So, the parcel saga has a good ending. As I mentioned earlier, the parcel contained items for the children at the rehabilitation center at Menagesha including markers, pencil crayons, crayons, pastels, paper, poster board, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners and animal masks of various animals for all of the children. You see, after they have finished their rehabilitation at Menagesha, the children often leave and return or start school in their home community. I was worried, because the children do not have any art supplies or school supplies while they are learning at the rehabilitation center and when they return to full-time school in their home communities.
As such, my amazing cousin Asha in India purchased enough school supplies, art supplies, toys, and paper/animal masks for the children at Menagesha so that the arts and school programs at Menagesha could continue and the children could have some supplies to take with them when they left. My mom also sent items from Canada to my cousin Asha in India who packaged all of these valuable materials and sent them my way. Thank you so much Ashakka and Mom! You have truly brought a “splash of colour” into the lives of the children!
I delivered the items to the school on Saturday and the teachers and children were over the moon! The children immediately put on their masks (hence the ad hoc masquerade), tore the packages of markers open and began to draw and colour and paint as if compelled by some artistic spark or creative force. It was truly a sight to behold and tears welled up in my eyes as I witnessed the absolute jubilation in their eyes.
Later that morning, the Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia visited Menagesha, toured the facility and enjoyed a musical performance by the children who insisted on wearing their animal masks. The ambassador gifted the children with new backpacks and T-shirts! It was absolutely perfect, as the children had all they needed for their classes and their return to school after leaving Menagesha.
