Orphanage "Motherly Care"
Trip Start
Jun 20, 2008
1
4
19
Trip End
Jul 16, 2008
Nairobi,
Kenya
Sunday, June 22, 2008
We entered the fairly small yard for around 160 orphans. Couple glances around, and for an inner comfort we knelt down to exchange some swahili hellos with the tiny faces... Their skiny cheeks and shiny white smiles soon captured us. One of the braver ones was willing to take and show us around. "Sleeping beauty" room. We sneaked inside: the dormitory-type accomodation looked very small for 4 or 6 people. In the yard was a lot of water spilled around as the eldest help the smaller ones to wash their clothes. Its true - the majority of them wore shaby but clean clothes. "Feels like one family" I observed. The ropes were stretched everwhere, and the slightest opportunity was used to hang wet clothes.
We soon invited kids to join a small circle. The the circle increased immediately, as kids had a good nose to feel that it might bring some joy around - visitors are very welcomed here. Stephen works with kids, so several games got up everybody on their feet, and their laugh fill the yard. Older looked from a little bit afar.
Kids were prepared to share their african games knowledge. Their little heads were elegantly moving on their necks in rythm, loud voices soon promised to reach the roofs. I tried to capture at least a little of everything.
"Father" of the orphanage invited us for dinner. It was clear he will mention donations. Probably students in this situation are not the most valuable creatures, but we promised to look around for used clothing or books.
We walked slowly back along dusty sandy road which every passing care raised a cloud behind itself. An elderly pulling his carriage together or instead of donkey. Couple of kids smiling naughtily and whispering something into each others ears. Flattered women after they have been greeted in Swahili. And us, crawling slowly breathing in every dusty minute of African life. Sun was about to set down and the colours were warm and appeasing.
Seems already these couple days were almost enough to give us a picture
about africa.
I reflected. The kids were splendid. In that atrociously wild environment they have created their life, which is after all filled with hope unlike when they spent their nights in the streets or beaten by parents. Unloved. Every of them had this overwhelming tear-shedding story.
