Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Safe Houses



Having raised five kids of her own, Rachel’s love for children did not stop there.  She went out and got six more.  Only this time, the kids were not her own, they were children that needed someone to look after them for a while and they were placed in Rachel and Beauty’s care for safe keeping. 

The kids are not all related to each other, but looking in from the outside, one could never tell.  They fight like real siblings, tease, scream, and shout like real siblings, but they also look out for one another in the most beautiful and touching ways.  Whether it’s a bag of ‘Nic Nacs’ or colored pencils, each always makes sure the other has an equal amount of anything they have.

And that is the feeling I get every time we are dropped off in front of the cozy white house where I know Rachel and the kids are waiting for us.  Most of the time, the kids rush the van, waiting for the doors to open so they can pull us out.  Sure, some may run in the opposite direction once the Math and English exercises come out, but the bright smiles and tiny armed hugs are well worth the chase.

So how many kids does Rachel have? It’s hard to tell, since every coordinator or volunteer who steps foot into her house is greeted by a loving, almost toothless smile saying, “Welcome my children”.

Nidhi Arya- Masiphumelele Edu-care volunteer

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