Last spring Kate and I joined forces to teach six to eight year olds as volunteers through our study abroad program. We knew that it would be a challenge, but what we were expecting to be forever changed by their smiles, their hugs, and their love. On the first day of class, we came equipped with a well planned out lesson that we believed would be a huge success, but we found out that we had so much work ahead of us. But throughout the four months we were at Baphmulele, we feel in love with personalities of all 153 children.

Our classroom was beautiful chaos. While the kids were talking back and forth while they colored their octopuses or ran around with their starfish head bands, Kate and I would look at one another and smile. These moments will forever be ingrained in my mind because we might not have taught them addition tables or how to write full sentences in English, but we showed them compassion. And they taught us how to cherish each and every moment, whether times are hard or prosperous, every moment is beautiful. Regardless of what our particular lesson plan, each day started with a twenty to thirty kids running up to hug us.

Moreover, Kate and I felt like kids again while at Baphmulele. Kate most spontaneously invented a new game that had many kids jumping up and down for more. Or you would see Kate spinning kids around. I taught the girls and boys a very important skill, how to play “Miss Mary Mack!” If they were not waiting in line to play the oh so famous game, they were playing with my hair. Four girls would be trying to braid my hair, but it was more painful than anything.

Our time at Baph has ended but Kate & I still feel that our work is unfinished. We know that we need to do more for our kids who have touched and changed our lives immensely. So, on November 22nd, we will be running the Philadelphia Half Marathon for our kids. We believe that it is our mission to share our story, raise awareness and give back in any way that we can.

Please help us continue our mission by donating to CHOSA. We are working hard to finish the race in November and bring the kids at Baph and other organizations supported by CHOSA, one step closer to change but we need your help.

Sala Kakuhle,
Kate & Lesley

CHOSA site: http://www.chosa.org/