DAY 9: AGREDS SCHOOL IN ABOGBOSHIE

          We returned to AGREDS the following day but in a different sector of the centre. This time, we spent the day with the school of Abogboshie. A couple of years after AGREDS was established, a lot of girls came back to the centre a few years later seeking help because they had trouble working since they had to take care of their children. Therefore, the staff had an idea of opening a small nursery so that the ex-AGREDS girls could leave their children for the day while they had to work. Very soon, this nursery became popular and many more women wanted to leave their children (even if they had not stayed at AGREDS themselves). Therefore, they increased the number of classes and teachers to create the AGREDS School of Abogboshie, from nursery to grade 4.

          During the day, we were separated in groups of two or three and were assigned a classroom. I spent the day with the youngest of all, around 1 to 3 years old. They were about 40 chilren in the classroom, a good mix between girls and boys. They were all so small, fragile, innocent and cute on their little benches! At first they were very timid but quickly became at ease and laughed, wanted to touch my hair (they were impressed with brown curly hair, something they don’t see often I’m guessing), hold hands, or come on my lap. They were all very affectionate and wanted to stay close. We helped them with learning numbers, repeating them, fitting each number in the right order in a puzzle (1 to 9) etc. Some of them had troubles while others did it in two seconds. With one teacher for 40 children, it can’t be easy to take care of each child individually.

We then served lunch for the children and went on a lunch break with the rest of the staff. When we came back, we did a lot of signing and little games. As we were sitting, I put my hand on the table and then all the children started putting their hand son top of mine. It was very spontaneous and funny. After that, I started picking up on child, and then they all wanted to be picked up. They all ran to me until I had to go down on my knees and I couldn’t stand back up!!! The day went by so fast and eventually it was time for us to leave… We said goodbye to everyone and hoped the best to all and especially a lot of courage and patience for the teachers.