Daily Life Of The Boys

Daily Life at Kuleana Orphanage:

Most boys are entered into the primary school Nyanza which is situated right next to the orphanage. One boy entered secondary school this year. The only boys that aren't attending school are the recent arrivals. This is due to the fact that there may be a possibility of them returning to their relatives or families. For these new boys, during the period that they are staying at the orphanage and have not yet entered school, volunteers will come in the morning to give them vital one to one lessons to prepare them for school. The living situation of an orphanage is never ideal for any child, and if there is any chance that they can live in a family situation, this will always be supported over an orphanage environment and the project will assist the return finanacially wherever possible. However, for the boys that stay at the orphanage this is the only alternative other than the street, and the project makes it a priority to attend to each and every one of their daily needs.

Classes in the school begin at eight o'clock each morning. The boys generally wake at about six am. They each have morning chores to complete before leaving for school. Some will be at school at seven to sweep and clean their classrooms, and then all boys arrive at eight o'clock to begin class. The older boys have a break at ten am and they return to Kuleana to get some porridge. They then resume class untill two pm. The younger boys return home at twelve pm. Once the boys return from school they eat their lunch at two pm and have a break untill three pm.

After school, lessons begin at the orphanage at three pm with the volunteers teaching the boys, generally from three until about five pm. In these lessons the boys receive the one to one attention that they so need because their classes in school have upto sixty pupils in them. The volunteers teach english and maths, and some include science, geography and creative activities such as drama and art. Many of the boys are very behind in their school work from having missed many years of schooling throughout their childhood. These extra lessons are vital in order to give these boys the assistance they need to catch up. The boys are generally very eager to learn, and often, even after a full day of school and afternoon lessons, they will still want extra one on one attention, and sometimes will work right through until dinner time.

The boys partake in a HIV programme and behavioural change group counselling sessions on a regular basis which are run by local qualified Tanzanians. In addition the international volunteers provide HIV/AIDS and positive learning workshops in the evenings. These are vital in enhancing the boys' interpersonal and life skills.

Dinner time is between seven and eight pm. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all cooked by a woman who all the boys refer to as 'mama'. She works monday to friday, with the boys taking it in turns to cook at the weekend. The boys eat ugali (a local dish) beans or small fish everyday. Rice, meat, fruit and vegetables are provided if donated or if enough funds are available.

In the evening, the boys play different games around the orphanage. Every day they play football. They also play cards and different board games such as Connect Four, Snakes and Ladders, checkers, marbles and so on... for hours! Volunteers also play different sports with the boys such as badminton, rugby, rounders, volleyball and basketball.

Some weekends the volunteers take the boys on day trips, such as to the beach or to a football match. The boys love day trips out of Kuleana. Also, fun activities sometimes take place at the centre at the weekends, such as football tournaments, a sports day, music and dancing, watching a film, treasure hunts and any other imaginative ideas that volunteers can think of!

The boys shower each day, brush their teeth, wash their clothes, make their beds, keep their lockers (in which they keep all their belongings) clean and tidy, do their sweeping chores in the morning and spend the day learning and playing. When they are sick, volunteers take the boys to the hospital and they are given the appropriate medicine.

The daily lives of the boys within the centre are focused on developing all the skills needed for the possibility of a brighter future.

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