The last and most amazing day

We were quite excited driving the last time to the orphanage this morning. Especially when taking a different turn through a huge slum, it striked us again the conditions “our” kids are living when outside of the orphanage.

the neighborhood

Once arrived, we started to get the bags ready for each class room. One by one the children were called out of the class and directed to the office construction site where they received their bag, guided inside and helped by us into their track suits, socks, shoes etc. The excitement in the class rooms grew by the second, children’s eyes glued from the window to the newly dressed kids outside!

first newly dressed bunch of kids in the school yard

first moments with new clothes

what's going on out there?

In the “changing room”, we took each kid aside, removed their school uniforms, their shoes and socks – or what was left of them – and got them into their track suits and baseball hats. This was the most stunning, rewarding yet sometimes shocking experience of the trip for most of us. When removing the clothes we often noticed that they had no socks or underwear at all and in nearly all the children’s pockets we could find the little toy car we gave them yesterday. Some even still had their balloons suggesting that they carry all their “precious’ items with them at all times. A few children did not know how to put on socks – they never had any.

undressing and dressing 81 kids

who of us is happier?

I removed a girl’s shoes full of holes and discovered that she had no socks, when she spotted the new, clean socks, she laughed out loud in total joy! Another guy was very shy to undress until we found out he had no underwear. Showing him the two new panties in the bag for him, he got tears in his eyes – and us too. Which Western child would get emotional over a pair of socks, shoes or underwear?

the content of one bag

The shoes seemed nevertheless to be the most popular items in the bag. When seeing them they could not wait to get rid of the old ones, kicking them impatiently in a corner. Even if it was the total wrong size, way too big or too small, they said “it’s ok, teacher”, fearing that we might take them away. We’ve changed them later on into the right sizes.

finding the right shoe size

excited about the new outfit

When demonstrating how to wear the tights we’ve brought over, the girls went ecstatic, never having seen tights in their lives and always wearing heavy trousers underneath their school skirts! Some of the guys supposedly only knew baseball hats from magazines – when handing them over, they turned them the other way around and started to make some hip hop moves….

hip hop moves

the sportive "gang"

After all this excitement, the volume level in the class room and court yard was considerably rising. All of them jumped around laughing and showing off saying ‘I look so smart!”, followed by a very well  organized group picture for us.

us with the kids

To shorten the time before lunch a bit, they all gathered in one class room and the music was turned on. There we were – a bunch of happy, satisfied, hyper and laughing children dancing to their favorite songs!

Outside, Alice took care of the guardians who came to collect the bags with the additional new clothes and the worn items. They were gathered in a different class room and lectured for a full hour on how to take care of the children, the new items, that they are strictly for them and that they need to take good care of the new clothes and toys.

Alice lecturing the guardians

Let us put Alice in the spotlight for a minute – this 32 years old woman is running the show at the orphanage, being a mother to all kids, caring for their wellbeing just as much as for her own three children. This is quite remarkable in a country where poverty forces you to think about yourself and your own first. Yesterday we learnt that she took an orphan into her own home. The pupil’s guardian passed away on Tuesday and he had nowhere to go to.  She did organize all the shopping from our donations, packed all the bags, re-filled 20 canisters of oil for a whole day (without a single sign of complaint), wrote the messages for the guardians, organized the lunches and spent lots of time for the school kids although having three children by  herself. When handing over the remaining money to her yesterday, she said: “I would like to cry now; you did so much for us I do not know how to thank you.” She really does not count her own efforts in this, what an exemplary woman!

Alice and her 81 additional children

The guardians started to leave with the bags, each single one stopping at us, thanking us and wishing us farewell. One of them came with tears in her eyes, touching our hands and individually thanking us by blessing us. Another quite emotional moment…

the guardians

excited what their kids might have got

a little baby sister

guardians leaving happily

Finally it was time for the last treat of our trip – the festive lunch! After cooking for hours, the dishes werre served, consisting of one potato, one spoon of salad, one egg, one samosa and a piece of fried chicken! Keep in mind - this is considered the special festive meal in months!

Yves cooking



the chicken is getting ready

Julius frying the chicken

When serving the plates in the classroom, they were all sitting again with a finger on their mouth, meaning they have to behave and be quiet otherwise there is no treat. Everyone had to wait until the last person had the dish served, the meal could not be touched before that. Staring at the plates, we noticed some of them secretly licking the edge of the plate already, not being able to wait!

PSSSSSST!

waiting until everyone is served

behave and be quiet

The juices, a special treat once in a while, were served along with the meal and after a “thank you” prayer they finally started eating. What a joy being a witness of this!

Finally eating time!

not yet for these guys

the special treat - a juice!

With our project coming to an end, we said our farewells, left some more money for another food supply round to the families and received beautiful African dresses. Alice could not have better spoken our minds and feelings by saying “this was a truly beautiful day”. We left surrounded by the kids, glowing of pride in their new clothes and running after our car until we were gone.

Alice, Yves, Martina, Zoe and Julius in traditional gifts

the last good bye

To sum up, we are amazed and proud that we really made a difference in these children’s life. Not only have we as the team from Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel have made an impact on the way of life over here, but all other volunteers / donors / ambassadors who have dedicated parts of their life to charity work. Juma as an example, the disabled kid we saw on so many pictures, had a brain infection as a baby and could not walk. Volunteers at the orphanage fixed him leg braces and today he is walking by himself and without any help to school (only holding the hand of a same-aged friend).

 Looking at the bigger picture, founding this orphanage has made a huge difference in each of the 81 children’s life and only with volunteers, donations and the personal efforts of individuals, this work can be continued. We know it might be controversial to make publicity of a charity project but we strongly believe that only if the awareness and the stories are spread as much as possible, it will reach the right people which might follow our examples.

Our donations in the long-term like the veranda, the medium-term such as the track suits, running shoes and uniforms as well as in the short-term such as the food bags for the families, the lunch and the goodies, have definitely made a difference over here. But let’s keep in mind that Glorious Orphanage is only ONE of the many orphanages here in Arusha (which are even in much worse condition) and Arusha is only one city in Africa, so rest assured however small your donation of money, time or dedication is, it will make a big difference in someone’s life.

A huge thanks to Alice who integrated us in her family, the kids which opened our eyes and hearts in any possible way, Lujan for pointing us in the direction of the orphanage and of course our HOD team at the hotel which made this project possible in the first place and allowed us to act as ambassadors on site!

THANKS!