We brought bags of candy and even though there were hundreds of pieces, it still did not supply the need.  The children were not too disappointed, they are used to disappointment.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washing is a job that takes a strong back.  Doing the laundry for hundreds of children is an ongoing job. You see the plastic pails are all full.  After washing the clothes, they are hung up on a clothes line to dry.  

  

 

 

Water is collected into a large metal tank.  Here is a mother drawing water for her family. When it rains, water is collected into these tanks if tanks are available. 

In another very poor area,  there were no tanks.  We saw a pipe protruding out from the side of a hill.  A stream of water flowed into a very polluted stream; people's trash, mud, and other things were floating in that water supply.  People were collecting the water directly from the pipe, however we saw children dipping their plastic cups and bottles into the pool.

 

 

 

Children, children, children are everywhere.  All the children wear their hair short and the only way to differenciate the girls from the boys was by their wardrobe. The kids love to have their pictures taken.

This picture was taken right outside the classrooms. Note, dirt streets and dirt walkways.  We didn't see concrete floors or sidewalks.  We didn't see any electricity in any of the classrooms; most of the light inside the classrooms came through the doorways and the cracks in the horizontal siding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many kids who are not under the shelter of the orphanage.  The majority of the orphaned children who are on the outside will not have an education, will not have people cooking for them and will be forced to beg for food and sleep where ever they find a spot to lay their heads. 

The kids who are begging on the streets are mostly ignored and told,  "let your mom feed you."  The only trouble is ....  most of the kids on the streets don't have moms or dads.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A young mother, what is she to do with her child?  If she has no job, then there is no money.  If there is no money then there is no food or home.

Too many times these single moms are forced to give up or abandon their children

 

 

 

 

Meal time for the kids.  A corn flour mix with beans is a common meal; hot and filling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the kitchen for the orphanage.  This wonderful woman stokes the fire and adds logs until the fire is hot.  Three rocks surround the fire and hold a large metal cauldron directly over the fire.  The water in the cauldron is brought to a boil; she stirs corn flour into the boiling water until it gets to the consistency of mashed potatoes.  This mash is then served to the children with beans on the top.  This is a very common meal.

I asked if it tasted good, the answer was,

"it's hot and fills their stomachs."