Neighbor Kids in the Neighborhood:

Great happiness fills me when I get to spend time with the neighbor kids. Sometimes they sit on the front steps of my residence, sometimes they come in the living room, and other times we meet outside the gate of the compound.
If there is electricity and if my house mates are inclined the children come into the living room to watch a video, snack, read, play with toys, games and puzzles. Other times I take a box of books etc. on the front steps and we read and play together. If we just have a little time that we can be together before it will get dark I take a few books and flash cards and we gather on the big rocks outside the compound gate. The children from age 5-15 are learning letter names and sounds, colors, math concepts, songs, Bible verses and expanding their vocabulary.

Every time they have their snack they say, “Thank you Auntie Joy.”

Currently the way we manage their behavior is that within the day when a child breaks a rule the following happens.
1st time: Name I: Warning
2nd time: Name II: Warning
3rd time: Name III: Note sent to parent or guardian
4th time: Name IV: Not permitted to play in Auntie Joy’s care that day.

Some of the children’s names are:
Girls: Kadiatu, Aminata, Mamie, Salematu, Ramatu
Boys: Rhyme, Bimba, Osman, Comanda, Ismael