Dance-athon

So its the last week for the team here!

We've done so much, so in some ways it feels like we have been here a long time but other times it feels like its gone so quick!

Friday was a good finale for Yasmin and Najaad as their drama group performed in a competition and came second! The whole group deserved it as they all worked so hard.. the theme was 'I feel safe when'.. so the children acted out situations which they are faced with such as being beaten at home, prostitution, A.I.D.S and street life and used their drama to express their needs to the judges... a lady from the government was there plus it was being filmed so it was quite a big thing.. it was allowing the children to have a voice and use drama as their cry for help.... its was pretty powerful.. however one frustrating thing was the lack of information in the message given back to the kids, which told that if they are getting beaten or are mistreated in anyway they must go Jesus at all times... which of course is all well and good but the children were not given any practical advice about center's or organisation's which they could go to to get help, receive counselling or find practical support. The children need both spiritual and practical support.

On the weekend the team took some time out to chill out by the beach.. I know its a land locked country but they have a huuge lake which somehow as waves but obviously no tide.. it was nice to relax but it was well funny when we all rocked up in our swim gear and then realised no-one does sunbathing here haha

Since its the final week everyone is free to do their own thing so Rabia went back to see her family and is not returning, Yasmin has gone to Kenya as she worked there a few years back and Anita has gone to see her dad in Tanzania, both back on Thursday. So I went back to St Barnabas School today to check how the girl, who was sick last week, was doing and she was all better :D it was great to see her smiling again! I then headed to Mengo to teach dance to the youth group - which I am going to be doing all week as they have a few performances coming up! - They have amazing rhythm here its great fun to teach again and see the kids perform it so well! I think I will buy the youth group a CD player tomorrow to have as their own.

I have been put in contact with a few guys who are going to be running the Butterfly Project as from September which involves one-on-one mentoring of the youth to help them develop social skills, learn how to read, write, communicate, manage time and lead a team. It sounds like a project we can really get our teeth stuck into and which would make a long term difference for the kids so I'm going to stay linked to this.

I think this is my shortest post so far! Haha! I will let you know how the performances go...

Not long now til I'm back to give you hugs in person!

Tia x xxxx