Family having lunch at the SOS Children's Village Arusha, Tanzania…
There are few occasions that arise in community development where an organization's principles and philosophies can be put into practice with the reality of circumstances. But it happened, only recently at the SOS Social Centre Arusha.
- Lisa
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Family having lunch at the SOS Children's Village Arusha, Tanzania
There are few occasions that arise in community development where an organization's principles and philosophies can be put into practice with the reality of circumstances. But it happened, only recently at the SOS Social Centre Arusha.
Family strengthening programme in Arusha puts theory into practice
While theory provides a structural guide, the varying situations faced by a community worker require innovative, quick-witted, solution-oriented thinking, much of which comes from experience itself. The family strengthening programme in Arusha, which is part of the SOS Social Centre Arusha, rose to the occasion recently, putting the programme's principles into action in response to an incident so revealing of the community within which the programme operates.
On this particular weekend, the family strengthening programme coordinator, Beatrice Matotay, received a call informing her that the facilities had been broken into. The route of entry was through the kitchen windows where the glass panel had been unhinged and the perpetrators slipped in through the narrow opening between the metal bars. The persons responsible were four young boys, actually children, 11 and 12 years old.
As it turned out, this was actually the third time the boys had forcefully entered the building, as they later confessed to programme personnel, while detailing how they were careful not to break the windows so that their activity would go undetected. This included putting the glass panel back and carefully rearranging all boxes or food items. The boys had been stealing eggs, butter, jam, utensils, and milk as a means to make money to purchase food. But this time was their last, when a security guard caught the boys in the act.
Jail not a good option: Rather then disciplining the boys himself or immediately calling the police to have the boys shipped off to a local prison, the security officer called Beatrice Matotay, who promptly arrived at the facilities to assess the situation. Seeing the children, she quickly realized that sending them to jail at such a young age would only breed future criminals, and she made the decision to talk with the boys.
When asked why they committed theft, the boys confessed that their families were unable to care for them. They often went hungry and heard that this facility provided food to its members. One of the boys confessed that his father had left him followed by his mother, who dropped him with a neighbour who hardly took notice of his presence. The boys all told similar stories of parental neglect, leaving these young children to fend for themselves. This story of abandonment and neglect is shared by many children in this community. With a severe shortage of work and lack of food, many parents do not see alternative choices and abandon their children and leave them with any person they can find. Often these new caregivers can do very little and so the children must learn survival strategies at a very young age.
Beatrice invites the boys to visit the social centre
After receiving their confessions and hearing their stories, the social centre personnel decided to take a leadership role in the rehabilitation of these boys' lives. First though, the authorities were notified since many of the stolen goods could not be accounted for and the boys were taken to the local prison where they spent several days locked up until the police had gathered sufficient evidence and testimonies. Every evening while the boys remained in their cells, Beatrice came with food and a hot drink ensuring that these boys went unharmed and were being cared for. Without this food, the boys would have not have eaten; only perpetuating the cycle upon their release. During this time, Beatrice invited the boys to come and visit her after their release to discuss possible options for their futures.
Entirely of their own accord, the boys appeared at the family strengthening programme facility eager to hear what this lady had to say. What they did not realize was that from their very first meeting with Beatrice, she had decided that they were in need of assistance and support rather than merely chastisement and punishment. She also learned that upon release, the boy who had been living with his neighbour had once again been abandoned, as the neighbour was nowhere to be found and thus did not even have a place to sleep.
The family strengthening programme extends some help During their meeting, the boys were asked if they would like to return to school, would they be willing to report daily to the social centre, and would they like school uniforms and food support. After the initial discussion, Beatrice arranged a meeting with each boy's parents or guardian to discuss the issues that brought the boys to this place to begin with. After the meeting, the parents, guardians, and the boys agreed it would be in their best interest to return to school and report daily to the programme. The family strengthening programme has extended support in terms of school fees, uniforms and some food items.
For the past week, the four boys have been regular faces at the programme's playground. Their laughter can be heard throughout the building as they play with other children their own age. At these moments, the truth shines through and it is easy to see that these are merely children in need, pushed out of necessity to break the law.
While the Arusha family strengthening programme has not cured their lives of all hardships, the foresight, commitment, and compassion which characterize the philosophies of SOS Children's Villages have provided these boys with an opportunity to change their lives and escape from a life of crime and the hardships that would entail. The boys have a long road ahead of them but their smiles speak of new opportunities, a brighter future; an important step on the road to change. On this occasion, principle and practice worked congruently to produce another opportunity in lives that have been harshly affected by the relentless scourge of extreme poverty. In the months to follow, the family strengthening programme will continue to document the progress of these boys' lives, the changes and the struggles that they still endure.
- Mary
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Family having lunch in their house - CV Assomada, Cape Verde
In Cape Verde, the sweet smell of 'Kuskus' would attract anybody passing by the kitchen. And Isabel's ten children are not an exception!
'Kuskus' Cape Verdean style: Isabel's kitchen is full of big pots! Pots for 'catchupa' (a traditional stew), pots to cook a big whole fish with tomatoes, onions and lime juice...and pots to make the traditional 'kuskus', a sweet delicacy that her ten children will enjoy tonight. This SOS mother from SOS Children's Village Assomada definitely likes to treat her children. Today, she will also treat you, with her 'Kuskus' recipe!
Once a week, Isabel treats her big family with a 'kuskus'. It's a time all children love, starting from the nice sweet smell that spreads in the house, to the time all sit around the big table to enjoy the hot 'kuskus', with butter and a glass of milk.
Today, Isabel is preparing her maize 'kuskus' alone. Twelve-year-old Vanessa knows how to cook 'kuskus' and often gives her a hand, but today, she is busy playing with her SOS sister Monika upstairs in their room. Some of Isabel's other children are out in the village, playing. Only eleven-year-old Emmanuel is hanging around the kitchen, looking after his baby brother.
Though it's a very fast recipe to make, one needs to plan a little ahead when wanting to make 'kuskus'. Isabel's family size special ceramic pot has stayed overnight in a bucket full of water, to be ready to use. In a big plastic bowl, Isabel pours 900 grams of maize flour and 200 grams of potato flakes. Quantities are always big when you cook for eleven! She first mixes the content with her hands before adding enough water to make the mixture humid (but not wet). Rubbing the mixture in her hands to avoid having lumps, Isabel explains how important it is to do this step properly. "In the end, your mixture should look like semolina", she explains. "After, you add as much sugar as you want, depending on your taste", continues Isabel. "You can also add some cinnamon, but today, I'm out of cinnamon!"
In the meantime, Isabel has put water to boil in a metal pot. The pot needs to be of good size, so that you can place the ceramic 'kuskus' pot on top, to steam the 'kuskus'. The mixture is ready. Isabel puts it in the special pot [a ceramic pot with a round bottom with some holes, to let the steam go through] which she has just dried and places it on top of the pot of boiling water. "To make sure the steam doesn't escape, you have to seal the two pots with a mixture of flour and water", explains Isabel. Finally, she covers the ceramic pot with a lid, and, during the half-an-hour cooking time, displays plates, glasses forks and knives on the long kitchen table.
Very soon, the children staying in the house smell the sweet delicacy. Two of them run out to inform their siblings that the 'kuskus' is ready and within a few minutes, all are seated around the table, a big smile on their face! While Isabels makes sure that all have a hot slice of 'kuskus' on their plate, the older siblings pour milk in all the glasses and help the little ones spread salted butter on their 'kuskus'. Forks and knives in hand, the family becomes all of a sudden very quiet No need to wonder why! It's just delicious!
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