When this newsletter arrives in your inbox, we will be on the way to Dar es Salaam airport to fly back home. We have spent nearly four weeks with our Malaika kids in both Mkuranga and Dar es Salaam and we have generally been impressed by the dedication of all the staff and the great improvement in our children’s academic and social skills. However, there have been a few sad and worrying moments. Mama Martha broke her ankle playing netball as part of our otherwise fantastically organised sports day and sadly she will be in plaster for the next six weeks. Two of our children ran away briefly but returned of their own volition and are now actively helping others in the Village. And not all of our older children are doing well at their studies. We may need to switch two of them to less academic courses in the New Year. On the positive side… The sports day, held on Tanzania’s Independence Day (9th December), was a full-day event with participation from everyone, including all of us.
We were so pleased to find that the music was supplied by one of our former Malaika Kids, who now works as an electrician and part-time DJ.
That evening we presented the Chris and Violet awards in memory of Chris Tomlinson and Mama Violet. Three boys and three girls, nominated by the mamas, are now proud owners of a medal and a watch each. And because the awards focussed on ‘improvement’ we were able to reward those who are not always acknowledged as worthy of prizes.
We also participated in a graduation ceremony for four children who are leaving our nursery class to go to primary school next year. Possibly a graduation ceremony with the youngest participants I have ever seen!
We felt it was most important while we were in Tanzania to get to know our Malaika Kids better. We interviewed every single one of them at the Village and at the Reception Home – 99 in total, plus 20 of the children who we help with our Relatives Support Programme. We also talked to every single mama for at least an hour each. They are so very knowledgeable about the children they look after and very shrewd judges of their abilities. A cake for them was a small thank you, at which they broke out spontaneously into a song that can roughly be translated as an Ode to the Cake!
Ode to the cake
On our last evening, we were treated to a song and dance display which must have taken hours of rehearsal and which put our puny efforts at singing ‘Ten Green Bottles’ and ‘Old MacDonald had a Farm’ to shame. We hope to be back again soon and in the meantime trustees from Malaika Kids Netherlands will visit in February.
Singing and drumming
The Christmas appeal is going well, and it has reached 88% of our target. Thank you to all who have generously donated. We still have 8 days left to match and double any donation we receive. <<First Name>>, if you haven’t given, please consider contributing today – no amount is too small. Thank you.
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We, and all the Malaika Kids and staff, wish you a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. With very best wishes and thanks. Alan Edwards
Alan signature
Alan Edwards Malaika Kids UK Chair
P.S. If you are doing any festive shopping at Amazon, please use Amazon Smile where you can donate to your favourite charity, at no cost to you.

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