"I
was not yet able to digest the last 24 hours, so do not expect to much from my
first "report". The day started early and the trip went well, and not
as long as I expected it. I was very attentive all the way. Two things impressed me - 1) the
number of small children vs. the rest of the populationand 2) the amount of
people spread around (living or passing by) each 5km of the National 1 Road. I
clearly underestimated both.
Mano
Hilário received us very well when we arrived to Xai-Xai and we went to the
Pre-School Escolinha Flor da Infância. We arrived by 11. "Vovo"
(Grandma) Etelvina received us and showed us the 3 classrooms. We spent more
time with the 3 year olds. At first, they were very shy, but as we sang with
them we got some smiles back. The highlight of the visit for me was to
see how well the children looked (including smiles) and the way they screamed
out of their lungs "we are doing very well thanks to God". :-) I
found them very well behaved for their age and obedient. Two children from the
5 year old classroom counted to 10 for us.
We sat
down with "Vovo" and she explained to us how the school was created
and how it used to be. I asked about the breakfast - milk 3 times per week and
soy meal 2 times per week - and lunch - which included multiple things such as
rice, vegetables, beans, chicken (once a week). Today, was soy meal for
breakfast and rice with vegetables for lunch. We talked about how the price of
certain produce had increased, including rise and peanut (use as basis in their
food). I asked about the children's health and what they did when they
were ill. After our talk, "Vovo" showed me the kitchen, the bathrooms
and the oven.
They
offered us lunch but we chose to watch the children for their lunch instead and
distribute the candy we brought with us. This was another high point of our
visit, as I finally experienced what I so often before have seen in the
pictures. I was not worried in taking more pictures. The candy were well
received!
I was
very impressed with Vovo and her memory and energy in light of her advanced
age. We left the school at the same time as some of the children who were
heading home. I was impressed by the ones that were going on their own,
but happy to see some older brothers (also quite young) waiting for them outside
the school.
From the
school we went to the IT Center of Mano Arnaldo. He was very kind and received
us well. He explained to us how the IT Center worked and what the
workshops were. He said he had more competition this year and introduced
his new assistant to us. The IT Center seems nicely put together and well
functioning.
Tomorrow,
we head to Chokwe!"
Mana
Joana is Trustee in A Little Gesture UK.
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