Chrissie arrived just after 1.30 and apologised for being late. She’s been running this project since the 1980’s. She’s a slim curly haired woman who struck me as both friendly and determined. She took us up to the local school, where we met the children for the first time. Pulling into the entrance, we parked in a square next to a nicely cleaned silver jeepney. Some children were playing basketball in their blue and white uniforms in the shadow of a multi-storey wreck of a hospital. The headteacher greeted us and instantly got into a conversation about her age. She’s 74.
As we passed from room to room, class after class got to their feet and rhythmically greeted us, “Good afternoon visitors (pron: veesetooors). Have a nice day, God bless you.” There were about 12 children to each class and while the building felt basic, it was neatly kept with maps and displays on every wall. A religious motto looked down us from behind every teacher. There was no question that God was at the centre of the school’s ethos.It turned out the children probably wouldn’t have been in at all today if it wasn’t for us. Graduation day is tomorrow before a two-month summer holiday. If we hadn’t been coming to visit Chrissie explained that they probably wouldn’t have bothered with lessons. As it was, the lessons had a distinctly end-or-term feel. Many classes were preparing colourful wreaths or costumes for the event. By the time we got back to the headteacher’s office, several classes were practicing dance routines in the square. The CD they were dancing to kept jamming, so the kids kept having to stop, then try to catch up as the music suddenly restarted.
Later in the afternoon we met many of the children again at the building where we were staying. It turns out that our rooms are usually used to house the girls. We’re on the ground floor and for the time being, they’ve all been asked to share the rooms upstairs. As soon as they’d returned from school they were out of their uniforms and peering round the doorways to say hello. One gave me some small purple flowers.
We stepped back outside to do a proper tour of the various buildings that make up the project. The boy’s house seemed most chaotic and although I’d been told there was a field for the children to play in, all I could find was a tiny 3-on-3 sized playing area, which doubled up as a basketball court and a football pitch. The 5-aside goals looked a little beaten up but by the look of the pile of scuffed up shoes in the entrance, they’re well used. Upstairs a boy of around 8 was playing dominoes with some building bricks. At first the others were so excited around us that they kept knocking the stack over before he’d finished. He’d glare at them before wrestling back the pieces of wood and starting again. Eventually they left him alone.
This evening we discussed the work we’ll be doing during the project. I’ve been asked to look after the sport and my mum is looking after the crafts. We’re going shopping tomorrow and I’ve realised I need to buy a hat. I’ve packed far too many clothes but as always I’ve forgotten something important.
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