Oh, What a Life!

Now that the new Daycare room is up and running and the playground virtually completed, the ABC class, the youngest group of children at Arise School, can really enjoy their introduction to education.

For these 3 and 4 year olds, their school day starts at 8 a.m. in the ABC classroom with activities such as colouring, painting and tracing letters. Then, it is time for a break –  a cup of fresh milk from the school’s own cows together with freshly baked buns cooked in the school kitchen.  Replenished, it is back to play activities, including counting and singing.

Around 10.30 a.m., the children excitedly let off steam and get rid of all their excess energy in their new playground for an hour or so  before settling down to lunch  – perhaps a Tanzanian staple like ugali (a kind of stiff porridge made from maize) or makande (a mixture of beans and maize).  Both are served with vegetables and fresh fruit grown by the school.

After lunch, as everyone knows, it is time to have a nap and where better than in the beautifully painted new Daycare room.  Snuggling down happily together in their shared cots, sleep overcomes them until it is time for ‘drinks and bites’ before going home at 3.15 p.m.  Oh, what a life!