No matter where you are in the world today, no matter your lot in life, you can choose to find goodness in a child. You can choose to celebrate!
Ask me how I know?
As I step off the van, I am greeted by an exploration of my white skin…
…kind touch softens hard hearts…
…today I spent most of the day in the urban slums of Jinja, Uganda.
They call it Danita. It is patched together from the fragments of a generation of war. The settlement was primarily for women decades ago. There are representatives from many tribes from all around the country. They live in mud brick rooms smeared with cow dung on the walls.
Our Niteo Africa partnership with Grassroots Uganda offers children a library to imagine, explore, and grow.
The children are starved for attention. They come in throngs to read books with us, to play, and to connect through games and songs.
A clapping game by Dr. S-J breaks the ice. The team is off and running! The classroom teachers take the lead managing throngs of children with a book and a prayer. #teachersaremyheroes Our makerspace expert, Susan, gathers with the girls rolling beads.
The message of our visit: you are worthy.
“We see goodness in each of you.”
You can see it in their eyes. One little boy has learned to read at the reading corner this year! He learned to read. His name is Anif Ntale and he came to the library not knowing any letters and sounds. One year has past. Anif attended regularly. This past week he struggled to decode the word “frightened.” That’s progress towards selfhood!
Pure goodness. It is the goodness of overcoming, resilience, and joy. It is the goodness of learning a new skill and meeting up with friends.
We can find goodness in every child. We can celebrate!
As the children play in Jinja; my little G plays on the other side of the planet. She plays with her dad, grandma, and grandpa with her bike and a ball.
I told G today that I met a little girl in Jinja with a Snow White dress on. Her name is Irene.
The play all looks the same. The goodness all looks the same.
The good grace of childhood is vitality and open-heartedness!
A shared experience wrapped in gratitude builds togetherness for sisters and brothers.
Children from around the world are sisters and brothers. It is belonging.
Let’s celebrate goodness…
For the sake of the children,
Karine