In the evening, the Amani center holds a celebration for Alice. She has been at the center for 7 months and is going back to England on Tuesday. She has made a great contribution as she is a trained physiotherapist and has been very active with the mobile clinics, going to villages, as well as being very generous. She has also helped a lot with fundraising and getting equipment to the local disabled youth like wheelchairs and tricycles. So this evening is in her honor. The whole 7 months she lived at the center so all the secondary school girls who live/ work there in exchange for education, as well as the disabled children, have grown very attached to her.
Tonight there is a lot of singing and crying. The songs have been customized for Alice. One of them says ” this is the time to say goodbye”. I have only been here for a few days but I feel very moved.
One of the most exciting things about the evening is we get to see the girls perform traditional dances. The music and their rhythm is just amazing. The Amani center has also brought in a comedy/dance group to entertain and make everyone laugh.
Then we have one huge delicious dinner made of the local ingredients: beans, meat cooked in a ragout, rice, potatoes, cooked bananas. Our stomachs are in heaven and also quite full….
After the official ceremony, we all break out in dance and get to have beer which I have missed!! The girls gather drums and dance around. I learn a few steps which I am sure I will forget but hope to use again while I am here.
It’s truly been an amazing evening and I took some videos for posterity.
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