Uniform excitement!

Today there was great excitement when Olives had a visit from the charitable organization that funds the uniforms for all of the children. What was assumed to be a relatively simple task of sizing up those who need a new uniform this year soon became utter comedy as three of us tried to establish who was who amongst the brand new little ones! Equipped with a very long list of Swahili names we stared at the gaggle of confused little faces that sat amidst a sea of multi-color as the 40 new-comers to Olives Rehabilitation Centre Kindergarten 1 class were ushered outside to sit in the dusty playground to be measured for their first ever school uniform. These are the smallest and newest members of the huge and growing Olives family and as of yet they are not altogether certain of school protocol. While occasional renegade children make a run for ‘mama’ and older siblings lead them back to the classroom, others proudly cling to their first ever school bag… these children have so much more than just ABCs to learn!

Adorable confusion!

When Steven, the Director, led the rabble of 3ft tall infants outside they moved more like sheep being shepherded than children in an orderly line! Once outside it soon became clear by calling roll very few either knew to respond, recognize their own ‘whole’ name or were confident enough to acknowledge the adults that stood before them. This task was going to prove more challenging than the three adults gathered for this fitting had previously envisioned! Great hilarity ensued as only seven children knew their own names and one little boy seemed to be the proud owner of no less than three entirely different names. We tried to establish some kind of system to identify individuals; eventually we sent them back to class to get their school books as it seemed logical that these documents may be ‘named’!

Proudly carrying his new schoolbag everywhere!

These children are just some of the huge new intake that Olives has undertaken at the start of this new school year and are truly adorable. Most of these children have no English understanding and only a basic knowledge of Kiswahili, as such trying to establish basic rules, the alphabet and their names presents a huge challenge but one that, as with everything, the Olives staff will embrace with never-ending love and patience.

"Where's my seat?"

- Sophie, Community Intern

Uniform excitement!