Visiting school for blind and Albino children

Although we visited the school for Blind and Albino children (also known as the Buhangija Center for Endangered children) at the end of June, we made a special visit last Friday as well. (yes, this was the same day as the surprise party held at our Guest House that night!)

Marita's sisters, Suzette and Ina, visiting here from South Africa, wanted to visit the school and also donate some yummy goodies for the little ones. Meanwhile, everyone on the Client camp (even young Wessie, our only child) and Grant and I here at our camp, went through our bedroom cupboards / closets for clothes and shoes for the older children.  Louise also had two huge bales of clothes from Oxfam in the UK which we sorted into sizes and gender before we left on our trip last week. 

It's also come to our notice that other parties are giving toys and food to the children of this center. During Ramadan, which takes place this month, the Muslims have delivered meals here as well. 

 The diamond mine and other charities have donated garden toys which the children are enjoying immensely

This tubular swing, a slide and two more swings on chains (behind this building) have been repaired since we last visited

The ladies: Suzette, Ina, Amanda and Marita 

Since we last visited, the diamond mine threw a concrete slab for the children to sit on. Before the children only had sand to sit on which you can see here. Now Amanda and I would like plastic tables and chairs for the children and we're thinking of asking Coca-cola and Pepsi for donations. (watch this space!)

The children wait outside the newly concreted floor. We also had to wait while someone woke the headmaster and while several children were washed - see below)

Poor little mites were hosed down with a pipe (donated by the diamond mine last month) so that they could be clean for the Mzungus party (the senior girl was washing them; the carer was watching them!)

Nsia has a following of little ones when she arrives. They just want to go home with her! Here Nsia chats to a class monitor with the children clinging to her

The abandoned little lad found Louise and clung to her the whole time we were there

Suzette, Ina, Jo and Louise with her charge

The headmaster duly arrived; told the children to welcome the visitors who had brought mchuzi/juice; chungwa/oranges and nectarines; pipi/sweets and mpila/balls to play with with. 

Headmaster holds aloft some of the gifts (in this case, soccer balls and sweets) which the people of Mwadui brought for the children

These two little boys love Amanda and Louise - the one in grey calls Amanda by name and asks when she and he will be going home! The little abandoned boy had several toffees in his mouth and was trying to eat his nectarine at the same time! 

The ladies handed out juice and sweets ...

...while Nsia, Juma and Edward ...

 ...and a class monitor, handed out the fruit

After everyone had had their fill, the headmaster asked the bigger girls to retreat to the dining room for us to give them their clothes

 Once we'd handed out all the girlie stuff, the headmaster sent the girls out and called in the boys. As you can see, there are more boys than girls in this center

The clothes were well received by all the children

Eventually there was nothing left and the Headmaster took Marita, Suzette and Ina on a tour of the center

When the Mwadui people were ready, we bid the children goodbye and came home. 

This time I could report to Grant (who hasn't been to the school but always digs deep to donate towards it) that there seems to be an improvement all round. Our aim was and is that we instil a pride and dignity in the children and that, by us helping them now when they have nothing, they will eventually be able to help themselves. 

 I'm linking today's post to Our World Tuesday which you can visit by clicking here

I trust you're all having a really good week.