Update from 15th

Monday 15 Feb
Well, we have spent our first full day in Tigri slum. Now folk have got over the initial impact of first impressions, we walked into the community centre like going somewhere familiar! The painting teams swung into action with people discovering previously unknown talents! Radishan mixed paint colours for us (why did we choose pictures that need so many!!) Louis did a wonderful giant ‘Elmer’ and giraffe, Ian managed a huge globe with India at the centre and the rest of us painted people from around the world, their bodies dressed in flags. By the end of the day it was really taking shape.
We had time to work with children and students too – a careers discussion with students in the morning. We could hear the conversation drifting out of the room as we painted. Roger, Nigel, Stuart and Janet shared about their jobs and our families jobs, then the students shared their dreams and difficulties. All very positive.
In the afternoon the children’s group arrived. It’s really hard to guess their ages as they look much younger than our children. They seemed to range from 8-14. We sang action songs about animals (Thank you New Life Playgroup!) then had crafts. They coloured an Elmer wall hanging (thank you Edd!), had their faces painted, played dominoes and listened to an Elmer story. The children are great at counting in English but are glad to practise their conversation with anyone English-speaking.
One of the girls hennaed Janet, Frances and my hands. It was only after they had squeezed henna onto the fronts and backs of our hands they explained you had to sit there for 1 1/2 hours! Have you ever tried to eat a biscuit using 2 fingers?
Impressions from today- a hugely warm welcome, a place of calm and purpose in the middle of a frantic city, a privilege to be here!

Sue