By Sue Adams
Here we sit at the end of a busy day, the power has now come on for the 4th time (it being off all day apparently) waiting for our chicken, chips and pizza. We were divided into two teams today – one at Airport and the other at Swaya.
The interviews at Swaya were held at the school for the first time today. Lines of children were walking to the school carrying bricks on their heads – there is a water tower being built at the school and they were carrying the bricks from where they were made. Some had cushioned the weight on their heads with leaves to make it more comfortable. The school has no water supply except the rain collected from some of the roof and Grassroots is currently trying to remedy this.
The team at Airport were busy and 12 couples were interviewing all day – a total of approximately 270 children. At one point they thought they had finished and then Andy opened the door and filled the building again!
We find it humbling to interview people with so little but who are accepting of this and remain cheerful. Mothers and fathers have died over the last year, sometimes the children’s only carer, and interviewing is very difficult and emotional and you just want to give them a hug and tell them that you care. It makes no difference if you have interviewed before or this is your first time, their stories never fail to touch you.
The forms have all been put in order and Kenneth, Sharon, Richard and Andy are presently having a meeting this evening. Today we have interviewed 20% of the children on the scheme – we await our instructions for tomorrow.