Children’s Day

We had a fun morning this morning as the School was celebrating Children's Day - this means that Staff provide special Tiffin and entertain the children. The volunteers (that’s us!) performed a rendition of The Lion Sleeps Tonight. We were ably led by Felix who had choreographed the whole thing - you will notice that Toni and I need to see the words though - and I still managed to get them wrong!

Thankfully it was a short day for us today as we are both exhausted! Yesterday was very long - neither of us are used to being at work for 8 in the morning and then not stopping until 7pm. Although lessons finish at 1.30 if either of us are in the computer room then youngsters come in for guidance. This is followed by Team 'Aunty', as we have re-christened the Sports Day team, as Roger can't help much anymore. These are the most polite and most beautiful and brightest children you could ever hope to meet.

One thing I have learned is that if you do tell them off you have to seek them out at the end of the lesson and hug and reassure them. They have to know that their behaviour was unacceptable but that they are still loved. They arrive with such low self esteem. Obviously Toni and I spend moments of the day in tears - and I think looking at the smiles on the faces of the recent album you will understand why! Bijoy - the little boy in the red T shirt smiles all the time - he was so excited - as this photo was taken as he was being invited to take part in a magic trick by the Head, Paul Carling. He was beside himself with excitement!

As Toni walked home tonight she met one of the boys who had won a prize on Monday. They had received book tokens and she saw that he was carrying a big bag with a globe in it – she told him that she thought it was a great idea to have a globe. He replied that he had bought it for his class because he thought they would like it! Their generosity is incredible – these are kids that have nothing and yet are still prepared to give to others – in fact it is their first thought.

The children could come in ‘home clothes’ today – they were immaculately turned out. One family of day children who come to school in a battered rickshaw which their father pulls looked incredible. As Tim said – they all would have slept under tarpaulin the night before and yet were beautifully kitted out in dresses and hair clips.

No wonder we are feeling emotional!

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