Update on the Paolo Zanichelli children’s home

This year, too, many people have contributed to ensuring the sustainability and development of our children’s home. You have supported us with gestures, big and small: 70 persons support a child; many of you participate in the fundraising dinner at the Bussola 2 di Cuveglio, which is always wonderful and indispensible; twice a year, two persons organise a small fundraising dinner at the Cristallo di Cittiglio hotel. On the 50th anniversary celebration of the European School, funds were collected for our association. A group of women in Rimini, as well as one in Switzerland, made dozens of colourful hats, beautiful sweaters and blankets; other women took courage and sewed dresses and pants. A shoeshop in Caravate demonstrated immense generosity by donating 100 pairs of children’s shoes. Other stores also donated clothes, fabric, buttons, pedagogical materials and items for the fundraising raffle. A company offered paper and cardboard for the school. Other generous souls donated sewing machines, blankets, sheets, etc. Many people collect second-hand clothes and shoes, others took on the important responsibility of sorting throught the clothes and packaging them, while yet others helped in preparing the container. A travel agency purchased 50 handbags, and a bank 50 beauty cases, all sewed by our women in the “Basadi Bothagka” project. I don’t wish to forget the people who help in the adminstration and managment: our accountant, the gentleman who updates the website, as well as the many others who provide us with sound advice and who help us in myriad other ways. An infinite thank you to all of you, The children

Some Swiss visitors wrote the following in a letter:

Surprising the joyful atmosphere among the children in the clases and during recess. Surprising the organisation and the proper functioning of the centre. Surprising the cleanliness and order in the homes and the garden. Surprising that now all the children use the bathroom rather than – as they did just a short while ago – any little spot in the yard. Surprising how, before meals, the children automatically wash their hands in an enormous basin of water under a large tree from which dangle pieces of soap. Surprising and impressive the children’s capacity to stay calmly seated in class for a long time, following the lessons with interest, even though, in our opinion, these are often repetitive and monotonous. Surprising the healthy appearance of the children; Felicia, the nurse, daily does rounds to all the classes to check that they are all healthy and clean. The “piglets” end up, three at at time, in the bathtub. The children who are somewhat ill are taken to the “clinic” where Cecilia examines them and decides what should be done. Those that are very ill are taken directly to the doctor or to the hospital in Ghanzi (30km away). Felicia undertakes her work with pride and great seriousness. Skin fungi, wounds, insect bites are all treated immediately and regularly. Ringworm has greatly diminished. Surprising the varied meals and the excellent appetite of the little guests. We think that the children’s home is of Swiss quality. Richard and Benny Gschwind

The teachers

“We are good together,” the teachers say, “always better, our disputes decrease gradually and this leaves space for understanding and respect.” Our teachers come from three different ethnic groups: Tswana, Bushman and Herero. The Bushmen are a minority, and are often discriminated against by the others. It is not an easy cohabitation (convivenza), but I must say that they have made great strides in their work, as in their behaviour. Unfortunately, however, they are not yet one hundred percent dependable: they are like children, who need constant supervision and control. For example, food distribution remains one of the main sources of disagreement among us. As a rule, they should first feed all the children, and only then prepare their own plates. However, in hiding, they do the opposite. They prepare their own plates first – with exaggerated portions – and then they think of the children. In addition, in every corner and in each kitchen cupboard, they hide food that they eat in between meals, worse than hamsters. They suffered from hunger as children, which explains their greedy behaviour. Maryna, the adminstrator, has to ration the sugar. They put five spoons of sugar in every cup of tea – this is too much, two are sufficient!! Almost all of our women are overweight and suffer from high blood pressure!

Phono

He is young and very handsome. Phono is part of the gardening team. He cleans the courtyard, removes weeds, takes away the garbage, opens and closes the gates and runs here and there. Phono is deaf. He lost his hearing as a consequence of numerous ear infections as a child. Deafness is a very prevalent condition in the Kalahari. Terrible hygienic conditions, the extreme cold and the lack of warm clothes are the main causes of this condition. Wool hats, made by Italian and Swiss women, are of fundamental importance to protecting the ears of our children from the cold. In fact, in the last few years, we have had fewer cases of ear infections. Phono had a hearing device provided by the state. He removed it in the evening and put it on again during the day. One morning, Phono was desperate as his machine had disappeared from his home. We looked for hours and finally found it in a mouse burrow, slightly chewed, and naturally it no longer worked. The state did not provide a replacement device, and so Phono was completely isolated from the world. With the help of many good people we were able to provide Phono with a new device that at night is placed in a canister in which my mother, when I was child, used to put Christmas cookies.

The Bushman Festival

Every year, in August, there is a Bushman Festival in Botswana. Bushmen from all parts of Botswana, and even from Namibia, come to present their traditional clothes and dances. All ages groups, from the youngest to the elderly, are admitted. Singing and dancing is part of our educational program. Our children start the day with songs and dance. Teachers and children are enthusiastic dancers. It has now become a tradition for our dancing group to perform at official ceremonies (occasions). This year, they also participated in the traditional dancing competition and they won first prize!!! The pride and joy of the children and the teachers were indescribable. The prize – a lollypop for each one! Even we, Maryna and I, are proud: the poorest and most marginalised children of Botswana were in the limelight, the entire country could see them on television, they were celebrated on that day.

Basadi Bothagka Project

I was invited by three women involved in our women’s project to see the new homes they have been able to build with their earnings. These are actually real, though small, houses (3×4 m2) made of bricks with metal sheet roofs. Bau, the eldest, has installed electricity: one light bulb. They are taciturn women, marked by a hard life, who do not show their emotions, but whose eyes shone with pride and satisfaction. In addition to the new house, they can better feed their children. All the women of our project have many children and no husband; the husbands and fathers are absent. The women learned to sew beautiful pieces to sell, but also clothes for themselves and their children. The next step is to make them independent. A part of their earnings is put aside for the acquisition of their own sewing machine. We have put in a request in D’kar (the village where the women are from) to obtain a small piece of land. With the help of a potential sponsor, we would like to build a store where these women will be able to work autonomously. Will it be successful? I don’t know, but we have to give them the chance to try. Selling our products remains the main challenge. Up to now, we sell to individuals in Italy and Switzerland, and a store in Luino kindly takes goods on consignment. We are trying to also sell in Botswana. Perhaps one among you might be able to help us find other opportunities (avenues) for sale.

Taking stock 2010

Shortly, this report will be available on our website: www.mosaicoeuroafricano.org Donations from Italy have remained largely the same, those from Switzerland have increased and those in the United States have decreased: the crisis is making itself felt! The costs in Botswana are increases monthly due to the rising price of fuel. Botswana imports almost all of its fuel from South Africa, and the exchange rate between the Euro and the Pulo is unfavourable.

Please, don’t forget us!

Volunteering

We are urgently looking for volunteers willing to do office work. The work is not excessive and could be divided between 2-3 persons. I will make available an office in my home in Cocquio.

Greetings for 2012

I hope, with the help of our sponsors and supporters in Italy, Switzerland and the United States to be able to continue our projects in the Kalahari. The improved quality of life of many children and adults depends on your generosity. A profound thank you for your loyalty and support.

With affection, Cecilia