Down this dirt road...
Tucked into "the bush" around this bend...
Just past this house...
And this one...
Lies a church...
That doubles as a preschool during the week...
They are adorable, aren't they?
Most of their moms are still in high school and unwed. The school is open five days a week while the moms are in school.
Buhle makes me laugh. She is one smart girl, charming and oh-so-busy for a nine month old. She finally decided I was worthy of a smile yesterday.
Until I wouldn't give her Apelele's yogurt. Then she gave me this look...
Here's a little look around the preschool.
The toilets...
The "play ground..."
There are two swings hidden beyond the trees. But you couldn't pay me to put Anniston in them as there are also things called Black Mambas, Green Mambas and Boomslangs that live in these parts. I would love to see the grass cleared and a playground set there one day.
The cribs...
The kitchen...
The teachers cook twice a week and the kids bring their lunches the other days of the week. Lunch can be rice or beans when the teachers cook. On other days, lunch may be an orange or a bag of chips or some yogurt. One of those per child, depending on what the family can afford to send. The kids are fed porridge every morning for breakfast.
Speaking of teachers, here is one of them, beautiful Anna. She is helping me learn some Zulu relevant to the kids such as, "I need to go potty," "I'm hungry" and, it must be universal, "He took my toy."
Their toys are well-loved (okay, tattered, in some cases).
This little boy might like a small truck, too (no small parts, please, like wheels on Matchbox cars).
He was pushing around the trailer bed of a truck whose cab was missing. And he was completely happy. But I kinda think it would be fun to see him with a whole truck. :)
If you are able to donate (please don't feel like you need to buy) toys that your kids have outgrown, these kids will take your toys from gently loved to well loved in no time. :) There are up to 24 of them, after all!
If you don't have toys but would still like to help, the team will be buying a rainwater barrel so the teachers no longer have to lug water from a faraway tap for cooking and for the kids to wash their hands. The cost is about $350 and will provide clean water for a long, long time.
They will also purchase a new gas cooktop to make cooking easier and plaster and paint to seal the walls as winter is quickly approaching.
If you're moved to help, I bet these kids would give you another thumbs up...
And maybe Buhle will even share one of her smiles with you...
(They are SO worth it!)
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