Then, we had our first - and only- African buffet this lunchtime: a real treat for us all, with a selection of local food prepared in the accommodation's kitchens, and therefore totally safe! Fufu, a strange ball made of the fruit of the Cassava bush, fried plantain, beans and rice balls, black eye beans, potato and cassava (aka manioc, staple food in Africa) in oil, a variety of sauces, from mildly spiced to burning mouth hot, and of course rice! Some local deserts as well to finish off, made with sesame seeds, coconut shavings and nuts. Everything was absolutely delicious!
We then went across town once again, melting in the heat and the traffic, to go to the Don Bosco family orphanage, known as Fambul (the Krio word for family) Don Bosco. The orphanage is run by Father Jorge Crisafulli, originally from Argentina, who has spent nearly 30 years working in Africa. Last year, they rescued and re-homed numerous children left without homes after the Regent mudslide. This year, they are working with boys off the street (chucked by their families, runaways due to abuse etc...), girls from abusive backgrounds, and girls who were working as prostitutes, some as young as 9 years of age. A truly humbling experience to meet such children and the people who work with them, day in, day out. 4 of our musicians performed for them, Nate on the cello, Pip on the clarinet, Lula on the flute and Eliza on the trumpet, and allowed the children to have a go on the trumpet mouthpiece, or the cello... connections were established through music. Music IS truly a universal language. The children sang for us and talked of unity...and then we played the universal game of football of course. Football in Sierra Leone is what the Hakka is for the All Blacks- compulsory, intimidating and expected. Did they beat us- well, the boys drew 1-1 and the girls lost 1-0... but the score tells you nothing. It does not tell you about the energy everybody put into the game, the competition, the friendship, the heat, the sweat, the joy and the pride- the pride of a teacher who watches her students become ambassadors for international peace and friendship. They were great... and totally engaged with the young orphans, some their age, some a lot younger, but all with one thing in common: they all looked happy and they all great you with "I want to be your friend" and then hug you.
Father George and his team work hard to get those kids off the street and back in their family home, or with some family members and to provide them all with an education. He said today that he wants the girls especially to understand that the future is, and I quote, "not between their legs but in their education". They were thankful for our time and our donation of clothes, toys, games and money. We were just thankful to have been part of their lives for a few hours.
The buzz on the buses on our way back was electric... so here's to your children, who today, made you and me very proud.
Thank you for the music and for football ( for a rugby fan, this is a hard pill to swallow).
Over and out for tonight!
JDA
