“Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.” 1Tim 6:7-8

Yesterday I continued home visits with the children from George OMNI School. We set off around 9am, an entourage of children laughing and running along side myself and the two school teachers, Ms. Masumba and Godfridah. When our day ended around 5:30pm, we had visited twenty-six homes, and I’m sure we had walked many miles. I can’t even begin to describe what I saw in just this one day – children without parents, cared for by a widowed aging grandmother or living with an aunt who cares for four children in addition to her own six – people without any regular income, barely existing on the little bit of money they earn from making baskets or selling tomatoes – and children living with their grandmother because both parents have tested positive for HIV/Aids. But I didn’t hear many complaints about their situation. Instead what I heard were words of appreciation and gratitude, or as Ms. Masumba said so many times yesterday, “They are just giving thanks.” They are grateful most of all for the education the children are receiving, the books, the uniforms, and the hot meal every day. What I also see at George are children that are loved and cared for without reserve. It makes no difference if the parents are unable to care for their children or if the children are orphaned, they are brought into the homes of relatives and cared for – without question. It is sometimes difficult to establish the relationships within each home, because there may be so many from so many different homes, and it doesn’t matter to them if they are a niece or a daughter – they are family and they are loved. And they are cared for the best way possible. One other thing that is nearly impossible to establish is the true age of each child. Time has a whole different meaning here, and most people do not know their birth date, or care when they were born. Most know the year of birth, so no matter the month or the date, if you were born in the year 2000 you are now seven years old. And even that doesn’t really matter. The teachers challenged some as to the year of birth, deciding the child was either younger or older. It’s just not important.

The family in the photograph is no different – they love each other and all care for each other the best they can. The grandmother extended her hand in warm welcome, and had the children find seats for myself and the teachers. One was a metal chair with no back and the legs wired to the seat, one was a small bench fashioned from a rough looking log nailed to two uneven wooden legs, and the other was an empty 10 liter plastic jug which had once contained oil with a grain sack draped over the top. The grandmother was seated on the ground in front of us, legs stretched out straight in front of her. I couldn’t help but notice her shoes. They were old “Keds” slip on tennis shoes, worn and tattered, long strings hanging from the sides. But what I noticed most was that the soles of the shoes were almost totally worn away – all that remained was a tiny portion of the heel on each shoe. And then we began talking. John Mwamba is 16 years old, in grade 4, likes reading and going through books and wants to be a teacher when he finishes school. John’s parents are living, but unable to care for him and they do not live at George. Kegan Kalipa (Mabel’s brother and cousin to the other children) is 13 years old, in grade 4, enjoys playing soccer and would also like to be a teacher one day. Mabel Kalipa (Kegan’s sister and cousin to the other children) is 11 years old, in grade 2, hopes to be a teacher one day, and when she’s not in school she enjoys doing housework. Kegan and Mabel’s mother is deceased, and their father is unable to care for them and does not live at George. Gift Kasongo (cousin to the other children) is 7 years old, in grade 1, wants to be a soldier when he grows up, and likes playing soccer. Gift’s mother and father are divorced, unable to care for him, and they don’t live at George. Mary Mulenga (John’s half-sister and cousin to the other children) is 10 years old, in grade 2, wants to be a teacher and likes playing netball. Mary’s mother is living but unable to care for her, and her father is deceased. On Sundays the children attend the Roman Catholic Church at George, while the grandmother attends the United Church of Zambia. The grandmother makes a little bit of money reselling vegetables she buys at the market in Twapia. And she was quick to tell me that all of her grandchildren help her around the house and any way they can. When I asked if they have regular meals, the answer was they don’t always have food. The only regular meal is the one the children receive at school. Their health is good she said, they only suffer from malaria, worms, and an occasional stomach ache. When I asked if she had any questions for me or any ideas for the school, all she could say was thank you for helping her with her grandchildren. She doesn’t have the money to send them to a school. And she is also appreciating the meal they receive every day, because then she knows they will eat at least once every day.

I can’t say this family was typical, but it was not unusual. Many of the children want to be teachers, nurses, doctors and truck drivers. When asked what they enjoy doing when not in school, the boys mostly enjoy soccer and the girls netball, but many of them name “fetching water” as their favorite pastime. Some like flying kites made from scraps of plastic stretched over twigs with shreds of twine from the grain bags as their ball of string. Every family suffers from malaria, and as one father told me, “Madame, everyone in Africa is sick.” There is no regular source of income except for a very few. Most families eat twice a day, many once, and some whenever they can. Yet, we are always greeted with a smile and a warm, friendly outstretched hand.