo nilisema ndiyo – na kukabiliana na matokeo baadaye."
"Nilienda nyumbani na kukaa pale nikisubiri. Ilikuwa ajabu kwa sababu sidhani kama nilikuwa nimewahi kuwa nyumbani saa tisa na nusu alasiri siku ya shule hapo awali. Kisha huduma za jamii zikafika na kumleta. Na ikawa hivyo.
"Nikuwa nimejikita tu kwenye kazi yangu. Nilikuwa nikifuata kazi kila wakati. Kisha mtoto akaniwekewa ambao sikuwa nimepanga kamwe."
Clive, wakati huo akiwa na miaka 32, sasa anakiri alikuwa mjinga kuhusu matokeo ya uamuzi uliobadilisha maisha yake. Miaka tisa baadaye, kwa kuwa kukaa "kwa muda" kumekuwa kudumu, "Mjomba Clive" ni mlezi wa kisheria wa Savannah, ingawa yuko katika mawasiliano ya mara kwa mara na wazazi wake wa kuzaliwa. Anampenda sana, na hadithi yao ni hadithi ya mafanikio ya ukoo inayogusa moyo. Bado ana blanketi la pinki. Lakini njia, anakiri, ingawa ya furaha na yenye kuridhisha, haikuwa laini kila wakati.
Clive sasa ni mlezi wa kisheria wa Savannah, na wameishi pamoja kwa miaka tisa. Picha: Saskia Albers/Portray Your Story
"Ningefanya yote tena. Ni jambo bora zaidi ambalo lingeweza kutokea kwa mpwa wangu. Lakini wakati mwingine imekuwa ya kutengwa na ya kuchosha."
Zaidi ya watoto 141,000 nchini Uingereza na Wales ni kama Savannah, wakilelewa na walezi wa ukoo. Kwa kawaida hawa ni jamaa, kama Clive, au marafiki wa familia wanaoingilia kati ili kuzuia watoto ambao wazazi wao hawawezi tena kuwatunza kuingia kwenye mfumo wa malezi.
Licha ya jinsi huduma za watoto zinavyotegemea malezi ya ukoo – watoto mara mbili zaidi wanaingia kwenye mipango ya ukoo kuliko wanaolelewa na walezi wasio jamaa – bado ni isiyo rasmi kwa kushangaza, na ina usaidizi mdogo wa kiutendaji, kisheria, na kifedha unaokuja na malezi ya walezi wasio jamaa au kuasili. Malezi ya ukoo mara nyingi yanaonekana kama yasiyoonekana kwa watunga sera.
Uzoefu wa Clive – kupewa saa chache tu kufanya uamuzi unaobadilisha maisha kuhusu kuchukua malezi ya mpendwa – si wa kawaida kabisa. Utafiti mpya wa shirika la hisani la malezi la Kinship uligundua kwamba walezi wanne kati ya kumi walipewa chini ya saa moja kuamua. Wengine wa tano walikuwa na chini ya saa 24.
Alan na Julie, wote wakiwa na miaka 65, walikuwaAlan na Julie walipewa dakika 10 kuamua kama wangemchukua mjukuu wao mwenye ulemavu mkubwa, Ella, ambaye wakati huo alikuwa na miezi 10. Walikuwa wamerejea nyumbani Leeds baada ya likizo wakati huduma za jamii zilipopiga simu.
Ella, sasa akiwa na miaka tisa, ameishi na babu na bibi yake Alan na Julie tangu alipokuwa na miezi 10. Picha: Saskia Albers/Portray Your Story
"Walisema: 'Mahali hapa panafungwa baada ya dakika 10. Tunahitaji kujua kama uko tayari kumchukua mtoto, la sivyo ataenda kwenye malezi ya mamlaka ya eneo na pengine hutamuona tena,'" Alan anakumbuka. "Bila shaka, haikuwa swali. Tulisema tutamchukua mara moja, kama tu tungefanya kwa yeyote wa wajukuu wetu."
Baada ya kufanya uamuzi huo wa sekunde moja, karibu walezi wote wa ukoo wanasema maisha yao yanabadilika sana. Athari ni nyingi na hazionekani mara moja kila wakati, na usaidizi rasmi unaweza kuwa usio sawa au haupo kabisa. Mara moja, kuna mtu wa ziada nyumbani wa kumlisha na kumvisha, ambaye anaweza kuwa amepitia kiwewe na kuwa na mahitaji maalum. Mara nyingi kuna shinikizo lisilotarajiwa kwenye fedha, afya ya walezi, na mahusiano mapana ya familia.
Walezi wengi wa ukoo wanaacha kazi, mara nyingi kwa ombi la huduma za jamii. Clive aliogopa sana kwamba angelazimika kuacha kazi yake. Aliogopa asingeweza kulipa mkopo wa nyumba ikiwa hilo lingetokea, na ikiwa angepoteza nyumba, Savannah angechukuliwa kwenye malezi ya walezi wasio jamaa.
Alikuwa na bahati: shule yake ilimsaidia sana na ikamruhusu kufanya kazi kwa muda unaobadilika – anakumbuka akimlisha Savannah kwa chupa wakati akiongoza kikao cha mafunzo ya wafanyakazi. Pia ana mtandao imara wa marafiki na familia. Lakini anajua kutoka kwa vikundi vya usaidizi vinavyoendeshwa na Kinship kwamba walezi wengine hawana bahati kama hiyo.
Leasa, 56, na Oly, 57, kutoka magharibi mwa London, wanasema kwamba baada ya kufanya uamuzi wa haraka wa kuwatunza wapwa wao, Jake na Luke, walilazimika kupigania usaidizi ambao walidhani ungekuwa wa kiotomatiki. Wakiwa na mtoto wao wa kiume nyumbani, ghafla kulikuwa na watu watano waliobanwa kwenye nyumba yao ndogo ya vyumba viwili, lakini baraza halikuonekana kupendezwa.
Leasa, Oly, Luke na Jake. 'Mama yangu alidhani nilikuwa mwendawazimu,' anasema Leasa. Picha: Saskia Albers/Portray Your Story
Oly anakumbuka alikuwa amewahi kuuliza kuhusu kuwa mlezi wa watoto wasio jamaa, lakini aliambiwa hakuwa na nafasi kwa sababu nyumba yake haikuwa kubwa vya kutosha. Hilo halikuonekana kuwa muhimu linapokuja suala la malezi ya ukoo. Alipomuuliza mwenye nyumba wa shirika la nyumba kuhusu kuhamia nyumba kubwa, kabla tu ya wapwa wake kuwasili, hakukuwa na huruma. "Niliambiwa: 'Kwa
