Goodbye Baby Home

For the last few days, I have been quietly saying goodbye and giving lots of hugs and kisses.  I can't say enough about my experience here.  I would love to stay another month but can't - I have a very busy job waiting for me, grown children who really love me, a very sweet and understanding partner, pets and a house that I really missed - not to mention friends and family who support and love me. I have a great life and doubt I will take much for granted again. I will miss everything - the kids especially, but also the people, staff, new friends, Amy, Zoe and their kids.  I loved the morning walks with Zoe - always a different route and great conversations.

I have many wishes for the children.............
"May you always know love,
May you always be treated with dignity and respect,
May you all know your culture and your language,

May you know the love of your biological family, be adopted by a forever family
or live in a loving and caring place,
May this strong foundation of love and caring sustain you always." 

I am grateful to all those who supported me coming here and I hope you enjoyed reading the blog as much as I enjoyed writing it. If anyone does want to contribute further to "Forever Angels", please go on Amy's website to the "Just Giving" link and donate.  Every dollar counts - it costs a great deal of money to feed, house and clothe more than 50 children.  This is such a good cause - Amy also does outreach whenever she can, helping people in the community find places to live, to find jobs - "Forever Angels" is the most caring place I have ever seen. 

I hope to come back in a couple of years...............

Picture - "what kids love best, water, soap and sponges.......................on a hot day".....

A few more days.....

Another eventful week at the Baby Home.  A little boy Alfie went home to Dar Es Salaam with his grandmother this week.  She had permission from Social Welfare to take him and came to pick him up.  However, this was very sudden and he did not know her at all.  He must have felt so confused as the Baby Home was his home for a long time.  But his grandmother loves him and will take him home and he will hopefully have a wonderful life.  He did not have a transition time at all and not enough time to say goodbye to his friends and the Mama's or to understand what was happening.

There is another little boy about to go home with his father soon.  He came to visit his son yesterday and that went well.  These are good stories - children belong with their families whenever possible.  Yesterday, one of the children's sisters' came to the gate wanting to take her - the children's father had just committed suicide an hour early.  This little girl was also to go home this next month and now has no father.  It is unlikely that the 18year old sister can properly take care of all of her siblings but at any rate, Amy felt it was inappropriate to take this little 2 1/2 year old girl to a funeral with people she did not know.  Apparently, there is a lot of wailing that goes on at the funerals here.  These are the sad stories that have to be dealt with daily here.

Last night, Zoe, Amy's sister had us for dinner and it was great.  Pascal, the little boy who is staying with her is having a very difficult time adjusting.  He was very malnourished, abused and neglected for more than a year.  Likely because he was so hungry for so long, he just wants to eat and eat - he can't seem to get enough.  He was having quite the tantrum because he could not have "all" the food Zoe prepared for her children and Pascal.  Things will get better for Pascal - it is going to take time.  This morning I walked with Zoe - something I have enjoyed so much.  She is a great person, raising her two children alone and doing a brilliant job.  I can relate to her so much as I raised mine alone, for the most part.

Amy took us this morning to another orphanage about 30 minutes away and it was as different as night and day from the Baby Home.  Forever Angels is like the "Hilton" of orphanages in Tanzania.  The other orphange has 72 children from little to age 19 years with only 3 staff and NO volunteers.  It is a grim looking place - the children have no toys and I am sure not nearly enough to eat.  They sleep several to a bed.  The director has no license to have an orphanage and even though they do get money for a Children's Fund - it is not managed properly.  I doubt that I could volunteer there - I would not know even where to start.  I was expecting it to be different and don't shock easily but it was very sad indeed.  He doesn't even have enough money to buy medicine to de-worm the children and cough medicine.  I told Amy that I would like to contribute that money so she can buy the medicine.  It certainly was the least I could do - what a helpless feeling - having all those big eyes looking at you.

Back at the Baby Home, I went to my favourite place - to feed the tiny babies - although they have grown so much since I came.  I am attaching a picture of me feeding the newest tiny baby and one of Noah, stacking blocks.  He came to the Baby Home two weeks before I came here - severely malnourished and weak - not walking.  He is now pointing, giggling, walking and stacked blocks for 10-12 minutes - so focused.  He is a very bright little boy.  Unfortunately, his brother Moses is not doing so great - has medical issues that will hopefully improve.............

My last week here..........

It is impossible to believe that this is my last week here.  I have such mixed emotions as I have become so used to the routine and so attached to these children and fond of the staff.  I now know the children's  personalities and what makes them smile - there are so many that really tug at your heartstrings. 

This has  been an eventful week at the Baby Home.  The Bethany teenagers have been sent home for a period of time due to some behaviour issues.  The Bethany orphange is two hours away from here and Amy has agreed to take a group of them, mostly girls and two boys, to train them, teach them English and other skills so they will be employable.  They are teenagers who live with no parents but on their own in small houses in the village, so like most teenagers, test their boundaries.  However, they must adhere to the rules.  Hopefully they will return with a more mature attitude and willingness to follow the rules and boundaries.  They are so sweet though and everyone misses them already.

It has been a difficult week for Amy - a little boy Pascal was at the orphanage since he was a baby as his mother died in childbirth and his young father could not care for him.  His father remarried and Pascal went home about a year ago to live with his family, which is always the goal for these children whenever possible.  The other day, Pascal's father phoned Amy to ask her if Pascal could return to the Baby Home.  His step-mother has been neglecting and abusing him very badly.  He is malnourished, his hair has turned grey, his tummy distended - and he has difficulty walking.  He had been left for up to 12 hours daily all alone at age 3 while parents were at work.  His little face is so sad and he obviously has been beaten badly.  For some reason, his father was unable to protect him.  Social welfare has agreed that for the next period of time, he will be at the Baby Home, however, for the time being he is with Amy's sister Zoe and her children. In ordeer for him to return to the father, he must find another place to live without his wife.  They are living in Tanzania for the next year.  The story is on Amy's website.  He is a resilient little boy and will hopefully bounce back.  These stories are tragic and all too common here and all over the world for that matter.

The other night Catherine and I went to a local African restaurant with Amy and Zoe and their children and it was so much fun.  Their kids are so cute and funny.  Pascal came too and very much enjoyed his chicken and rice.

This week we are going to visit another orphanage with Amy so I look forward to that.  I have so much I want to do this week - I want to hug and cuddle each and every one of these children and take many more pictures so I never forget them.  I am trying to memorize all the visuals of life here - I wish I could take more pictures of the locals and how they live, how the women carry their babies on their backs, how they carry loads of things on their heads, and their beautiful African dresses but as I explained before, it is disrespectful and I don't want to be seen as this "white tourist" snapping away with my camera.

I am missing my family and my life in Canada and will be home soon but I will miss life here so much.  I am determined to return in a couple of years.  I strongly encourage any of you to think about doing something like this - it is very rewarding and feels amazing to step outside your comfort zone and your life to explore a different culture and country. 

I am attaching a couple of pictures of "Big Babies" - getting ready for bed................

Another good week

This was a very busy week.  Monday night, Zoe, Amy's sister arranged a boat ride on Lake Victoria for some children, staff and volunteers.  We left the Baby Home at 5:00 pm and got on the boat in Mwanza at Hotel Talapia.  It was a beautiful evening and the sunset was gorgeous.  The kids behaved so well.  One of the girls left today to go to Zanzibar and then back home to the States.  She was very sweet and positive and didn't complain.  We do have a complainer left and it gets very tiresome indeed.  This one is also very young and I try to be understanding but I did not come here to be a mother to a teenager. 

We went to Amy and Megan to Bugando Hospital to the HIV Clinic with several children for a check up and to do some blood work.  It is always interesting to see what happens there - it is a health system that is very frustrating for those who live here.  The kids were great and we got through quite quickly.  They will remain on medication and overall are doing very well, despite some developmental and speech delays.  Later on Catherine and I went into town again as I had to pay for my airline tickets to and from Zanzibar.  I leave here on the 23 rd of March and go to Dar Es Salaam.  My friend Mary has to go to India for surgery so she arranged for me to stay in her hotel for the night of the 23rd and then I will take the ferry to Zanzibar on the 24th and stay at Sunset Beach Bungalows in Kendwa - it is supposed to be beautiful and my little bungalow faces the sea.  I come back to Dar on the 27th by air and then leave that evening for Canada.  I am looking forward to the last few days just for me - to kind of process things and prepare for a busy and hectic April at home. 

There is a very small school next to the Baby Home and a wonderful man named Ernest is the teacher.  I met him last week on a walk with some kids and told him I would love to give him school supplies that I brought from home - pencils, crayons, markers etc.  He was so thrilled as they have nothing - the school is in an aluminum building that doubles as a church.  I went by to visit this week to give him the items and he was thrilled as were the kids.  I was very happy to be able to do such a small thing.  I will try to visit again before I leave.  I attached a picture of Ernest and the kids - one is his son who is deaf. 

Today, I worked a cover shift with the Tiny Babies from 7 am to 1 pm.  We have a new 2 week old baby girl who arrived this week.  Another very sad story - her mother - obviously suffering from mental health problems or post partum depression, threw the baby into the sewer.  She is now in jail and the baby is with Forever Angels as the father can't look after the baby for now.  She is very tiny but feeding well.  After my shift, we took three children into town to visit Kuliana's Street Kids Project - they have 40 something boys - the youngest is age 6 who live there and go to school.  There are many kids on the street and life is violent and horrible as you can imagine.  At the project, they are safe and able to go to school.  Currently there are some wonderful volunteers from the UK who are teaching them.  They came last Sunday to visit the Baby Home and are so sweet with the kids.  Today, they painted with the three kids we brought.

I thought about what I will miss and it is definitely the constant visuals and colour that you see all the time - just normal everyday life - so very different from Canada - just walking in the village to and from the Baby Home is always an experience.  I think my drive from Aurora to Oak Ridges is going to be very boring in comparison.  I love it here but think I am ready to come home.  I would love to come back in two years - we will see...................I will miss the kids for sure - I just love them and all their little individual personalities - just when you get to know them and they you - you have to leave...............

More excitement....

Yesterday, Catherine and I went into town.  My back had been strained for a day or so and I badly needed an afternoon out.  We took the Dala Dala to town and went to Hotel Talapia to have lunch.  Catherine had not been to the hotel and had not seen the beautiful view of Lake Victoria.  We had a great lunch and chat.  She is such a wonderful person and we get along so well.  After lunch, we took a taxi to a market.  After neogating the taxi fee - they always charge more to white people -and off we went.  We arrived at the market and I opened the taxi door after paying the driver.  A man on a bicycle ran straight into the door of the car and fell off his bike.  I was shocked and so frightened that he had been hurt - I had visions of being arrested in Africa.  He brushed himself off and said "no problem" and rode off.  Then we tried to shut the car door and it would not shut.  I looked at the driver and he looked at me.  I thought I might have to buy him a new car door.  He said, "no problem" and I said "but it is a problem".  I gave him 10,000 shillings which is a lot of money here but only $10.00 Canadian.  He was so pleased and I was relieved and again apologized.  Off we went to the market.  That is when Catherine realized her favourite sweater had been left in the car.  She was annoyed with herself.  About 15 minutes later, guess who appeared - the taxi driver looking for us so he could return the sweater.  We were amazed at his kindness - she gave him another 5000 shillings and we took his number and name - Paul.  Catherine calls these moments - "Champagne Moments" and they truly are.

Today, I went to the Baby Home early and part way through the morning, I took Pili and Zwadi for a walk back to the volunteer house to get my camera and to give them some juice.  They are so happy to get out for a walk.  We also took some headbands back to the Baby Home so the kids could try them on and have them for their dress-up bin.  My good friend Ellen who owns "Beaners Fun Cuts for Kids" in Newmarket gave them to me to bring here.  Well, they were such a hit - attached see a picture of the girls - the boys also tried them on - even the Mama's.

After work, Catherine and I went to pick up a skirt she had made in the market from Sophia - she let me take her picture.  People here do not like having their picture taken and are offended by it.  You have to be very careful about this and always have to ask permission.  Imagine, someone you don't know coming up to your house wanting to take pictures of you and your children.  I asked Sophie if I could take her picture and she said "yes" and posed away.  Then we went to the market and I had little barrettes, little stuffed animals and some balls for the kids.  Today I decided to give a few out to some children.  The lady at the vegetable stand said I could take her picture of her and Angel.  The ladies at the Duka shop were so excited to have their picture taken.  I will make sure to send a copy.  We buy eggs, milk, water and phone time at the little Duka shop.  So it was a good day.................except little Lily is hospitalized for a few days as she has been so sick and no one seems to know what she has.  Little Anthonly has just been discharged from hospital.  This is such a problem here - there is always something going around,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sorry - an extra picture is attached.........

The Baby Home

The Baby Home is amazing.  Amy and her staff have a routine and a schedule like no other I have ever seen.  She is passionate about the children and it's like she is the Mama to all of them.  Meghan, Zoe, another Amy, Jade  and staff all work very hard as well to make this orphanage a very smooth running spot.  It is like a 24-7 child-care except the children don't go home at night.  They are brothers and sisters to each other - sometimes nice to each other and sometimes not so nice - like all kids.  Children in Tanzania are raised much differently than children in the Western world.  You see little wee ones walking on the roads with cars buzzing by, little kids holding other smaller kids, kids without toys, playing the dirt with a stick but they do not seem unhappy.  However, many children are not protected from things they should be. Many children get hurt or burned by falling into a cooking fire.  A mud hut collapsed the other day near here, killing one child and seriously injuring another.

 Amy is adamant that her staff speak and act appropriately in front of the children.  A few recently have been let go because they were speaking about things that were inappropriate.  She pays them well above the minimum wage and offers them good benefits and opportunities as well as training.  There are many people out of work here so there are always many applications for jobs.

The children are so wonderful and I am getting to know them better every day.  There are so many volunteers coming and going - we get attached to them but they don't really get attached to us.  It is up to us to make their day interesting and fun.  We have had a lot of rain lately so they are stuck inside - and they get cranky like all kids do.  Since I have been here, I have watched Noah and Moses learn to walk.  They came to the Baby Home a few weeks before I came here.  Their mother died and their elderly grandmother could not care for them.  They were malnourished, have very low muscle tone but are catching up quickly.  When Noah walks, his whole face is smiling - he is so happy with himself.  They hardly smiled when I first met them but now are much happier.  I must admit, I have a soft spot for them.   We spend time with all the children but my favourite times are the quiet times feeding the tiny babies.  They just gaze up at you and it melts your heart - especially when you remember that many of them do not have families and might never get adopted.  Some of the kids have been sick with random fevers, skin conditions and coughs.  Amy and her staff just figure it out and give them the medication they need. 

While the children are at "Forever Angels", they are loved, fed well, cared for and educated.  This is a great foundation for them - to have the nourishment, attention and love that will hopefully help sustain them for whatever is in their future.  Life is not easy here, especially for children who are so vulnerable. 

This picture is of a very special little boy who will hopefully be going to live with his new Mom and Dad very soon.  I made songboards for the pre-school and the teacher Rosemary is doing the "If your happy and you know it" one with the kids.  I got such pleasure just watching how they enjoyed it - taking turns - sitting quietly and watching.

One month left...........

Time is going so fast and there is so much I still want to do.  I want to visit other orphanages and spend some time at a project for street children in Mwanza.  They have a project where 47 boys from 5-17 are living and going to school.  I have met some of the volunteers and it is a great project.  The boys also make jewellry which is beautiful.

This week I went to another community called Igoma - the town of Stouffville, Ontario is a partner of the Health Centre there and they have been raising money since 2004 - Mr. Matari showed me around and it is great.  They do a lot of prenatal care, childbirth, have two doctors, and will be expanding soon to do small surgeries.  I have heard about this from my clients in Stouffville and it was great to visit and hear about the great work they are doing.  People come from far villages to seek treatment which is mostly free.

This coming week, I am doing child development workshops for the Bethany teenagers who are training at the orphanage - these girls are wonderful and will hopefully find a job and be independent once they finish training.  I am looking forward to this opportunity - also have a translator but most speak some English.

I am working harder than I have worked in a long time - it is physically exhausting but I have just as much energy as the 20 year olds.  They have all been sick and I have yet to be ---let's hope that continues.

I am still in awe of the work that Amy and her staff do here.  I am learning so much about life in Africa.  I am grateful to live in Canada - we take so much for granted - like health care and education......I am attaching two pictures - one of Catherine (from the UK) and myself wearing Kanga's and carrying babies on our backs the way people do here.  The Mama's were laughing to hard putting the babies on our backs- my baby is very small so hard to see.  The other picture is me and two of my favourite twins -  they are three months old and beautiful.  They have elderly grandparents who are very, very poor - the babies might go back to family at some point.  That is always the goal, if possible.  Adoption is nearly impossible - it takes now three years for international adoption and the parents have to live here during that time.  Everything here takes a long, long time.........