African Insights Blog Newsletter
December 25 -2009
Christmas Party 2009 for Kids born into Slums
Christmas morning in Kampala was quiet as I drove through the city streets on the way to Kiswa School. The location of where a unique Church for Children meets each Sunday morning...this however was not Sunday - It was Christmas Day, as I turned down the road to the school, groups of children were already moving toward the event of the day - A Christmas Party celebrating the birth of the one who accepted them just as they are - the least, the last and some of them lost.
That morning many of the children got up in their one room house - they had slept on the floor during the night - they removed the sheet and maybe a blanket while it was still dark inside of the room - 5 or 6 others sleeping in the room. There was no breakfast, not even tea this morning, but today was Christmas-a walk to the pit latrine where there was a shower area, it was cold this morning, the rain coming down heavy, but the party. Dressing inside of the room in the one dress or pants that were nice - taking others in tow they would move out to Kiswa School.
At the school the sounds of Christmas Carols drifted out into the rain drenched school yard...It was Christmas but it was also rainy season in Uganda -amazingly children kept pouring into the classroom sat on their benches, rain drenched but happy to be there.
In the nearby school kitchen Rachel and her helpers were preparing huge pots of rice, pilau flavored rice, tilapia fish, meat over fires fueled by large chunks of wood-the soft wind whipped in the rain into the kitchen area but nothing deterred Rachel from going about her tasks of feeding over 500 children.
A pickup truck arrived with crates of assorted sodas, some of the Ugandan volunteers began sort the crates by flavors, some poured into cups for the young children who would have a hard time drinking the soda from a bottle.
In the classrooms the benches began to filled, children kept pouring in. Older ones carrying the little ones, just children coming to celebrate. The sounds of drums along with "Joy to the World" came forth, some of the children moving to the music, clapping, joy filled faces, this was Christmas. The drab building, the ugly benches did not matter - "We are having a Party for Baby Jesus" a little one told me.
Pastor Gladys and Isaac a Social Worker and Teacher for the kids began to conduct a time of sharing and prayer. At their homes there was nothing, no Christmas tree, no presents, no food even on this day. One third of Ugandans live on less than a dollar a day and even in Uganda there is not much you can get for a dollar to feed yourself, much less your family, so the smell of fish, meat, rice hanging in the air was most pleasant for the children and I am sure some of them hoped that soon they would eat.
Yet they clapped, sang, danced and simply enjoyed the celebration of child much like themselves for whom there was no room at the Inn when he was about to be born. For most of these children there is no room either-no money for schooling that just might give them a future and a hope, no prospects for a job that pays a livable wage, but a continuance of the cycle of poverty and yet today they had come to honor the one who came to set the captives from bondage, the child that was born over 2000 years ago and hearts were today hope filled and the sound of laughter could frequently hear coming from the classroom. (actually two opened up for this occasion).
600 children came on Christmas day, even though it poured buckets, even though some had gone to the villages for Christmas. As I watched them sitting there, eating, drinking their sodas I was thankful for the people who had made this all possible and how it all came together in the matter of a few days. From the 16th of December, thanks to a few friends who love children, we were able to fund this party. This year we were caught short, the monthly rent for the school had increased, visitors to the children were down and more money was used for school fees.
We purchased 25 crates of Soda - a treat for the children since most do not get a soda most of the time. The cost being 45 cents for bottle of Coke or Pepsi and the other assorted flavors. 50 Kilos of Rice, lots of fresh fish from Lake Victoria and lots of beef. Oil, spices, and many other things.
The gifts, there were some, pencils, crayons, books, some toys - there were not enough for all the children, so we held them off for other days when to bring them to homes on home visits. I would have been unfair to give presents to some while others did not have any and the one who had the key that morning to the storage was not available...providence.
Thank you for making a difference...it is appreciated and the children thank you...on Christmas they celebrated, had a party sitting on the damp grass, it did not matter, their bellies were filled, joy was evident on the faces and they smiled as they chewed on their beef and washed it down with sodas. This day thanks to you - they had Christmas in Uganda...jon
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