Broken Crayons Still Colour

Written by: Admin_SheEvo

My name is Deborah Joy Juma. I am 27 years old, and this is my story.

My story is one of pain, rejection, negligence, abuse, and mental health struggles, but it ends in victory. I was brought up by very abusive parents who were also senior pastors in the church. My parents fought a lot, and my dad physically abused me. I've never had a good relationship with my parents, and I still don't.

My dad left us when I was in my first year of high school, and p to this day, I do not know where he went. I also don't ask my mum about his whereabouts because my mom and I do not talk. Life was so hard, and we had so little. I had to sell sweet potatoes to keep me in school. In my second year of high school, I fell into a depression. My mum was also depressed and a bit more depressed than I was because she would occasionally walk naked around my neighborhood. Although I struggled throughout high school, I still got a B+, allowing me to join Kenyatta University (KU).

At KU, my depression got worse. Sometimes I found myself walking barefoot in the middle of the night in the market. I worked as a helper on people's farms, sold panties and borrowed a Help Loan until I completed my 1st year at KU. At that time, I had three younger siblings I cared for, which made life even more challenging for me. My mental health worsened. During that time, I had been admitted to rehab and a hospital for months. I still struggle with my mental health, but I am slowly starting to manage it all.

I am currently pursuing a Diploma in Chaplaincy at Kabarak University. I want to help those who are going through what I went through. I have written a book based on my life story titled ‘When Life Hurts'. I write to give meaning to my life, and I want the world to know that broken crayons still colour.

Story by: Deborah Joy Juma