Day of the African Child

On Tuesday I went along to a UNICEF launch event for the Day of the African Child, at a school in Ekukhanyeni, an area with 10 chiefdoms about an hour outside of Manzini. The theme of the event is to stop child trafficking, a problem which civil society fears will be heightened with the influx of visitors during the world cup just across the border. The event brought together all the schools in the township, around 1500 pupils in total, to enjoy performances, speeches, receive bright blue UNICEF T-shirts, and to get information about children’s issues (Save the Children, and SWAGAA were also present to hand out information). Under the blue tent at the edge of the field, the front row seats for most of the performances, sat the dignitaries, one of the kings thirteen wives was present on behalf of the king.

I had a wander around the events and then went into the high school, a scattering of cement buildings that would be classified as somewhat in-complete at home, walked past the huge cow drinking from a small trough (maybe school property, perhaps just an animal that is in the guardianship of a family in the rural area for those living in the city) and found a group of men cooking over a barbecue for all the kids. Perhaps the highlight of any event for those in the rural areas is the accompanying meal. There is the problem of kids receiving their meal, walking to rejoin the line whilst eating their first meal, or perhaps putting the contents in a larger container hidden behind a building and returning for more. It is tough to control this kind of situation when we all know that the kids are not taking numerous meals out of greediness, this knowledge induces complacency in the organisers. But still, every one of those children needed to get a meal.

After deciding on a solution, penning every child on the hand (I don't know if they managed to track down a marker for that), we were taken into the foyer next to a huge kitchen. And unceremoniously had a heaped place of food placed on our laps. The difference in situation was startling and for sure the food tasted great, but was difficult to swallow. Another note to self should I find myself in a similar situation in the future.