Reasons to Smile

Collette is the comedienne of the classroom and her great sense of humour often has the children around her laughing along.

Life has had it’s challenges, but Collette likes to laugh and smile, and she has great ambitions for her future.

She lives at home with her family and describes the journey she makes to school each day in great detail:

“My way when I go to school is, I leave from my home, and get out the village through the garbage area, and continue walking through the avocado trees. Then I pass by the borehole. Then I continue walking until our zebus' (cattle) stable. Then I walk around 30 minutes until the bridge. Then I wash my feet in the small river. Then I pass Martin's house. Then I walk up to the school area.”

The detailed descriptions continue as she smiles and says:

“During the day, I play; I learn my lessons; I write; I listen carefully to the explanation of the teacher; I play hopscotch; then I fetch water for washing hands; and I clean the classroom and the blackboard.

“When I get home I fetch water; I pound rice; I collect leafy greens.”

Collette loves to talk and has such confidence when speaking to her teachers or in front of her class. Her inner confidence shines through too when she talks about Mary’s Meals’ school feeding program and the impact it’s had on her ability to learn.

“I think that the school canteen is good. When I first ate at the canteen, it was nice. It’s satisfying and it also makes me smart.

“When the teacher explains the lesson, I listen carefully. My favourite subject is French because I am good at it, and it is clear to me.”

The nutritious meals she receives in school give her the energy to play and fuel her imagination too.

“My favourite game is making a story. To play this game, we gather stones and ‘hit the stones with each other’ and make the story. The story is about school and education.”

Talking about education brings Collette onto her ambitions, and she already has a clear plan for a brighter future.

“What I want to change in my life is the struggle. 

“I want to improve my level of education; my life; and my clothes; and my food. I want to succeed at school.

“I want to be smart and successful and go abroad.”

Collette laughs again and describes all the reasons why she also wants to be a policewoman. Her imagination is at play again as she acts out some of the activities she thinks that will involve.

It’s an enthusiastic list of simple ambitions. With Collette’s energy and determination combined with the promise of a daily plate of Mary’s Meals at school, we share Collette’s confidence that her future will give her even more reasons to smile.