A future for art programs at the Mama Bakhita

This year, like every year, one of the highlights of my Africa trip was the time spent making art with the children with disabilities at the Mama Bakhita Cheshire Home. They are energized and empowered by creating art, and in the process, they exercise important muscle skills. 

The Mama Bakhita changes leadership every few years. While I was there I was fortunate to spend time with the new director, Sr. Magdelena Sitondo, and was so impressed. Not only is she very smart and caring, but she also instinctively understood and took a keen interest in my creative work with the children. It has always been my dream to make art therapy a permanent part of their program, and with Sr. Magdelena at the helm, it may soon be possible!

Sr. Magdelena

2024 Rainy Season Driest in 40 Years

Last week we drove into neighboring Botswana to visit the Chobe National Park, one of the great wildlife destinations of Africa. Sydney’s good friend, Emmanuel, works for a safari company, and we were treated to a personally guided tour. The park was wonderfully open and full of roaming animals, but much of the bush and grass that they rely on was brown and parched. As we passed near the river where the hippos and elephants were wading, Emmanuel voiced his deep concern about the severity of the drought: “At this time of year this whole area should be full of water, up to where we are standing.” 

In a normal rainy season this whole area would be green; these few shallow pools would be a large lake.

As rivers dry up and food becomes more scarce, vegetation dwindles and prey dies or seeks sustenance elsewhere. Hippos, who need to submerge completely for many hours each day, are not only unable to cool their bodies, but can also become stuck in the mud in their desperate search for water.

The drought is also impacting domestic animals, including the goats and chickens at Zambezi Farm. So far, the farmers have been able to keep them watered, but it will be increasingly difficult in the next months as the water table continues dropping. The vegetation for grazing is drying and dying, and purchasing feed for the animals may not be possible for these people who, without help, may soon not even be able to afford food for their families. 

In early April, the AACDP will be running a campaign to raise funds to help the whole Mama Bakhita community survive this crisis.

Zambezi Dolls are back!

The drought has halted much of the work at the farm - not only is there very little water, but the excessive heat has become dangerous. So the farmers (who were previously the Zambezi Doll makers) and I are taking advantage of this time to finish up some new Zambezi dolls. It’s so pleasant to sit in the afternoon shade on the Mama Bakhita porch, talking and singing together as we work.

The women also work in the mornings, when their children and I are making art and music. Their skills are still as sharp as they were before they switched from being doll makers to being farmers. As I was watching Exildah stitching the eyes on a face and Prisca trimming a dress I commented "I was afraid you might've lost some of your skills after these years of not making dolls.”

Exildah replied “We can never forget how to make these dolls.“