And people did give – first family and friends in the United States, and then, at the last minute, the local community came through. We had all be in suspense up until the very day before the party, when it seemed that packages sent from the States wouldn’t get here until January if ever, and that we had been forgotten by Parakou. We raided the NGO’s own boutique for hats and bangles, worried that we wouldn’t have enough presents for all the 88 children. Then, at the last minute, two USA packages showed up, and people in Parakou – local organizations and individuals – started giving with both hands.

 So when the day arrived, everything was ready. We went around with a truck to pick up the orphans from their schools. They all were in school, some staying with extended family, some with teachers or tutors, some placed with church members or families who needed an extra hand to help out. The dismal position that these children occupied at home was evident in their clothes. Being properly dressed for a party is a very big deal here, but many of these children were in clothes too big for them or too small, or even ragged and torn (the children hid these as best as they could). Some were even in their school uniforms, which we had made for them last year. They were the only clothes they had.

 They were quiet and subdued at first, while the school directors chatted and Parakou’s radio station, which had arrived to cover the event, attempted to establish a connection. But then we opened the microphone, and children began volunteering to sign a song or recite some poetry. The DJ played the ubiquitous Ivoirian ‘Couper Decaler’ and the kids got up and danced. The American volunteers sang ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ as the bolder of the kids attempted to sing along, and then it was time to dig up the sheep.

<-back  next ->