No casual staff here. A teacher doesnt come to work - her class of 30 is divided and shared between the other 2 teachers of the same grade (who now have over 40 children for the day). A nursery mother goes to visit family for a couple of days - another mother is now responsible for more than a dozen children under 5. Their lives are busy and hard. Everything is done by hand. Light the fire outside to boil water so tiny bodies dont freeze during their morning bath. Carry in metal pails full of water, help little children with bathing and dressing. Supervise eating, washing up and getting ready for school. Wash clothes by hand for at least half a dozen children. And this is all by 9am. I think how much lighter their load would be with washing machines - but it is impractical. Electricity supply is inconsistent and expensive. Even the dressmakers and tailors use treadle sewing machines. These issues, of course, lead to others - bad backs and knees, aching legs and arms. I wish there was a simple solution. I cant even work as hard as they do to try and lighten their load. All I have to offer is my love and assistance in other smaller ways. The children thrive on love - I have been told they smile a lot more since I have arrived. I know at least some of the mothers welcome my hugs as well. I am part of their family. Boona, being a grandma although responsible for a room full of nursery children, used to shut her door and turn off the light quite early. I had to tap on the door to be able to kiss her children goodnight. I always try to get to her room first, but I no longer need to knock. She leaves the door unlocked and light on until I have been to say goodnight. There are days I cant wait until evening, or the weekend, or May; but most of the time I wish I could stay here forever, I wish I had more energy, I wish there were more hours in the day so I could make time to make everyone feel loved.... Meanwhile I will do all I can while I can xx
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:37:43 +0000
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