Written by Mollie Edwards
Thankfully, after a week or so, Beth and I really got into the swing of things and the childen began to settle massively. Now we are happy to say that we are absolutely loving everything about our project - both the orphanage and the nursery! Even though we are not the main teachers, Beth and I do occasionally sing songs with the children and we even attempted to teach them bingo. This was slightly chaotic but everyone got there in the end.
We have been trying to improve things around the nursery, starting with pictures of animals and colours to decorate the room and more recently I have created a chart which will give each child a different target for that week depending on their abilities. Of course they will be rewarded with stickers and prizes which will hopefully encourage the naughtier ones to start behaving themselves!
Yet again I have grown very attached to one of the Nursery children. He is called Innocent and he is exactly as his name describes him. In the beginning he was always crying and wanting to go home unless I was with him or holding his hand, but now he has really started to develop. He actually plays with other children and joins in activities which he previously wouldn't have, as well as making it through a day without crying. It sounds silly but when this happens, I really do feel so proud with how far he has come in only a month.
During the past few weeks, I have also had a hurrendous cough which just wasn't wanting to go! So Gani took my to a clinic where I got some blood taken and was diagnosed with a 'virus'. Thankfully it has gone now but I have been left with the most gimormous bruise on my forearm where he took my blood - I've never seem anything like it. But oh well, at least it's giving Beth and I some entertainment, trying to guess which colour it will turn next!
To read more about Mollie's adventures visit her blog page -
http://mollieinmalawi.moonfruit.com/home/4585888357