29th
Duplo Lego for the Day Care Centre in Nekemte - donated by staff of Natural England, Peterborough
My brother’s office donated money to buy Duplo Lego sets for a Day Care Centre in Nekemte, next to the Mekene Yesus Church. The centre cares for mentally disabled children during mornings and afternoons and has toys and games donated by the Exeter Ethiopia Link. The Duplo Lego is a great addition and will help them to develop kinesthetic motor skills and their imagination. I took three tubs of the Lego on Tuesday 25th May and played with them for the morning. It was my second visit to the Day Care Centre and they are a delight to be with. Their conditions and degree of disability vary - Chaltu understands most instructions and is eager and competitive, whereas Lois has severe communication skills and often doesn’t participate as part of the group. But most of them enjoyed a whole morning of building - some good architectural attempts and some more abstract forms. Lois was the master builder though and not even sweet tea and bread at breaktime could pull him away from his lego skyscrapers.
Tetsanet unwraps a tub of Duplo Lego
Subalu tackles another tub of Duplo Lego
Chaltu opens a tub of Duplo Lego
Subalu and Latu
Lois builds like there’s no tomorrow. Usually on the periphery and in his own world, he becomes a Lego Master as soon as the tubs are open. Even when a tower crashes down, he is already building it up again and singing Ethiopian songs in a merry falsetto.
Chaltu shows off her Duplo skills
One of my contributions
Chaltu with a car
Subalu, King of Duplo
Chaltu and Tetsanet
Lois, teacher and Liimu - Thank you!
