I just realized that while we've alluded to it a few times, we've never told the full story of the day we took the Nkoaranga kids on safari to Arusha national park, which we are lucky enough to have just down the road. We rented a dalla-dalla (minibus) for the day, and piled all the big kids in - sadly, there wasn't space for the toddlers, and we could only bring kids who were potty trained. They were so excited before we even set off, they were making up their own songs for the moment and dancing with all the little ones!
Then we all piled into the vehicle - no small feat with two mamas, three volunteers, and a whole bunch of kids! They didn't seem to mind the close conditions, though - part of growing up in an orphanage, I guess! I think they enjoyed the car ride almost as much as seeing the animals - it's such a rare treat for them... with the exception of Tumaini, poor thing, who got carsick. Luckily, we were prepared.
Just the back two rows - all I could capture with the camera!
Multiply this by 3.
Pray is psyched, Stevie's out the window, and David just
wants in on the photo op.
Once we got to the park, we saw all kinds of amazing things - zebras and giraffes and whole herds of water buffalo, plus some incredible scenery. The day was so clear that you could clearly see Mount Meru on one side (where the orphanage is) and Kilimanjaro on the other. We couldn't have been luckier with the weather!
Buffalo grazing
Bethan helping Pray to see
On the way back, kids started to get sleepy... it was extremely cute to see them slumped up against each other. We steeled ourselves to wake them up, though, for another treat. On the way back, we stopped a local game lodge, where the kids could get even closer to the animals. This particular place, "Meru Game Lodge," rehabilitates injured animals and cares for those that can't go back into the wild. It's a really great place to stay (if you can afford it!) and otherwise to come by for lunch, or just to see the animals. Here the kids saw a crocodile, more zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, porcupines, tons of birds, and ostriches.
Dainess (minutes from falling asleep) with Andrea passed out on her shoulder
Pendo, Asimwe, and Loveness looking at the zebras
On the final leg of the journey home, we got the best treat of the day - the kids singing their "Thank you" song. It was and is unbelievably sweet, even when half the voices are a little sleepy! "Asante kwa safari" means "thank you for the safari (trip)," "asante kwa upendo" means "thank you for the love," and "asante sana yesu" means "thank you Jesus," and "moyoni" means "from my heart." There were a lot of verses that went through all of our names and the mamas names, but this was what I managed to catch on video.
What they should have been singing, but probably wouldn't have fit the rhythm of the song, was "Thank you donors to the Small Things," because your support is what makes it possible for us to splurge on day outings like this - it cost about $150 to make fifteen kids insanely happy, but if we'd been working out of only our own personal funds, that $150 would have had to go to vitamins, or formula, or salaries. Having your support gives us the flexibility to give the kids a few real treats, give them a chance to just be KIDS for a day, excited to see some animals. We're very grateful.
For those who are fans of us on Facebook, this post may be repetitive - but I just realized I never posted our full series of updated portraits of all the kids, taken in December. They're getting so big and beautiful!
Eman (at the orphanage during a boarding school break)
Asimwe (Nisima's twin, at the orphanage during a boarding school break)
Nisima (Asimwe's twin, at the orphanage during a boarding school break)
Little mama Tumaini (at the orphanage during a boarding school break)
There are of course more kids who have gone on from Nkoaranga orphanage to boarding school and are thriving - these are just the kids who live there full time or were home during their school break (usually if they don't have family who is willing or able to take them). We're hoping to repeat the portrait process at least every six months to show how beautifully the kids are progressing, and to help former volunteers continue to feel involved in their lives - it means a lot! Please don't forget, we still need yearly sponsors for Abdulli, Andrea, and David - a full, half, or quarter sponsorship is $1,100, $550, or $225 per year (or $92, $46, or $23 per month) - and it's a ten year commitment, during which you will see these little ones blossom into incredible young adults ready to take on the world.
Thought you might enjoy a full look at what 30 kids looks like - now imagine keeping them all happy, healthy, fed, clothed, bathed, and diapered, usually with the help of one other staff person, 24/7, all for an average salary of about $100 per month. This is why it's so important to support the mamas, through recruiting volunteers, giving them pay bonuses, and just generally letting them know we appreciate everything we do!
Guest post from Nani, another fantastic volunteer we were lucky to encounter during our trip, who we hope will stay involved with the kids through The Small Things for many years to come!
Nani with the kids and Mama Ayo!
Over my summer holidays I decided to take on Africa for 3 months, a month of which I would be spending at Nkoaranga Orphanage. I guess we’ll start at the beginning then: I reached the orphanage in one piece after what would become one of many interesting dalla rides up the hill to Nkoaranga, being only slightly concerned by the amount of coffin makers along the way. So anyway, as I got closer to the orphanage the cries and screaming became audible, and for a moment I stopped and asked myself what I had gotten myself into, but took another breath and stepped into a world of babies, kids, nappies, endless laundry and constant play-time. On my first tour of the orphanage, I made the mistake of picking little David up and subsequently having to put him down to his great disappointment, making it very clear and audible. I also said hi to the babies, and one of them grabbed onto my hands, pulling herself up and walking with me for a little while, as I looked around and asked the others there if she could walk they said no. Looking back it must have been Vicky or Gracie because both are keen on walking and are known to get quite upset when put down, which of course I had to do to continue my tour. In due time I would spend many hours with them walking up and down the halls, and even tackling stairs on occasion.
Peace (left) and Shujah
The next day I arrived at 8am at which time the 6 babies (Franky, Filipo, Gracey, Vicky, Ebenezer and litte Maureen) were getting changed and the other kids stood atop the counter while the Mamas cleaned the floor. The kids were bouncy and very happy to have a new face there, and I was suddenly jumped on, trying not to drop any of them, as well as not have any of them fall off the counter. But miraculously most of the time the kids don’t hurt themselves, not seriously anyway and normally recover pretty quickly. I never knew how resilient little kids were until coming to the orphanage. It’s cute watching the kids interact with each other, especially with Shujah and Peace who seem to be the toughest of them all- being carried around, bounced up and down on their little chair, fed solid foods as the older kids just want to share but don’t understand they can’t eat it yet. Those two were the sweetest babies I have ever come across, they never cry if something is not really wrong, are very patient with feeding, smile and giggle just when you come up to them- it’s the nicest reception and made my heart melt. Thinking of Shujah now with his amazingly soft and curly hair and his adorable grin makes me miss him so much, but I’m gone knowing he’ll bring that pleasure to many other volunteers.
Shujah's short lived mobile
Often, because he demanded so little, it would be possible to leave him in the chair, or on a mattress to look out onto the world but I realised after a while that he was understimulated. So one day I
decided to make a colourful mobile for him, out of bits and pieces from around the orphanage- he loved it! But so did the other kids and it didn’t last much longer than a couple of hours! But nonetheless, that was an easy thing to do, and could easily be made again. Also something the kids really need are walkers or play toys that help them walk, because The 6 who were all around one a half years old while I was there were not walking yet, and only Vicky and Gracie were bothering to attempt this big milestone. I think the main problem is that if no one is willing or able to walk with them, they can’t practice, so it would be great if something like this could be found for them as I looked all over Arusha and couldn’t find anything like it. Also a little support which I’m not sure what it’s called (jumping joey maybe) allows babies to become comfortable with the idea of standing, which is what the kids desperately need! Also the baby bouncer broke while I was there, and now Shujah and Peace, the Two Tinies as I call them, have nowhere to lie down but the mattresses.
Frankie with the older kids
Now to move on to all the wonderful people who work at the orphanage, the Mamas and the volunteers; amongst them Frankie. The orphanage without Frankie wouldn’t be complete- he is a wonderful 18 year old local who is wonderful with the kids, often taking the bigger ones out for a walk or game of football, and he also happens to be deaf. It’s funny to see how the kids act differently around him when trying to explain things to him they do it with more exaggerated hand movements but in complete silence! The mamas love his help, especially with putting the kids to bed! The mamas are amazing women who mostly have their own families and work together to raise this big family of orphans together with all the love and attention they can manage amongst their other jobs of cooking, cleaning, feeding the kids, nappy changes, laundry, bathing and cleaning reusable nappies without complain or disgust as far as I can tell. They have amazing jobs, and really seem to enjoy their work, and always get on with whatever needs to be done with smiles on their faces!
Frankie and Frankie blowing bubbles together
I had some really amazing moments with the kids- three kids stacked onto my lap while on the swing, having the kids come to me with open arms waiting for me to dump laundry in to them, feeding 6 kids at once with 6 separate spoons, bringing out my huge Australian blow up ball and watching them chase it and aim it at a cow which they found hilarious as it was so shocked! The list could go on forever…It really is a great place to be, if only for a month, surrounded by babies. It’s also great the freedom with which you can work there and what changes you can make, your time there is whatever you make it!
Today our amazing little man Simoni turns four - I can hardly believe it! When I met him, he was two and a half and couldn't walk at all, just scoot across the floor, because his rickets were so bad. This was him a few months in, when he still needed a hand just to get across uneven ground.
And take a look at him dancing and playing this past December! This change is DIRECTLY attributable to the kids getting vitamins with iron every day, a healthier diet, and more attention because more mamas have been hired - ALL things that you have helped us to do. Look at the change in Simoni's demeanor - he used to be such a sad, scared little thing. He has blossomed into the funniest, cheekiest little boy you could hope to know. Thank you so much for being part of it!
He's such a smart and funny little guy - here is him singing the Nakupenda song (I love you), although he gets a little distracted along the way - he likes the camera! - then moving on to his very special rendition of "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes."
Happy fourth birthday little guy, I am so insanely proud of you!
Today we are doubly joyful - it is the birthday of two fantastic Nkoaranga kids - Farajah and Baracka. Baracka was tiny and underweight when he started at the orphanage - Amy had to nurse him every few hours for months to keep him alive. Now he is a gorgeous and happy three year old!
Farajah, our little mama, is no longer at the orphanage - she has moved on to SOS Children's villages, a fantastic organization that runs family style housing and provides incredible schooling for some very lucky kids. We went to visit her in December, and she was absolutely thriving, so proud to show off her new home and friends - as was Aroni, our other FABULOUS little guy who is living there with her now, along with two older Nkoaranga "graduates," Wema and Heavenlight, and a number of former NK toddlers who are now teenagers!
Me and Aroni now!
Aroni as a baby (thanks Amy!)
Yesterday was also International Women's Day, and what better time to highlight, once again, the incredible work that our Mamas do for the Nkoaranga kids? We are so grateful for their tireless dedication, and we couldn't be more honored to work with them all.
To Mama Andrew...
Mama Ellie...
Mualim Cantate...
Dada Happy...
Mama Pendo...
Mama Linda...
...and all the other amazing women we work with, thank you a million times over for everything you do.
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