This month Susi gives us a rundown on recent events in Gouria:

Well, Christmas is over and it’s a New Year … I went travelling over the holidays so I’m afraid I can’t tell you what Christmas in the village was like. Before the holidays the children were getting excited and lots went to church for singing, dancing etc. The first day back at school all the children who’d had new clothes for Christmas were wearing them and looked very smart. As the director said ­ at least Christmas means that some of the children in the village get new clothes.

Before the holidays there was great excitement as Judith and one of our sponsors, David Wilkins came to visit. The children were literally dancing on my veranda when they heard Judith had arrived. It was great for me to finally meet her. I’d heard so much about her. Nobody believed me when I said that we’d never met.

It was amazing of David to travel so far to see the school ­ and believe me, travelling within Africa isn’t easy (buses with no timetables, overcrowding, heat…). It really brought it home to me how the school runs on the dedication of so many people across the world. At school in England we talked about the ‘Global community’. I think this is really what it means. Also,the dedication of people who have never seen the school, never seen Gouria, never seen Africa, but they’ve got large enough hearts to accommodate the children of Malima and genuinely care for them. Such very special people!

Its started to get cold here in the mornings. People have been saying that it has been cold for more than a month when it feels like an English summer! Its strange that as it feels like autumn the problems with water are becoming more apparent. One well in the village only has water first thing in the morning and the other is only open for a few hours a day to stop it drying up completely. You see people washing and drinking in the same place that animals drink from (and walk through). I don’t ask where my water comes from!

I’ve got two little boys who follow me everywhere (I’ve named them my shadows). It’s really hard not to spoil them and treat them differently. One is an orphan ­ his parents died when he was a baby. The other’s father died and his mother then left the village leaving him behind. He now lives with his older half brother. They would do anything for me. I bought them toothbrushes and I regularly wash their faces. Then I feel bad that they are so happy when I give them attention like that.

Well that’s it from Malima this month, we are all waiting with baited breathe for the electricity ­ I don’t think people can really believe it yet! The pre-school and adult literacy classes in the village have started this term so more on those next month!

Susy.