Never a Dull Moment at Nyumba Yanga!

Well another week has passed in Zambia at Nyumba Yanga. There is never a dull moment here! This past week I have worked very hard at getting all the girls to write letters to their sponsors. I had those who are not yet sponsored write introductory letters too. I also had the girls hold their letters for a picture and filmed a short video all about them.  Some of the girls sang songs, and others acted and recited poems. They are very talented and I want them to be able to show this to people at home in Canada!

I have also filmed videos of the girls preparing for a mass ceremony on June 12^th. Local musicians have come into the home to help with the music. They sound really good and with practice I’m sure they will be perfect by June. I have filmed three sessions that are roughly two-three hours long.

            

They girls seem to really be enjoying my company. They never leave me alone. They are always banging on my door asking to come in. I let them in and we read together, play games and watch the movies I brought on my laptop for them.

            

The other day the older girls went to a memorial service for Father Eugene (an Irish priest who worked at the Orphanage who passed away suddenly last year). I never met him and did not feel comfortable going, so I decided to stay back with the younger girls and the housemothers. The younger girls were so pleased! We went to the field and played Frisbee, stella ella ola, fire on the mountain, battle ship and relay races. We all seemed to have fun. The most difficult thing about the games was the organization of the girls. I made them hold their ears to show when they were listening and it seemed to really work!

            

On Mother’s Day I attended a beautiful mass in the larger church with the girls. They made cards for their housemothers and Helen  (an Irish volunteer) picked flowers for them. After mass it was brought to my attention that the dog at Nyumba Yanga (named Princess), had gone into labour. I ran to see how she was doing. I comforted the dog and made all the girls be quiet because they were so excited. I had to eventually ask them to leave the room and took care of Princess. After a long 4 hours she had 4 beautiful little puppies. I’m not one for child birth because it’s too messy and graphic... so I made really funny faces and noises. The girls found it quite hilarious! I was exhausted by the time she finished. I had to tell the housemothers and the girls not to touch the puppies because it’s dangerous. I felt like a midwife for a dog. But now Princess is a mother, and her puppies’ birthdays are on mother’s day!

            

The next 4 days I will be travelling to Livingstone and Botswana. I am very excited. I’m not looking forward to the long bus ride, but it’ll be time for a little relaxing before I return back to Nyumba Yanga to finish the rest of my volunteer placement! All is well and I am having a blast. I’ll keep you posted about my adventures at the Orphanage when I get back to Lusaka!

Kaitlyn  

Updates From Kaitlyn, Our Newest HOJ Volunteer (May 2012)

We are thrilled to announce that Kaitlyn Hynd is currently at Nyumba Yanga as a Homes of Joy International Volunteer! She is doing some amazing work on our sponsorship program, checking on how the project is running, and helping the Sisters and House Mothers care for all of the girls! Check out her first blog below! 

 ~The Homes of Joy Board of Directors

Karibu Homes of Joy Supporters!

I have only been at Home of Joy a few days, but I feel very welcome. The girls, mommies and Sisters have been so kind! On the day of my arrival the girls were patiently waiting for me at the airport. When I arrived I was greeted by 6 girls. They were all very happy to see me. They insisted on carrying all of my things. To prevent fights among the girls I took things out of my back pack for each one to carry. They were so helpful. We jumped in the back of a truck and were on our way to the Orphanage!

Upon arrival at Nyumba Yanga, I saw beautiful smiling girls! Each came to me and shook my hand to say hello. I was amazed at how happy they were too see me. Then they took me to the guest house which they had spent the day cleaning for my arrival. They even made me lunch! I sat to eat my lunch with another volunteer named Auntie Helen. She is from Ireland and very kind. We spoke of the girls and what I came to Zambia to do. After lunch I was called to the hall where the girls sang beautiful songs to welcome me. They also sang Lean On Me (one of my favourites)!!

Since my arrival I have helped the girls with all of their holiday homework. I marked their work and helped them on the questions they had difficulty with. I also have spent time playing games with the girls. It’s not all fun and games though. Recently I have begun to sit down with each girl and learn about them. I have typed up little biographies and made videosfor their sponsors. The girls seem to be enjoying my visit because they are always in the guest house visiting me. They are always inviting me to dinner as well. I have eaten at three of the five houses for dinner. They like to feed their visitors a little too much. Some days I have to skip my next meal because I am so full!

Numba Yanga is certainly a home filled with love and joy. All the girls have told me how much they love their home and what they have learned from being here. I am looking forward to the next two weeks so I can learn even more about the girls and their lives!

~Kaitlyn

Photo: Victoria Lungu proudly displaying a letter she just wrote with me to give to her sponsors in Canada!