Global Poverty Monitor

We packed up the cars and drove to the new ADP we have heard about – the Marara ADP. We went to the administrative post and met the chief of the post, who welcomed us and showed us around the offices. We drove to the local primary school, called the Cachembe Primary School. Many students were assembled in one classroom, and they greeted us with a song when we arrived. Then they started some prayers – some group prayers in song, and then a chance for everyone to pray by themselves.

The room burst into noise, with everyone raising their arms in the air and praying our loud. It was very interesting to watch, and also nice to see that the people were also encouraged to pray for whatever they want, rather than only participating in group prayer as we have been seeing. We sang our usual collection of songs for them, and then got all of the smaller children to come up the front and join in the movements of the hokey pokey. It was interesting to see that a lot of the people there were teenagers, and some were young children. The choir group was there, as well as all the teachers from the school. The children who had done the hokey pokey with us then put on a song and dance, where they stood in a circle and clapped and sang together, with one little girl singing a song. They took it in turns to come into the middle of the circle and dance. It was great to watch – it was apparently unrehearsed and the kids seemed to be really enjoying themselves. The group left their usual assortment of gifts for the school, and then we left.