Photo-A-Week #13: Our Students in Zambia

This year we travelled to Zambia again to visit the school that we have been supporting. It is our fourth time already. Therefore the teachers and students did not consider us as strangers. When a teacher asked the students whether they could remember us, they responded by saying out all the names of those who visited them before. In the eyes of the students, we are a special and caring team of Chinese who came to help them.

My heart was very grateful when I saw how the children could go to class and enjoy themselves during the activities. Indeed, the resources were very limited; there were over 300 students in total from grade 1 to grade 7 sharing the only 3 classrooms they had. Nevertheless, the teachers tried their best to organize various arts and sports activities with what little was available. In this class, the students designed and made their own pair of glasses with just metal wires. Even the teacher was wearing his proudly. Perhaps, not one of them had worn real glasses before. 

Look at the boys in the picture. How do you feel when you see them wearing their brightly-coloured glasses?

今年再去探望在贊比亞我們所支持的社區學校，老師和學生對我們都不陌生，因為已經是第四次了。然而老師問他們是否認得我們，他們的回應卻十分有趣，他們把曾探訪的義工的名字一個個的說出來，卻不是按貌辨人。在他們眼中，我們是幫助他們的中國人。

看他們上課、活動和表演，為他們有學校的生活感恩。他們的資源有限，七個年級、超過300名的學生共用三個課室，但他們仍為學生預備美勞、體育等各種課程。學生們以僅有的物料，製作自己的設計，看見同學們戴著不同款式的「眼鏡」上課，就連一位男老師也戴著「大大的闊邊眼鏡」，好不有趣；反而好像沒有一個戴真的眼鏡。你看他們的造型，覺得怎樣？

- Violin

Photo-A-Week #12: Portrait of a Street Child

It was the Madagascar national holiday. Street vendors were selling a variety of handcrafts and festive snacks in the city square. In particular, the ice-cream stand drew a crowd of children. Among them was a little boy with dirt-stained face and holes in his sweater. Unlike other children queuing up with their parents to buy ice-cream, he could only stand and watch. He was one of thousands of street children in the capital of Madagascar. 

In the end, the only way that the ice-cream seller could drive him away was by giving him a free cone. Though the homeless boy finally got what he wanted, he had traded it with his dignity. Even when he was eating the ice-cream, there was great shame and fear in his eyes.

To me, ice-cream had always been traditionally associated with happiness… but that view was no longer valid when  I saw this photograph. This little boy reminds us all that there are countless children out there who are waiting for our help. We must do more to bring the dignity and childhood back to the children… back to where they ought to belong. 

- Joe

馬島國慶的那天，團隊跟著孤兒院院長去趁熱鬧。沿路上看見很多遊人，有的一家大小，有的三五知己；街的兩旁繽紛多采，有食物，有遊戲，有各種貨品的攤檔，還有街頭表演，正如在各地的嘉年華；只是每個攤檔都比較小型，賣的也不是什麼貴價貨。

其中最多孩子圍著的一個攤檔是雪糕車（不是汽車，是手推車）。他們的雪糕甜筒杯特別的小，雪糕球也很小；我們只是看，哪敢試，恐怕拉肚子，因為對雪糕的冷藏、衛生和處理手法不夠信心；但孩子們卻興高采烈地要買。

然而就在雪糕車不遠，看見兩個穿著襤褸的孩童，他們不是跟著父母、大人，他們在人群中穿插，期待得點吃。每個食物攤檔的人都不想這些孩子走近；但他們也是孩子，他們也想吃雪糕。終於他們手拿一個雪糕，大個一點的孩子慌忙地吃，小的卻有點不好意思，而且眼中有淚。雪糕仍是甜的，但被人斥喝、被人打發離開而得到一點吃，心情卻是酸的。為一杯雪糕，卻賠上人的尊嚴，還留下心中陰影⋯⋯ 

- Violin

Photo-A-Week #11: Like A Big Family

What sets the Light and Love School apart from the rest of the schools in Madagascar? The free lunches that are provided to the students every day. Once the school bell has rung after the morning classes ended, all the students would queue up, wash hands, and then eagerly wait to enter into the dining hall. Then in the shortest time, the students would quickly finish their large plates of rice. Not a single grain of rice was wasted. If you were there in the scene, you would certainly feel their energy and happiness.

After lunch, the students took turns to clean up. Even the lowest grades had to help. The little ones would wash the spoons, the older ones would wash the dishes, while others would mop the floor and wipe the tables. Light and Love School is not a typical school; they are just like a big family.

We care for each student as they are our younger siblings. Not only we provide them education, meals, and clothing, but we also concern about their families and personal developments. Beyond class time, we even try our best to organize different activities and fellowships to bless their spirits and lives.

馬島光愛學校的一大特點，也是對貧苦學生很大的祝福，就是每天的免費午餐。上午課完結的鐘聲響起，學生們迅速地排隊、洗手，然後等候進入飯堂，他們是多麼興奮及期待。只見孩子們在很短的時間內，把一大碟飯吃完，一粒也不會浪費。

如果你在場，你會沾染他們的快樂。

吃過飯，學生們會輪值清潔，最低年級的也要幫忙。看見小小的孩子穿著大大的圍裙，和高年級的同學熟練地分工合作；年紀小的洗匙羹，大的洗碟；有的抹枱、掃地。這實在不是一般學校的常規及安排，光愛學校像是一個大家庭。

我們實在也關愛他們如弟妹，不單給書簿教育、飯餐、衣物；我們也關心他們的家庭、生活；我們還會在課餘時間舉辦活動、團契，盼望最大祝福他們的心靈和人生。

- Violin