Bd sport active Saturday lesson ...

Sibylle and Beat asked me to teach the Bd sport active group of children on Saturday morning, as the local teacher was not in.

I was also asked to use the principle - "Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you" as a starting point for the lesson, which I did, having  had them write and spell the Simple Present tense of the verb -  to do (which in the Portuguese Language is not at all easy, as it changes all the forms).

 Having finished  that first task and after further discussing the meaning of that principle and its various implications, they were requested to think of situations they would not like to see themselves in, as in accordance with that same principle and try to draw some of those on 3 big  sheets of cardboard paper (groups of 4/5 children per cardboard).

The final result was amazing ... and by looking at the sketches of children throwing stones at each other or pulling one's hair, we all concluded they had clearly understood what the whole thing was about. I just wished adults were to think about this principle and apply it on everyday life ...

Bd sport active is committed to helping these children not exclusively in football techniques and game strategies, but also in terms of academic and behavioural development. Beat's  excellent work and involvement must be praised and recognised, as it aims at what we expect "our children" to become.

The house Beat lives in (Left)








                                                                                           Beat with Erica (Right)


Note: Beat Clerc has moved from Switzerland into Calheta, having recently been given a residence permit, together with having adapted the house he lives in, so as to have a "study room" for the children.
For further information on Bd sport active, as association, as well as its main goals refer to:
http://bdsportactive.ch/

Cidade Velha - Cape Verde's first World Heritage site

Cidade Velha as seen from the Royal fortress of São Filipe

Having got into Praia fairly late on the 9th and not being expected in Calheta but in the afternoon of the following day, I still found time to travel to Cidade Velha, which has recently been designated World Heritage site and which I hadn't visited since 2001.

The pillory square with its 1512 white marble pillar, bearing testimony of the old slavery market and symbol of punishment inflictions is still very much the centre of the local community.

Both rua Banana and rua Carrera are worth a visit, not only because of being  historically considered the oldest streets of the whole sub-Saharian African territory, but mostly because the re-constructed  whitewashed houses with thatched roofs bear resemblance to the original streets, on which lived quite a few Portuguese and Spanish noblemen in the 15th century, according to historical records.

Whilst wandering around the area,  I came across one of the oldest churches in Cape Verde - Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church, built in 1495. It was initially a gothic style chapel, later extended  and its walls covered with tiles. It was unfortunately closed, so I just managed to see it from the outside.

I then decided to walk all the way up the hill to visit the Royal fortress of São Filipe, built in 1587 during the reign of the Spanish King Dom Filipe II , following the devastating attacks by Sir Francis Drake. By the time I got up I was exhausted, but I am glad I did it, otherwise I would have missed some of the most beautiful  birds' eye views I have ever seen of Cape Verde.

While  walking downhill I came across several children enthusiastically playing with  bottle caps on the dirty soil of the hill slopes ... certainly unaware that this soil has witnessed the craddle of a nation ... a nation that goes beyond the limits of its geography and its peoples' difficulties ...

Making it all possible ...

Had it not been for Sibylle and Benedita, Justina's birthday party would not have been possible.

I must thank Sibylle for having allowed us to use her premises to organize the party in; her creativity and the time she put into decorating the table, as well as the unconditional support she always gives me, whenever I have one of these "crazy" ideas, not forgeting the extra money she contributed with to make it a better party.

I owe my gratitude to Benedita for having taken care of the cooking and the children's entertainment activities.

 May God bless you both ...


Note: For further information on Sibylle and Gehrard Schellmann's restaurant and activities refer to :
http://silibell.de/
http://silibell.com/
http://silibell.fr/

The bracelets and the rings ...

During Justina's birthday party every girl was given a bracelet and a ring, kindly offered by Surama and her husband Sérgio.

The pictures speak for themselves ... one just has to look into  these girls' eyes ...

Veronica (Left) and Juliza (Right)

Ivanilda (Left) and Lavinia (Right)

Ana (Left) and Josseanne (Right).

Marline (Left) and Tarine (Right).

Leinira (Left) and Neuza (Right).

Simone

The gifts of "love"... or the gifts that came from far ...

 Some images are effectively worth a million words ...

Nessinha unwrapping the present (Left). Nessinha  and her little baby doll bought with Maria João's money (Right).

Nessinha holding Pedro (left)  and carrying him the traditional African way, whilst her 90 year old great grand mother, with whom she lives is  bending down next to her (right).

Tarine with the dress I bought for her locally (Assomada) with Luisa's money (left). Tarine with the school material offered by Carla and holding a doll I bought for her (right).

Tarine sellecting the correct stickers to complete the book I bought for her (Left). Tarine showing two pages of the book completed (Right).

Simone, as she was receiving the school material and outfit Surama and Sérgio bought for her (Left). Simone with the new outfit on, holding the school material (Right).

Neuza being given the school material and outfit Surama and Sérgio bought for her (Left). Neuza trying on the outfit (Right).

Neuza with her new outfit on.

Leinira with the books, school material, doll, outfits and sandals I bought for her (Left).  Leiria reading one of the books I bought for her (Right).

Leinira wearing one of the outfits and sandals I bought for her (Left). Leinira wearing one of the outfits I bought for her (Right).

Note: The money I was given by Luisa was used for an outfit for Tarine; the money given by João was used to buy a doll for Nessinha; the money given by Manuela  was equally divided  to reinforce the existing amount for Simone, Neuza and  Justina; the school material provided by Carla was given to Tarine and the money given to Leinida, who has become her protégée.  The money given by Isabel was used for the birthday party (having Sibylle proovided the rest). The whole amount  of money collected by the "godmothers" has been given to Sibylle to pay for the school fees and whatever may be necessary for the girls.

       Leidina (one year and a half), the most recent girl to have found a Portuguese "godmother" (Carla).