Summer Break!
A quick Summer vacation from school for the children brings soccer, a big trip and some vocational learning!
The 2021 school year ended August 27th. Many of the children did well with their studies and all of the children learned or re-learned the rhythm of the school year; balancing homework, playtime, good classroom behavior, chores, and regular bedtimes with a whole new family situation. What to do now with four weeks of vacation? House mom, Deborah, especially wanted to know! When Christophe face-timed with Deborah and the children in the middle of August, there were 3 main things the children wanted to do on their vacation. First, they wanted to know if they could have soccer balls to play games with. Second, they wanted to know if they could go on a trip together and see the big city of Bukavu (which is a two hour drive away and where some of their food and school supplies are sourced), and lastly, the older girls wanted to learn to sew.
Christophe said he would work with local West Michigan and Kalehe support people to help make all those things happen if the children were on their best behavior and continued to help Deborah around the house with chores over their break.
The children held up their end of the bargain, so there were soccer balls available, a trip to Bukavu at the end of August (more pictures can be viewed on this website in our “photos” section, and sewing lessons began for Binja and Ashuza as seen below.
The girls love learning to sew. They hope to help Deborah with school uniform and other clothing repairs as needed, to make clothing for themselves and the other children, and eventually be able to teach others how to sew too.
The Bukavu Trip…
One of the unique stops on their trip to Bukavu involved visiting a large older orphanage. Some of the adults working and volunteering there were once children living in the orphanage. The reason for the stop was to show all the children that they are not the only ones facing these daily challenges, and that, with hard work, grace, hope, patience, kindness and dedication to their studies, each of them can learn to support themselves and even give back to their communities.
The children had lunch there together, played games, and had fun meeting new friends.
Summer break always comes to an end with mixed emotions. Some children are so excited to go back to school, some are not as excited and would rather play soccer all day! Totally normal kid stuff. On Monday, October 4th, everyone started back to school with fresh new school supplies and repaired/new uniforms where needed. And that morning rang out with the children singing songs of thanksgiving and prayer before they left for school, clapping and dancing along with the new drum and shake boxes that a Kalehe community member donated to them. A great way to start off any morning and a new school year!