The handing out of the presents continued as soon as we got back to the pension in Calheta and if at times I felt we wouldn't be able to have them all distributed, yet other times I seemed a lot more concerned with what I would say to those children, whose "godparents" hadn't sent them anything and for whom I hadn't managed to get money enough to pay for the school needs despite the financial contributions I had received from a small group of friends.
Filomena (left) and Ineida (right) with the presents bought with Mr. Breitenstein's money.
Katiza (left) and Ana Galina (right) with the presents bought with Mr. Breitenstein's money. Ana Galina was equally handed out an envelelope with money for her school needs gently provided by Dulce.
Ana Filomena with the presents sent to her by her "godmother".
Eveline holding the envelope with the money sent to her by Dora (left) and the clothes, earrings and bracelet bought with the money provided by Mr. Breitenstein (right).
Evilize holding the presents (left) and with her mother (right) who came to collect the envelope with the money for the school needs, all of which were sent by the "godmother" Beta.
Cynthia holding the present, letter and envelope with money for the school needs of her niece Rívia (she has since then moved onto another village) sent to her by her "godmother" Olívia.
Jéssica Ramos holding the presents (right) bought with Mr. Breitenstein's money and the envelope containing money to pay for the school needs (left) sent to her by Beta.
Viviane holding the presents and the envelope with the money for her school needs sent to her by her "godmother" Vanda.
Andreia (left) and Jennifer (right) with the presents I bought for them with Mr. Breitenstein's money.
Eveline Natalina holding the envelope containing the money for her school needs gently provided by Inês (left) and the presents I bought for her with Mr. Breitenstein's money (right).
Hélida holding the presents and money for the school needs sent to her by her "godmother".
Sónia (left) holding the T-shirsts sent to her by her "godmother" Telma and Claudina (right) holding the bag with presents and the envelope with money for the school needs sent to her by her "godmother" Ana Mafalda.
Different children and adolescents react in a wide variety of ways when they realise the supposed "godmothers" haven't sent them anything, or even a word, which some of them told me was what had affected them the most, as they had taken it as not acknowledging they existed. One of them cried later and another one of them who looked as if she had a smile on her face, was disturbed by the circunstance as she would later "tell" me on a piece of paper she handed me out before I left.
Carla
Cynthia (left) and Lilane Rosy (right).
Simone (left) and Neuza (right).
I wish some of the "godmothers" who have failed me and above all failed the children they once assumed they would help, had been able to look them in the eye the way they looked into my objective. Some of these children showed rather noble feelings by having written back to those who "ignored" them wishing them a nice Christmas and a happy New Year.
(To be continued)
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