This week on keeping up with the Volunteers: Cooking, Clothes and Clapping

Cooking:

During our initial visit at the Mukura Health Centre, one of the topics raised for the single mothers present were that the mothers received knowledge on how to cook healthy and nutritious meals, but there was no opportunity for them to put this knowledge into practice. As a part of the team plan for this group of women we decided to conduct a cooking session with a group of women from the group to enable them to practice what they had learned. 

The lesson took place in a makeshift kitchen outdoors under the scorching heat. It was a good opportunity for us to get to know the women in the cell. We did many tasks together such as starting the fire, peeling and chopping vegetables and making porridge. The resulting food was delicious and enjoyed by all.

Clothes:

Some of us also decided to buy African materials from the local market in our village and get traditional clothing made. Initially we chose from an array of different materials, made of vibrant colours and patterns. Then we designed how we wanted each of our outfits to look. Some opted for dresses while other opted for skirts, tops and shorts.

Selection of materials at a market stall

Seamstress working on one of our dresses

Clapping:

After the initial visit with the traditional dance group we found out that they had many challenges, one of them being that they find it difficult to remember melodies they create to songs and different rhythms when dancing. 

To overcome this issue we decided to run some workshops on teaching how to write down rhythms and melodies. The first lesson led by Chris the expert musician was on note value and basic rhythm. During the lesson some notes were written down on the whiteboard and the dance group members were asked to clap along to the rhythm. The members picked up the rhythms quickly, saying that they really enjoyed the workshop and learned a lot. We will continue these lessons in the upcoming weeks.