Kids in general are pretty ungrateful. I remember what I was like as a kid – I think my parents were often disappointed with my reaction to presents, especially the few attempts we made at Christmas (20 years ago). Here at HAPO, it’s a strange situation: our kids are the most vulnerable and underprivileged in Tabora, yet because they are at HAPO with wazungu, they get hugs and kisses and lollies and prizes and toys and extra education in a way that no ordinary kids right across Tanzania ever would, regardless of their economic circumstances. The last few times we have given prizes we’ve been disappointed in the kids; unless everyone gets exactly the same thing, there are inevitable arguments and long faces until we get fed up with them and wish we never gave presents in the first place. They’re just kids being kids, and they have so little to fight over that we can hardly stay mad. But it certainly made Christmas a daunting task for the four of us, as we had to figure out how to fill 36 stockings (made from kanga material by a mystified clothing fundi, for whom I had to draw “christmas stocking”) for 36 boys and girls from age 7 to 16 with numerous gifts under $2 that they would all like. This was particularly challenging in a country where there is basically nothing to buy except kangas (the materials worn by the women) and second-hand tee-shirts. Needless to say we were not expecting anything but disappointment from them.
But, oh, yesterday.
This is what ended up going in each stocking:
1 toothbrush with a clip-on lid in the shape of a lion
1 pair of plain white socks
1 pair of earrings (girls)/1 punching balloon (boys)
1 ruler
1 sharpener
1 eraser
1 lead pencil
3 stickers
4 hard lollies
1 stick of Wrigley’s gum
1 hand-made card (from one kid to another)
1 TzSh2000 note ($2).
There are no words to describe the reaction when they opened their stockings. Basically there was silence for a moment and then someone started yelling and then the yells just spread like a tidal wave across the classroom as everyone picked up something from their stocking and started waving it in the air. At first I thought it was just the money that had them so excited (Mandi’s last-minute genius call, although I originally had my doubts about it, but we were really worried the kids would be disappointed with what we had) but Zaituni squealed as she found her ruler; Kagori threw her head back with laughter as she held her card; Shela and Sophia brandished their socks in the air, Elisha kissed his stick of gum. Everywhere I looked there were kids looking up at me and saying “asante, Sister Liza! Asante! Asante!” and grabbing my hands as I walked through them. I burst into tears, because I was ashamed that I’d though they were going to be ungrateful, and also because I felt so overwhelmed that a group of children could get so beside themselves over two bucks and a pencil. And I mean, beside themselves. I have never seen them like that. Sure, they can get excited, but this was another plane altogether. At HAPO they have to share resources; there are always arguments and fist fights over sharpeners and erasers and at home no one has a toothbrush (they keep a supply for use at HAPO). And the money… I asked Kagori “pesa untanunua wapi?” (where will you spend the money?) and she told me she was going to the salon with it (like all kids here, her head is shaved, so for that reason her answer was extra cute and hilarious).
The new girls, having done some moping about being away from home for Christmas (although they are now getting more than enough comfort from the pilots… they haven’t been home since Friday) said it was the best Christmas they have ever had. It gave some legs to that nebulous concept of “I just feel so guilty spending all that money at Christmas, there are so many starving people in the world and we are just so materialistic” that you always hear being bantered around (but generally ignored) during Christmastime at home. It was such an extraordinary moment. I have a list of Top Five Tabora Moments and giving the children their stockings immediately leapt onto the list and is jostling for at least second or third place. I hope the pictures do it some justice, but I can’t imagine they will.
But, oh, yesterday.
This is what ended up going in each stocking:
1 toothbrush with a clip-on lid in the shape of a lion
1 pair of plain white socks
1 pair of earrings (girls)/1 punching balloon (boys)
1 ruler
1 sharpener
1 eraser
1 lead pencil
3 stickers
4 hard lollies
1 stick of Wrigley’s gum
1 hand-made card (from one kid to another)
1 TzSh2000 note ($2).
There are no words to describe the reaction when they opened their stockings. Basically there was silence for a moment and then someone started yelling and then the yells just spread like a tidal wave across the classroom as everyone picked up something from their stocking and started waving it in the air. At first I thought it was just the money that had them so excited (Mandi’s last-minute genius call, although I originally had my doubts about it, but we were really worried the kids would be disappointed with what we had) but Zaituni squealed as she found her ruler; Kagori threw her head back with laughter as she held her card; Shela and Sophia brandished their socks in the air, Elisha kissed his stick of gum. Everywhere I looked there were kids looking up at me and saying “asante, Sister Liza! Asante! Asante!” and grabbing my hands as I walked through them. I burst into tears, because I was ashamed that I’d though they were going to be ungrateful, and also because I felt so overwhelmed that a group of children could get so beside themselves over two bucks and a pencil. And I mean, beside themselves. I have never seen them like that. Sure, they can get excited, but this was another plane altogether. At HAPO they have to share resources; there are always arguments and fist fights over sharpeners and erasers and at home no one has a toothbrush (they keep a supply for use at HAPO). And the money… I asked Kagori “pesa untanunua wapi?” (where will you spend the money?) and she told me she was going to the salon with it (like all kids here, her head is shaved, so for that reason her answer was extra cute and hilarious).
The new girls, having done some moping about being away from home for Christmas (although they are now getting more than enough comfort from the pilots… they haven’t been home since Friday) said it was the best Christmas they have ever had. It gave some legs to that nebulous concept of “I just feel so guilty spending all that money at Christmas, there are so many starving people in the world and we are just so materialistic” that you always hear being bantered around (but generally ignored) during Christmastime at home. It was such an extraordinary moment. I have a list of Top Five Tabora Moments and giving the children their stockings immediately leapt onto the list and is jostling for at least second or third place. I hope the pictures do it some justice, but I can’t imagine they will.
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