I truly believe that Parenting 101 was created in the bush!  Really!  Raising more than 10 kids at once with absolutely NO technological help,  extremely limited medical care, no books, no food security for the day, no creches and no councilor to assist you in parenting tips is not for the fainthearted.  Did I mention that mothers here have their babies in the bush …. with no medical procedure or help most of the time.  I take my hat of to these ladies.  They are better than Superwomen.  I mean Superwoman had the privileged of putting on some  make-up and dress up for the occasion .  Here in the bush it is survival.

Take for example Senhora Chimboma in the photo below.  She is in the middle watching the camera.  She raised 4 kids alone after her husband died.  That means she has to make sure there is not just food on the table everyday but also be involved in the lives of her children … daily.  She is not a young lady anymore.  She complains of asthma and joint pains daily.  There is no help in the bush where she stays.  BUT the miracle is that her 4 kids in our schools are top students.  The youngest, currently in grade 4, has been our top student for the last 2 years.  How does she do it?  She is a serious lady and when I ask the question she responds with no smile:  “It must be GOD only!”  And that’s it.  Quick answer but a very serious one.  I salute women like senhora Chimboma.  And yes … let me say it out LOUD:  These must be the women God will honor one day.  And on my parenting scale:  YOU GET A 10 out of 10 Mrs Chimboma.
Mrs Chimboma is the lady in the middle … checking out the camera!  Phenomenal lady!
AND SO ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR STARTS
It’s that time of the year again.  The beginning and the end of a school year must be the most exiting for me.  I know the real work happens in between but it’s during these times that I get to taste the fruit of all the labor that has been put into a school year.  New faces and the anticipation of the kid’s faces is priceless.  For the 2013 school year we yet again nearly registered 300 children and added another 56 to our external school program.
CLASS OF 2013.  Wondering what lies ahead as this little girl starts her school career in the bush!
After a 2 months holiday it was amazingly easy getting everyone in line again!  And then to get them to sing the 5 verse Mozambican National Anthem …. well a bit more difficult.
Due to the threat of torrential rains …. everyone was jam packed in one of our school classrooms.  I was glad that personal space is NEVER an issue in Africa.
The government pedagogue, senhor Antonia Ebrahim was the guest speaker and he had a lot to say on the day to parents and students. 
OUR TEAM – 2013

The team that will work with me on the educational front for 2013 will be from left to right:  Tito Mabuleza (Grade 3 and Sport), Sinambale Paradzai (Grade 2 and literacy), Joao Feniassi (Grade 5 and Arts/Culture); Rutendo Luis (Pre-School and Grade 1 & Literacy);  Joao Benjamim (the best dressed and co-ordinator of our mentoring program) and Paulo Inacio (Grade 4 and Sport).