A Day in the Life of Tumaini!

Bedtime!

Going to Tumaini neither Lisa or I knew what to expect. Would the kids appear unwell? Would the orphanage have running water and electricity? We hadn’t asked too many questions before arriving. On arrival we were met at the door to this new pleasant looking building by Salma, a happy 2 year old baby who wanted nothing more than to be picked up immediately by anyone close and then she clung to me like a little monkey. Closely following behind were Ester and Elizabeth, two of the mothers who live there carrying baby Lillian, a chubby smiley baby and Michelle, the cutest 8 month old! These mothers work at Tumaini for shifts that last 5 full days caring for the 32 babies and children that live here.

Motherly love.

We were led into the dining room where the rest of the gang who were finishing dinner. Beatrice cooked up a big meal for everyone which we helped dish out and fed some of the younger kids where needed. All the time there’s a constant buzz of chatter from kids, their toys and them jumping up from their seats. As soon as dinner was finished they immediately tidy up themselves and it’s playtime or homework for the older kids. With everyone playing together. Coming from Ireland where big families are common and even in my own family – one sister, I was surprised at how well the kids got on – no fighting, no pulling of hair or killing each other. The opposite even, the kids love, LOVE, the babies and just wanted to pick them up and play with them or do their homework.

Happy Healthy Baby!

Bedtime – bigger kids all went to bed no problem and after following around a few kids to hush them into bed, everyone was asleep and it seemed like a few minutes later that we were up at 5am to haul them out of bed, dress them in their school uniforms and give them breakfast before school. Happy kids in a happy home.

Ready for bed!

Siobhan Browne

A Day in the Life of Tumaini!