Dance contest & Musical chairs
There are so many activities that you can do with African children to educate and entertain them and one of this is dancing. Africans in general are popular for their music and dance. They don’t have to be trained to dance, it is in their blood ,when they listen to music they just know how to move.
Every time I meet a child in the neighborhood, in the streets, on the matatus (buses) anywhere I go if I start dancing and clapping my hands they will start dancing straight away – even the shy ones. The same happens with singing, it just comes naturally to them. Read the rest of this entry »
We arrived at the centre on the morning and all the boys from Mikindani and Kikambala were there waiting for us. They didn’t know if we had any plans for them (as it was a surprise) and their faces looked a bit bored.
We placed the Christmas presents in the dining hall and started blowing some balloons to make the venue more joyful. We invited all the boys in the room and told them whenever they hear their name to come and collect their present. Before I started calling their names the boys started singing ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ moving the balloons with their hands up in the air.
Read the rest of this entry »
Hello everybody,
Firstly I would like to introduce myself. I am Stella Bili, I was an ex-volunteer at Grandsons of Abraham rescue centre in Mombasa, Kenya and I founded Africa Watoto in July 2009 with the aim to help street children who live at the centre.
I visited Grandsons centre twice and have experienced it at first hand. The impact of not having water and the lack of nutritious food to the children’s health, who live at one of the centres, increased my enthusiasm to help these children. Africa Watoto has been established to help the children in various ways such as providing nutritious food, buying clothes, books, organising events to raise money and raising awareness about street children’s life.
Read the rest of this entry »
As Easter Sunday approached the volunteers spent the week incorporating Easter based activities into their shifts. These activities ranged from making Easter cards and paper-mache eggs, to egg painting and Easter quizzes. Both the Mikindani and Kikambala boys enjoyed getting involved.
To celebrate the boys exceeding in their exams and the end of term, the boys were taken on a trip to Jamboree at Pirates.
There was something to keep all the boys entertained. Music and Football for the elder boys, and a Bouncy Castle and the Beach for the younger ones. For lunch they were treated to a favorite meal; chicken and chips (with a lot of ketchup) and juice. The boys were really well behaved that day.
All 57 boys, the Staff and the Volunteers had a great day. It really was the perfect way to finish a good term!
Kenya, Mombasa – 17/01/2010
But the nicest day of them all, was a Sunday when myself and another volunteer which is doing an amazing job with the children, when to the village and bought 13kg of sword fish, a couple of kg of potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables to cook for them a fish soup! Their joy was indescribable! Read the rest of this entry »
11/01/2010
I will never forget my first day at the center… I arrived on the assembly time, 48 boys standing there, age 5-17 years old, 3-4 classrooms made of stone, at the back was a yard with mango trees, cashew trees, nothing alike the European schools, but the smells from nature was so strong, the loud laugh of the children was so alive, the colors so vibrant, made me think that although they were having their lessons under poor circumstances , yet it was the perfect environment for a school to be, nature, no cars, no buildings covering the sun, no pollution!
Read the rest of this entry »
Seven ex-street boys sat for their KCPE [kenya certificate primary education] last year, they past and they have been called to go to different secondary schools.
With the help of two volunteers, one of the boys has already reported to a secondary school. The volunteers will pay for the school fees of these boys but the other three boys who are to report to secondary schools next week, we lack school fees for one of them who is very much willing to go to school.
Any body who might be willing to pay for them is welcome to do so. Thank you for those two volunteers who are still with us, one of the is back to USA now. We are very happy for the four boys who will be sitting for their KCPE this year. Two have been promised sponsorship and two not yet. It is only through education that we can give this children better lives and future. I hope you will agree with me.
Thank you
Sister Annet
