Every time you think about the children we care for, you might wonder about the challenges we face. With 61 children under our wings, it's a demanding task. But, we thrive as a team, dedicated to nurturing each child. In this article, we will outline our approach to supporting these young ones.
Creating a Family Atmosphere
We are committed to avoiding labels like "orphan" and using endearing names like 'baby,' 'son,' 'daughter,' 'angel,' 'queen,' 'beautiful,' and 'lovely' to help alleviate any trauma they may be experiencing. Loneliness can significantly affect happiness, so we encourage viewing each other as siblings, fostering a family environment where everyone looks out for one another.
Empowering Through Inquiry: Encouraging Curiosity and Learning
We believe in nurturing curiosity. Children are encouraged to ask questions about anything they wish to understand. Our team is committed to providing answers, researching when necessary to ensure we're giving accurate information.
Parenting: Preparing for Independence
Parenting is all about preparing a child for independence. We engage with the children about their friendships, achievements, and challenges. At the children’s home, we train them in various household and farming tasks, often allowing those who excel in particular activities to teach their peers. This peer-to-peer learning approach is particularly effective.
Education: A Foundation for the Future
All our children have the right to education. As we send them to school, we know they learn a lot from there and also meet new friends. We make it our duty to keep up with what they learn in school and assist with their homework, ensuring they develop a strong sense of responsibility.
Guidance and Counseling: Supporting Personal Development
We provide guidance and counseling in small groups of 4-5 children each, allowing for personalized interaction. This setup helps children who may be shy about discussing personal issues like puberty or menstruation, ensuring they feel supported and understood. As a team, we're able to understand what our children go through as we get to know them on an individual basis, allowing us to strategize for the collective well-being of all the children residing in the home.
Career Guidance: Imagining Future Possibilities
We offer career guidance to inspire our children to dream big. We help them to discover their innate talents and skills while encouraging them to reflect on their ambitions, interests, and abilities. By inviting professionals from various fields to speak with the children, we help them visualize their future careers and understand the paths they can take to achieve their dreams.
Decision Making: Cultivating Leaders
We emphasize the importance of decision-making in our interactions. Encouraging children to participate in decision-making processes helps them develop leadership skills, preparing them for future responsibilities.
The Joy of Dance
Dance is not only fun but also a great way for children to express themselves and bond. We encourage them to participate in dance classes, where they can learn, perform, and support each other in group performances.
Certain dances convey narratives, and occasionally we draw inspiration from their own narratives to heal and overcome trauma. However, the primary essence of dancing lies in the joy it brings, fostering strong connections among individuals, particularly in group performances where teamwork is essential. In such cases, all children play a role, whether by participating directly or by supporting and training others.
Debates: Sharpening Minds and Words
Debates are a vital part of our educational activities. They help children improve their public speaking skills and learn to stand up for their beliefs, fostering a spirit of inquiry and resilience. It also helps them improve their English. During our debates, we identify topics that require discussions to reach a conclusion, and then we split the children into two groups for the discussions to begin. Winning teams and outstanding participants receive prizes, motivating everyone to prepare for the next debate to earn recognition and awards.
Games and Sports: Building Teamwork and Physical Skills
While our community isn't known for sports, our children enjoy and excel in various games. Sports such as athletics, football, and netball are the most popular games. However, we are now introducing new games like cricket, golf, rugby, and basketball. Each time we host visitors, the children get the chance to witness or learn a new sport. For example, when Chris Conners visited us, the children learned ring dances. When Pete Cohen visited us with his friends from The Change Foundation UK, the children learned new games and we acquired equipment for cricket, which they will be using to learn more.
Campfires and Storytelling: Reviving Traditions and Building Bonds
Our campfire nights are special occasions where we share stories and riddles. This African tradition enhances language skills, teaches important values, and strengthens our bond as a community. Stories are shared not just by team members and a select few from the community, but primarily by the children themselves. Stories serve as a potent means of educating children about their environment, while also enhancing their emotional intelligence through the art of storytelling.
Competitions and Awards: Encouraging Excellence and Recognition
We hold various competitions to foster a healthy competitive spirit and recognize achievements. Whether in sports, quizzes, or performing arts, these events motivate children to strive for excellence, take pride in their abilities, and empower them to mentor others. Competition teaches children tenacity, perseverance, and composure in challenging situations, fostering confidence, teamwork, and patience.
Looking Ahead: Engaging with Future Plans
We regularly discuss future plans with the children, helping them set goals and supporting them in their endeavors. This not only helps us bond with them but also enables us to tailor our support to their individual dreams and aspirations.
Join us in supporting these remarkable children as they grow into confident and capable adults.
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