While in Mozambique I had the pleasure of seeing the boys from the secondary school again. And alway a pleasure it is. I am so impressed with the change they made in their presentation and behavior. From being naughty schoolboys now they are well behaved presentable boys, always polite and happy to see me.
They are still doing very well and the teachers always praise them with their results. They will definitely finish in about 1,5 years. Let's see where they will end up... We will keep you informed.
On the other hand, Rabia the girl that started in Nampula, came back to Cabaceira and quit. She doesn't want to go any more. All our efforts for nothing.... She rather stays with her new born and her husband, and not use her talents.
But because of our agreement with her, the money is not lost. Before starting at the school she was an intern at the lodge. She worked on different departments, but mainly at the laundry. When starting the school in January she got paid half the salary of this intern period. The rest of the salary we kept (like we before hand agreed) till we had proper proof she would finish at least half a year. Because now that she didn't, we deducted the money we used for the school from her salary and the money will be used for more children that will be doing their exam in August to attend the secondary school next year.
maandag 16 juni 2014
woensdag 11 juni 2014
1st of June
The first of June is a big day in Mozambique. The day of the Children. This day all the children receive new cloths, softdrinks & cake, nice food. They go to school only to sing and dance and to show their new cloths. They parents really do their best to make it the best day of the year for them.
Since we wanted to make sure the orphans would not be forgotten this day, it was the day for them to receive new cloths as well. We bought a bundle of cloths from the best quality available in the area and invited them to select 2 sets. Especially for the older ones, this was the best day ever. Free shopping between some of the finest available! Also the caretakers of the orphans had less of a worry this year. Cloths for them were taken care of.
At the 1st of June all arrive in their new cloths at the pre-school or the primary school.
The pre-school teacher had made a program with singing and dancing. Showing us how well they were able to do this in Portuguese. Ofcourse as a reward a softdrinks with cookies and cake was distributed.
At the primary school all attended first in their uniforms, where they also sang and danced and also the Tufo dancers of the village were invited to make the day extra special. A crate of softd
Since we wanted to make sure the orphans would not be forgotten this day, it was the day for them to receive new cloths as well. We bought a bundle of cloths from the best quality available in the area and invited them to select 2 sets. Especially for the older ones, this was the best day ever. Free shopping between some of the finest available! Also the caretakers of the orphans had less of a worry this year. Cloths for them were taken care of.
At the 1st of June all arrive in their new cloths at the pre-school or the primary school.
The pre-school teacher had made a program with singing and dancing. Showing us how well they were able to do this in Portuguese. Ofcourse as a reward a softdrinks with cookies and cake was distributed.
At the primary school all attended first in their uniforms, where they also sang and danced and also the Tufo dancers of the village were invited to make the day extra special. A crate of softd
Pre-school
After the spring break the pre-school opened in Cabaceira Pequena. Two teachers has started with a daily fixed program of playing with the toys, outside and teaching of speaking Portuguese and counting.
Like at every first schoolday the children had to adjust. They had never seen toys, and so many! And they had no idea what to do with it. Since we had been training the teachers also in how to play with all the toys and games, already the next day, they children couldn't stop playing.
The group is a mixture of supported orphans and parents of Cabaceira that send their children and which pay 200 Mt per month (5 Euro). They all receive a snack prepared by the 5 women, which we also trained in preparing healthy food (instead of everyday limonade and cookies, we see fruit!).
From the Twinbears project all the children received a bear, which they could take home with them. The bear helped them also to adjust at the pre-school. They would attend pre-school together with their bear, which meant that they were not alone.
Some of the stories of the parents/attendens:
At the moment Hasia wakes me up at 05.00. She asked me to give her a bath and to dress her already this early. Then she looks for her Monkey and she is gone. Last time we couldn't find her. We looked everywhere and found her sitting at the steps of the pre-school at 06.00, while it only opens at 07.00. Luckely the teacher was early, so we left her with her to play inside, till the classes started.
I am so proud. My son now already knows how to say: I am Sofito! Some of the parents hardly know some of the Portuguese words that these children already know like: fish, spoon and 1,2,3
Like at every first schoolday the children had to adjust. They had never seen toys, and so many! And they had no idea what to do with it. Since we had been training the teachers also in how to play with all the toys and games, already the next day, they children couldn't stop playing.
The group is a mixture of supported orphans and parents of Cabaceira that send their children and which pay 200 Mt per month (5 Euro). They all receive a snack prepared by the 5 women, which we also trained in preparing healthy food (instead of everyday limonade and cookies, we see fruit!).
From the Twinbears project all the children received a bear, which they could take home with them. The bear helped them also to adjust at the pre-school. They would attend pre-school together with their bear, which meant that they were not alone.
Some of the stories of the parents/attendens:
At the moment Hasia wakes me up at 05.00. She asked me to give her a bath and to dress her already this early. Then she looks for her Monkey and she is gone. Last time we couldn't find her. We looked everywhere and found her sitting at the steps of the pre-school at 06.00, while it only opens at 07.00. Luckely the teacher was early, so we left her with her to play inside, till the classes started.
I am so proud. My son now already knows how to say: I am Sofito! Some of the parents hardly know some of the Portuguese words that these children already know like: fish, spoon and 1,2,3
Support of the orphans
The families of the orphans presisted in their decision to not send the orphans to the orphanage to live, but to stay in their family homes. But they greatly accepted all the support that is being offered.
In February with the start of the primary school they received their school uniforms. Every day they go neatly dressed to school. Also during their 5 schooldays they receive a nutricious lunch.
5 women formed a cooperation as a school cantine for all the orphan children and other children that are able to buy a hot lunch. Between them, they buy the ingredients, decide what is being prepared that they and pay their own salaries. I just pay the amount of lunches with a fixed price per lunch. Another 5 families are supported this way with an steady income.
From 22 orphans that are supposed to attend the primary school: 20 receive the lunch. 2 children are send to family members on Ilha de Moçambique, where they receive the education. From the 20 that receive lunch, two refuse to attend school. They just show up during lunch time and then leave to go home again. The 5 women daily remind these children to start at the primary school as well, but so far no luck.
We will follow these children closely and try to find ways within the family to convence them to attend the classes.
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