Going to see the Chesi Nuns

Is, according to A, a bit like going to see the elves. True enough, we were in LLW last week for work a spot of hob-nobbing at the British High-Commission (check us out!) and took the chance to visit these small, powerful, women.

Out east of LLW, towards Salima on the lakeshore, they run an orphanage. What an orphange. There are five fully fledged nuns, a trainee one, 120 children and a scattering of local mothers and teachers. Their set up is incredible. Almost entirely food-sufficient, the classrooms and bedrooms are warm and clean and painted in the loveliest colours. The children get 4 meals a day and you can tell - actual naughtiness on display, the place is full of life and laughter.

It is such a contrast to the other schools that we have visited. All of which are much better than they would be but for MM, but which are government funded, overcrowded, bare and ramshackle.

The Chesi nuns are, in fact, so good at what they do it raises all sorts of problems. Problems with the mothers who often try to pass their children off as orphans to get them in and for the children when they are grown up, trying to readjust to life on the outside.

We were made to feel extraordinarily welcome but I couldn't help feeling a bit disconcerted by the contrasts and my mounting questions about what the best way to help is. In the end I'm glad that place is there - it is a cracking example of what is possible, albeit with extraordinarily levels of money, effort and sacrifice. It is also probably as near as you will get on earth to meeting magical elves.

Fx

Ps - they need soap. Expensive here. Sussing out best way to post to them....