Visiting the parish

I helped our college Chaplain, Father Jude to successfully bid to a UK charity called Signpost for money to set up a poultry unit to support disadvantaged families in the parish. Last week I went with him to visit some of these people who live near the college.

This house is lived in by a very old lady. Her daughter told us that she was 70 and although they did not know how old her Mother is she must be around 90! The house is typical, made of mud bricks, rendered with mud and a corrugated tin roof. The view of the 'kitchen' through the window amazed me.

A friend had sent me some lovely little girls dresses which we took to the families we visited. They were so grateful although the children seemed a bit confused as Father dressed them for a photo!

Father Jude dressed this little one. I am not sure she quite knw what to make of it all!

Here are three generations, Grandmother, daughter and grandaughter

This girl in yellow, who was a bit older put her dress on quickly and posed for me! Many of the families are affected by HIV/Aids and it was sad to see how many children were not at school. Even though the government schools offer free education to the first four children, families have to provide uniforms, books, pencils and money for food at school. With families having six or more children it is not possible to send all of them to school. There are in fact nowhere near enough schools so many try to raise the fees for 'private' schools of which there are many. Class numbers are still often approaching 100!

It was an interesting and eye-opening experience. This girl looks after her grandfather who explained the loss of feeling in his feet due to his illness as 'his toes not being in the right order any more'.