a large and well established "orphanage" here in the area, one of dozens. It sits on a campus the size of a small secondary school with houses numbering in the teens and kids numbering in the hundreds. Each house has a resident "auntie"/mother and a relatively static group of kids of similar age and development. No outside adoption is allowed as it is too stressful on the kids and siblings are housed together.
All the kids are incredibly well socialized as they have literally hundreds of brother, sisters, adult mentors and care providers. It is located in an area of greater Gabs where all the people are national Batswana, no expats.
I usually stop at the teenage girls area first and help with homework. Last night is was quadratic equations, a real blast out of the past. Then it's over to the home of younger kids where there are is a toddler who can't get enough lap time, and brothers who love to read and be read to. In particular they love to sit close and gets hugs, have their heads rubbed, wrestle and giggle. I usually read from their favorite book of old fairy tales and have them read with me. It's amazingly racist and they couldn't care less, it's the story they love even if I try to modify it to be a touch less British Empire-like.
As we about to leave we were asked if we would like to hear some marimbas. Uh...sure. We walked out to the back only to see a room full of marimbas and kids of every size and flavor playing their hearts out, and GOOD. They are invited all over the place. The shortest kid plays the largest bass, the most outgoing plays tenor as fast as I've seen it. Incredible. A great time.
1 comment:
Sounds like a wonderful time. Math homework? I'm jealous and can't wait for school to start. Take care, we miss you!
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