Day one at camp Mile was both pretty cool and sad because I had to say goodbye to our friends.
I asked one of the educators, Mahboula, to take me to see Little Ripples Pond 1 at the Mile Refugee Camp, and WOW, it’s a beautiful place. They keep it clean, safe, and so welcoming for the children. They have painted the walls with flowers and hearts, and the entire home area is just so nice.
We arrived at the primary school and had a great start to the day. The educators and children welcomed us with a song. Parents looked on and smiled. They were all there for assessment.
The children are facing stressful times because the camp is going through food insecurity. Despite this challenge the Mile Pond 1 children are doing great. During the assessments, their answers, interactions, and overall dispositions were extremely positive.
I also met the host mom, Amna, who is also a Little Ripples cook. She was proud to show me around, including the kitchen where she prepares the meals for the children and educators. The entire community is extremely grateful for the meals. It is so meaningful for them to be able to provide healthy meals to some of the children in the camps. As with Kounoungou Refugee Camp, the food situation is dire.
Mahboula and her partner know their families. They have relationships with all the children and their parents and also know where they live. If a child is absent for a couple of days, they will conduct a home visit to check if something is wrong and how they can help the family.
Staff are so proud of their Pond. They really own it and they go well beyond what they are expected to do. I was blown away (and literally got the chills) by the children, their Pond, and everyone’s dedication and spirit.
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