Love Makes a Family
The children made special Mother’s Day cards
“Family is not defined by our genes, it is built and maintained through love” is a quote that rings so true at Kuda Vana!
Mother’s Day is always a special time there - each caregiver, known as a Mama, truly loves each child in her care as her own. With their love and compassion, these children are growing up to be great kids. As Mama Beauty Manyurura says:
We take this job seriously, and love and care for these children just as we do for our children at home. What we wish for our children at home, we wish for our children at Kuda Vana. We want them to be good children who will have a good future. We will never give up on them, and always work hard to help them in the right way.
The kids decorated the tables so nicely!
The children decided to do something extra special for their Mamas for Mother’s Day this year. In Zimbabwe, everyone takes time for tea in the late morning. So the children thought it would be special to arrange a tea party specifically for the the mamas on Mother’s Day. The older girls made invitations for each of the seven mamas on campus. The Mamas arrived to the campus gazebo at 10am to a full spread of goodies. Each mama had an envelope with their name showing where to sit. The children used large leaves as placemats, and the table was decorated beautifully and was full of cookies, fruit charcuterie boards, egg salad sandwiches and more.
A special table for some very special women!
One of the girls in Kuda Vana’s Youth Transition Program is enrolled in Beauty School, and came back to our campus to give pedicures and foot massages for the Mamas. The only thing the Mamas to do was relax and enjoy their time. They sure did a good job of this as they were talked, laughed, and danced the entire time!
Once the Mamas got settled in, each of the homes one by one came out to the gazebo and delivered homemade cards they made for their Mamas. To make sure the Mamas were relaxed, all the youngest kids agreed to quietly stay home while their Mamas enjoyed their special day. The older girls made sure the babies were bathed and that the kids in their home had tea time prepared too. The girls went above and beyond by preparing lunch for their home and laundry for the younger children! They did all of the laundry, including their sheets, and were chatting and doing laundry together. All the kids cooperated and enjoyed playing behind the homes so the mamas wouldn’t be disturbed. The Mamas were so thankful for this special day off, and asked to have their pictures taking living the “high life”. It was the least everyone could do to celebrate these amazing women!
Pedicures and food massages were on the menu!