Boma school Day 1

Now the main purpose of the visit begins tomorrow as it is Monday and the first day we can visit the schools. 

We have settled into Kasungu Inn hotel near the town of Kasungu and have unpacked ready for school visits over the next week. 

I am somewhat nervous as Boma school now has 4,600 children and this sounds overwhelming. Added to this we are the only 'mazungas' in the area visiting the schools.  Mazunga is the Malawi term for a white skinned person and children in particular get very excited to see us. Add to this that I was concerned that the children might not understand the story telling activities that I had planned and I had a restless night. 

Monday morning dawned and we set off in the cars with the lovely drivers Frank and Dave. Boma school is only ten minutes down the road and another teacher called Vickie was in my car as she then had to carry on to her school in the country side of Malawi another hour away. 

We drove down a main road, turned off onto dry, sandy, red mud roads and turned into a large empty area a bit like a playground. Children were standing in small groups and waved as we went past. We drove across this area and then turned left between two buildings. The route was now lined with children. Children running, waving, calling, jumping up to try and see. Children everywhere as far as I could see. Children crowding around the car. Children who had taken their flip flops off to wave them. Children pushing, climbing, cheering. Before I had left the car I was overwhelmed to the point where I couldn't get out with any composure. My fellow teacher Vickie was amazed and simply couldn't believe the welcome I received from thousands of joyous, happy children.

I waved and was shown into a room where all the staff were assembled for a meeting. Mr Chris Knott from Starfish Malawi videod my arrival and then talked to the staff before we set off to the headmaster's office. We waded through happy, smiling children and then had a meeting in the head's office. All through the meeting  curious, waving children stood in the doorway of the office and stared or waved at their new visitor. 

Chris Knott and I went out into the playground during first break. This is when Standard 1 and 2 line up for their porridge. Porridge is provided by Mary's Meals, a UK based charity, and now ensures many children come to school just to be fed. For some, this is their only food of the day. Chris was surrounded by a sea of children.

I tried to photograph the porridge station but the moment you get out a camera children crowd round you, trying to get into the picture and they were nearly knocking over the porridge bucket! 

Chris and I went for a walk around the school grounds and found a clinic where he received treatment for his sore foot. 

This was a private clinic where you have to pay. Back within the school grounds we saw many new toilet blocks and water stands where children can wash their hands. 

After our walk we went to an agriculture lesson and learnt about farming equipment and safety. The children all put their hands up and click their fingers to get the teachers attention when they want to answer a question, so Chris and I had a go. The children were delighted when we got the correct answer and gave us a clap - just one and all in unison. 

The break time is staggered to allow time for all children to have 'parra' which means porridge. They line up to receive one cup full each. After each break time, a different Standard (class) goes home. At 1.05pm school is over and all children can go home. Then we were off to the head teachers house for lunch - chicken (fresh- no supermarkets near here) and rice and nsima. Mr Foaster Amose, headteacher of Boma school, walked us back to Kasungu town and our hotel - the deputy said it would take 20 minutes...it took 40! They all enjoyed the joke 😀. On the way Mr Amose (Pronounced Armos) explained that transport here is rare so bicycles are considered public transport and most are licenced. They have a long, rectangular shaped seat behind the 'driver' where the paying passenger sits. I also noticed a child playing with a metal hoop, using a stick to roll it down the sloping, sandy road.