The children of Itambira

A very small community of people live on Itambira. There are about five families, including three brothers, their wives and children and their mother as well as another family related to Joy who is the oldest person, but a formidable figure who works in the fields all day and sews matting which she sells in the evening.

Altogether there are about 14 children who range in age from about 12 down to a new baby of about 6 weeks. Not all the children live here permanently or with their parents. Some are here with grandparents as their parents are away working.

The local people on the island have three tourist resorts here, Seeds of Hope which is the one I am visiting and two others at the other end of the island, one very well established and the other relatively new. Each in its own way tries to get involved in community work. At Byoona Amagara the owner works with children and, in particular is trying to teach them to swim. Most people around Lake Bunyonyi can’t swim which seems ridiculous when they live by the lake. But Sally at IISOH does far more wide reaching and significant work than the other two. As previously mentioned IISOH is helping local people construct water tanks, training local women in a wide variety of life skills and really helping them to achieve a better quality of life.

The families on the island hold a special place in Sally’s heart and she really does try to help them out where she can, bringing children’s clothes over from the UK , sorting out chances for them for school and sponsoring individuals if necessary. The children all love her and on many evenings Sally visits them or brings them over to her house next door to do an activity. When they know she is around they start to shriek. ‘ Sally, Sally’ – very loudly so that all of them can gather and enjoy whatever Sally might have to offer. They love balloons, bubbles and lollies as you might expect and they also are happy to sing their songs accompanied by one of them drumming. Yesterday we managed to do a colouring activity with pens and crayons I had brought with me and some simple white card boy and girl figures to colour in. Sally even had winky eyes to stick on, courtesy of Ikea.

Doing the activity reminded me very strongly of running a playgroup with local children out in Papua New Guinea forty years ago. I did it twice a week in my garden in Wabag, made lots of play dough and used all Angus’s toys for the children. I had see- saws made out of planks and slides made out of doors – great fun no inkling of health and safety there! Children have not really changed!

These children have to be very resilient. From an early age they must look after each other so little Edinah who is probably about 6 but only the size of a four year old is already looking after Jordan, her younger brother, helping him down the steeply sloping steps by Sally’s house and then carrying him back up, clutching her figures as well, when it is nearly dark.

Saturday is the day the children have to help by washing clothes: they also fetch water from the lake and collect firewood. Every Sunday they dress in their best clean clothes to go to church but during the week after school they wear old clothes and no shoes. The island is their playground and they know every inch of it and make the most of it. These children have no toys at all and their families have very few possessions. One of the parents may have a mobile phone – these are now the most sought after and prized possession for many families and they do make a difference. For instance, Diana can communicate with local people about the training courses that way.

I have so enjoyed spending time with these children, with Simon who is about 8 and quite naughty but very-enthusiastic, with the older girls like Charlotte, Ruth and Anna who are hugely responsible, and with the toddlers, Jordan and Kevin who were shy at first and then became ever more confident and with Isiah who has the cheekiest smile.

It has been a humbling experience.