Spending time with the "Lubasi" family!

Returning to Livingstone was an epic undertaking with a 22 hour public bus marathon relay being my mode of transport! Needless to say I was relieved to arrive at 3am and step off into familiar streets but there was much to be done with new volunteers arriving the very next day!

(Full story and images after the jump)

As the school holidays were continuing for the last 2 weeks of August, before I went to Meheba I contacted a children’s home in the Maramba district of Livingstone and arranged for the Bookbus to spend 2 weeks there. The “Lubasi”(The Losi word for family) home is a community project run entirely from donations. At present there are 45 children ranging from 3 to 18 years. Many are orphans but some have families that can’t take care of them or they have been mistreated. On the first Monday we went to introduce ourselves to the children, the nuns that help run the home, the “mothers” and “aunties” who take care of the kids and the directors of the board. They are seemed enthusiastic to welcome the project and Tuesday we began!

All the children are good mannered, polite, sensitive and pleasant to be with and they are being taught many important skills to help them in their later lives. They have their own vegetable garden, do their own laundry and have weekly rotas of chores. The older children help the younger ones and there is real sense of caring and of family. The first few days we were unable to take the bus as it was in the garage so we had to use taxis but when we finally arrived in the bus, it caused much excitement amongst everyone.

We divided the children into small groups according to age and they all spent a one hour session with the volunteers each morning and the rest of the time there were plenty of activities to keep them occupied , like games, colouring, craft sessions or just sitting on the bus reading. We kept the groups the same with the same teachers to give a sense of continuity. All the children, no matter what age, were included and they were all so keen to learn. Spending 2 weeks with the same children it has been amazing to watch their transformation from shy and wary of the group of strangers through accepting us, right up to really enjoying our company and looking forward to each morning when we arrived. We have certainly become attached to the children who call Lubasi their home.

Sister Brigitta, who is in charge at the home, told me that they sometimes get visitors who stay for an hour or two but in all the time since the home has opened their has never been a group of people who had spent so much time with the children. She was delighted in their response to our books and our project and she was so thankful for the time we had given them and how we had shared our skills with not only the children, but also the “mothers” who want to continue working with the children in the way we have. It is a fantastic feeling to know that we have made such an impact.

Today has been our last day and it was incredibly sad to leave, we were treated to songs and given dozens of handmade thank you cards. We donated them boxes of books and I have promised to return regularly until I leave Livingstone, something which I will love to do. There were many tears and sad faces all round. This has been 2 of the most moving weeks of the project so far and I hope the Bookbus can return next year.
The website for the home is www.lubasihome.org

Now we are based back in Livingstone, we can do our “Touristy” activities again! Before I left for Meheba the water at the falls was still very high but now it is possible to walk across the river to Livingstone island, Devils pool and basically to stand right on the edge of the falls, not for people who are scared of heights! The views are spectacular and the walk, although slightly scary and hard work is certainly worth it. Four of us managed the trip with only one shoe being lost to the falls and only one unscheduled dip in the river!! Two went swimming in Devils pool and both said it was one of the best things they have ever done. Walking back we were told by our guide we had to apply “pressure” because we could see elephants heading in our direction, but we still had time to admire the stunning sunset even under pressure!!

Kelly Geoghegan, Book Bus Leader