Well, got some dancing in last night....unexpectedly. I planned to have dinner with my friend from UNZA and ran into the San Jose and other UNZA group who were going bowling. Turns out there was a bar and dance floor upstairs from the bowling alley. A DJ was playing and there were not many people there. So we had the whole floor to ourselves and danced for about 3 hours. Worked up a sweat....it was fun! Nothing like dancing with the same great friends here in Zambia. Tonight's another possibility for a lil dancing. We'll see.
I started the memory books with the girls yesterday. Man, I cannot even fathom the things that some of these young girls have endured, the loss they've experienced. Not just one parent dying, but both; not just both parents dead but an uncle, cousin, and brother or sister, too. I simply couldn't even imagine. I'm learning more about how death and grief is handled here in this culture. It's been great encouraging the girls to feel - to feel sadness, to feel pain, to feel loss - and know that it is okay. Some have been told by adults to "forget about it". Their artwork continues to speak a thousand words. It's really great! Can't wait to share some of it with all of you.
Well, I'm off again. I'll be continuing with the memory books with the girls today and will be cooking dinner for my group this evening....spaghetti with some veggies and lots of garlic, as well as some garlic bread. I finish up my workshop tomorrow with Group 2 girls and will then be visiting my friend, Barbara's, family again this weekend. They're always such a joy! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Just adorable!
Kids playing in Ng'ombe compound
A girl from one of the community schools
All the girls from the larger workshop with me
Teaching the girls in my larger workshop
Girls finger-painted "people in their world"
The girls made hand puppets to help express their emotions
The leaves represent people who have died
The tree trunk represents people/things that influence them in a positive way
The branches represent their positive attributes
Some of the girls in my smaller workshop. They are such sweethearts!!
Girls using finger puppets to identify and express emotions
Picture of "My Hero" - her grandmother who now takes care of her
Sample page of one girl's memory book. She states (referring to her mother who died), "You meant the whole world to me because of your love and kindness."
She remembers her mother saying, "my beloved child"
She feels closer to her mother when she looks at the picture of her mother with that "special smile"
She states she doesn't have hope that life will go well again.
She states that she wants to become a teacher and be educated
The girls each made me cards on the last day showing their appreciation and love
On the last day of my workshop the girls wrote on the chalkboard "I will miss you teacher" and "we love you teacher"
Children's weekly meal menu at Kondwa
These ladies work hard to cook nutritious meals for the kids every day
A very very special little boy at Kondwa; I will love him always
Kids at Kondwa
Reggae artist Maiko Zulu; he stops by Kondwa from time to time to volunteer and help the kids
Me and my girl, Salome
Simply an angel
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