The Day with the Kids and some sneaking

I got to be around children for the first time this week! And I loved it! Samantha, a woman I met at Joy's when we did the Kasi Hopping (local bars), works for Khaya volunteer projects and she asked if we wanted to come with her to see a few of the projects she's working with. Tuuli had some studying to do so I went alone with her.

I woke up at 6 that morning because Samantha was supposed to pick me up at 7.30. Noup, not the only reason see I knew that the maid was coming at 7 so I woke up early to pack my stuff (including sheets) and took them to Tuuli's room. I was making breakfast when the maid came. She was a little suspicious for me being there that early and when she opened the room I was sleeping in, I guess she got a little confused. I was like nothing had happened and that I was just there waiting for a lift.

African time in Africa and Samantha was here after 8. First we had to drive back to the volunteer home for her kid forgot some bag there that she needed at school, then to her school to drop it off and finally we got to the first place, Door of Hope. It is a home of a 70 year-old lady, Mama Gladys, who after raising her own children took in many others (that are not taken care of in their own homes for what ever reason) to care for them and send them to schools. (I've been thinking of doing something similar in the future, waaaay somewhere in the future.) At the moment there are about 32 orphaned or abandoned kids aged 1 to 20 living there, and couple other kids come there each morning for day care and leave when they are picked up. One of the kids they are trying to get into a good school because they see great potential in him/her (didn't ask which one).

I brought bindis with me and the little ones loved them

This little girl after a while came to me with a hug and I took her up and held her quite a while. She had a scar on her forehead and felt like she needed love and healing.

Two minibuses came to pick us up and off we went to a private catholic school that wanted to host a christmas party for the kids. As soon as we got there the kids got some welcome ice cream. Then they started playing. There were two bouncy castles, different climbing frames, hola hoops, skipping rope games, swings and other play area stuff that the kids played with. Also the students of the school played with and did face paintings to them.

This little fella was a funny model

Samantha went to do paper work (to get the kid in a better school) with Mama Gladys at an office and during a funny magician lady's incredible show (even I and the teachers were surprised many times) she had arrived there to pick me up to the next place. Some event organizer company gave her leftover burgers, about 12 boxes of burger steaks and we took them to the different projects. About half we took to the volunteer house where the volunteers stay, some we took to a township project where volunteers help with writing, learning english, homework, sports coaching etc. Townships are underdeveloped urban areas to where "non-whites" were forced to move into during the apartheid era, out of sight of white people. (Sorry but whites have the most disgusting history that we are now trying to fix all over the world.) Also some burgers found their way to Human Dignity Center that provides education for 64 children on a daily basis. I would have wanted to stay in all places much longer and connect with more of the children, but Samantha had a meeting in the afternoon so she took me back home. Grateful for her asking me to join her and seeing all this. Love love love the kids, all of them. 

<3 Cecca