One Summer Day for African Kids

In 2007, the doors of the Samaritan House Children’s Center opened, changing the lives of dozens of underprivileged kids forever. These small gangs of preschoolers no longer roam the dirt streets in our African city, playing with detritus such as broken razor blades. For the past eight years, they and their older siblings have gone to school every day, ending with a hot meal. The account of this one summer day for African kids describes the daily routine for summer 2015.

Opening Session

The younger kids arrived early to play with their friends. The teens are as adolescents around the world—sprinting to cross the threshold as the bell rings.

For both groups, the morning started with singing. On Monday and Wednesday, the slower melodies progressed to choruses with a vigorous marching rhythm to wake up those dragging adolescents.

On Tuesday and Thursday, the singing started with an energetic beat, slowing to a sweet tune to calm the high-energy youngsters. They’d already been hard at play for half an hour.

On Friday, the entire group assembled for a more relaxed day. The children freely requested their favorite songs.

Second Session

The Bible theme selected for storytelling, and Bible memory verses can be found in Exodus Chapter Twenty—the Ten Commandments. The children enjoy both the stories and learning new verses. Since the kids love competition of any kind, memorizing Bible verses is one of their favorite requirements of the program.

Third Session

Every age group eagerly anticipated this segment of the program. It’s the only time in their year that the kids get to make things with scissors, glue and construction paper.

Every child assembled a twenty-five-loop colored paper chain from which to hang his emblems that represented each of the ten commandments. (Even the teens had a great time cutting, gluing and fixing the symbols to their chain.)

The junior high group learned cross-stitching. We rejoiced with them as Winnie the Pooh, and his friends emerged as colorful elevations inside the round frames. (We felt relief when the boys had as much fun with the project as the girls.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The elementary school group learned to sew seams to make their own pencil bags for school. The project included affixing the large, brightly-colored button and making a buttonhole to secure the flap. The outside included a lesson in embroidery for decorating and personal identification.

 

As it turned out, after seeing the project of their younger siblings, the teens also wanted to make a pencil bag.

Each student produced a nice-looking and practical bag before returning to the cross-stitching.

Recess

We purchased a snack each morning from the nearby local vendors. Most mornings, the children enjoyed a donut-like pastry.

Hard boiled eggs and fish balls in bouillon also sparked cheers from the hungry throng. (Each donut or fish ball costs the equivalent of about six American cents; the boiled egg comes closer to fifteen cents.)

Fourth Session

The fourth session is the longest, ending at dinner time. The purpose is to tutor the Elementary students in French (the national language of the country) and math, using a variety of games and props.

The junior high students wanted tutoring in English. Their desire to know more about illness and the human body resulted in a course targeting their common complaints—headaches, stomachaches/diarrhea, parasites, and malaria. They learned the pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of each on a beginner’s level.

Dinner

While our Associate left to secure the plates of pounded cassava with fish, the kids chose what they’d like to do until the meal arrived. Some elected to work on the craft project, others to play table games, and others went outside to play Foosball.

All of us rejoiced when the meal arrived. The same meal is served each day; the kids never once complained in all those weeks.

 

On the final day of the Summer Education Program, we surprised the gang with their favorite celebratory meal—rice with a delicious tomato-based, spicy sauce, and a piece of fried chicken.  I’m sure I enjoyed it as much as the kids.

 

 

 

Clean-Up

Four rotating teams of two junior high girls provide the clean-up after each meal. They wash, dry, and put away the cups, dishes, and spoons. The girls sing while they work, often aided by their friends. I love to listen to them hum or sing while wiping tables and sweeping the floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The junior high boys see to the grounds of the property.

Day’s End

With the completion of scheduled activities, our girls do what teenagers do in every culture, work on each other’s hair.

The boys and some of the younger girls play at the Foosball tables or with small balls. Some just hang out and chat with their friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By 4:30, the various groups of children head out in all directions, on their way back to where they’ll spend the night.

 

That’s the story of one summer day for African kids. The new academic year starts this coming Monday, October 5.

These kids don’t have nearly what children in the West have to occupy their school vacation days. Even so, I can assure you they are happy kids, grateful for everything they receive. They bless us with love and respect—indeed, the best compensation for our efforts.

 

Have you ever spent time with underprivileged kids in your home country or another spot on the map? If so, what did you discover?

If not, you might like to see what opportunities are out there next summer for you and your family. Seeing how kids in other places live can prove a life-changing eye-opener.