Togo: Hedome - Children Take Centre Stage!

Today’s distribution was hot and dusty but the team had such great interaction with children of all ages that we shared many stories around the dinner table.

First of course were the bedkit recipients who waited so patiently for their turn at the photo shoot. The young AED volunteers helped them change into colourful t-shirts, shorts or skirts and then sort them according to colour so that the photos would show variety. Songs, bubble chasing and laughter helped to keep them entertained. Most of the children would smile for us while waiting but became really serious at photo time.

Members of the community, teachers, parents and others not receiving a bedkit were looking on from the sidelines. Having their photo taken by one of us almost always brought wide smiles and laughter as we showed the photo to them. Oh the fun of digital cameras! Have they ever seen a photo of themself? We’ll likely never know.

There were many very small children and some babies in the crowd. For them the presence of “white skins” was actually scary. Attempts to photograph them often brought screams of terror. Our best intentions were appreciated by the parents but certainly not by those babies. Oh well, might try again tomorrow.

Sally Jo Martin for Team Togo 2016

Post your comments here: