Achada de Santo Antonio, ICAA (Emergency Centre) - Day 3 (morning) - The 11th of February 2013

Despite feeling extremely tired and in need of a rest we were driven to Achada de Santo Antonio fairly early in the morning, as I had an appointment at the Children's Emergency Centre where I regularly go to whenever I am in the capital city to hand out second-hand and new clothes, as well as school material and toys for the children, who are temporarily lodged there, though this time we were basically carrying clothes.

Outside the Hotel waiting for the bus from the Emergency Centre to collect us.

 

We were kindly received and shown around by one of the social assistants working at the centre, Jaqueline, who for obvious reasons only allowed us to photograph the premises and one of the children with physical and mental impairment sideways (so that his face would not be identified).

 

 

With Jaqueline

Having been lodged in a house which does not have the required conditions the staff working at this Centre has been doing a marvellous job, even taking into account the Government financial support they get, which is never enough to provide for the incoming number of children in need.

I was happy to see that some of the decorative and creative material I had brought last time had been thoroughly used by the children.

We would unexpectedly come across some of those children the following morning as we were wandering around Achada just before walking down towards the beaches and were extremely satisfied to see that not only had they recognised us but were happy to see us in their Carnival outfits.

I vowed to keep on helping this Institution and have promised the children anf the head of the Institution I'll be spending one whole afternoon with them doing artistic works during one of my forthcoming trips.

They really need all the support we may be able to provide them  with ... these children, more than any others do need our help ... life has already been too hard on them.

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - the handing out of the last presents - Day 2 (afternoon) - The 10th of February 2013

As we reached the Pension in Calheta de São Miguel there were already quite a few children waiting for us so as to collect their presents and give us the letters and small gifts to take to the "godparents" back in Portugal and France.

Nelsinha with her mother, as they got the presents sent by Susana.

Nelsinha showing her new doll (left) and some new clothes (right).

Nelsinha wearing her new hooded cardigan (left) and holding her new skipping rope (right).

Elias wearing the new outfit his "godmother" Gabriela sent him (left) and his sister little Leidina who came along together with their mother to thank me for the presents I had bought for her (right).

Ivete showing the presents her "godmother" sent her to which  I added a T-shirt offered by Celeste.

Hélida with the wrapped (left) and unwrapped up presents (right) her "godmother" sent her.

Hélida holding her new dress.

Marlene holding the presents sent to her nephew Jefferson by Carla (left) and showing them (right).

Eviline holding the bag of presents sent to her by Beta (left) and showing them (right).

Rosana holding the presents sent to her by Carla Brigida.

Daniela holding the presents bought by me on behalf of her "godmother" Lourdes Baptista (left). Cynthia holding the presents sent to her by Conceição (right).

 

Letters and presents brought by most of the children for the "godparents" and those who sent them something.

Before we left Calheta some of the girls decided to put on a dancing show for us ... and I must confess we were all mesmerised ...

Jussara, Marline, Rosana Tarine and Leinira (from left to right). Leinira, Delmizia and Rosana (from left to right).

Some last photos were taken, this time with two people who made our stay a rather special one at Pension Mira Maio - Marlene (the cook) and Meno (the porter)..

Just prior to catching the car to take us back to the capital city a few children showed up willing to have "godparents".

Elisiane (left) and Naiade (right).

Osvaldino (left) and Mariama (right).

Areite (left) and Viviane (right).

Flavio

Whenever I have to leave Calheta I always wonder if we are doing enough taking into account some of our limitations and above all the distance ... but something that Patrick Rinpotché said always surfaces ... " Ne prenez pas à la légère les plus petits actes de bien. Les gouttes d'eau en s'ajoutant remplissent une imense jarre" ...

Only four presents were not collected (the ones for Justina, Pedrilson and the siblings Eunice and Elcy) but I trust the person I handed them out to will make sure those children get them, even if there will not be any photos to testify it.

Tarrafal, the bay - Day 2 (morning) - The 10th of February 2013

(...)

We then drove down to the Centre of the village and wandered about till we continued towards the bay with its astonishingly beautiful cobalt coloured sea.

 

It is virtually impossible not to remember what it was like back in 2001, when I camped here for a short period of ten days, something I would certainly not risk doing nowadays.

As João decided to go along the peer to take some photographs and Rui ventured into the sea, Rosa, Wanda and I sat on the sand and finally relaxed  for about an hour, which to us sounded like a deserved holiday.

We soon met a brief flight "companion", whose daughter had been working for a non-profitable organization located here and it was not a surprise to find out what I had long suspected ... which further reinforced my idea that it is better to hand out the things directly to the children and not be part of any associations, whose effective goal does not correspond to what it is meant to or supposed to be.

 

We would then walk back into the village to have lunch at a small restaurant before heading back to Calheta, where we were to meet some of the girls who had been away for the weekend and finally drive back to the capital city.