Cradle of Love Baby Home

Weekend of fun and volunteering!

The weekend started off with Maria and I eating some expensive local food at Tembo Club. Tembo means elephant in Kiswahili. We got a liquid courage and started to climbing some trees. Never too old for tree climbing. Later that night I got a stomach bug from the local food...go figure. Oh Africa! 

 

Cradle of Love

On Saturday after recovering from my stomach bug, Maria and I volunteered at Cradle of Love Baby Home in USA River  in Arusha (pronounced oooosa and not U.S.A). It is an orphanage that serves babies from newborn to about age 2 or 3. All of the children have unique circumstances some abandoned in the hospital after birth, others dumped in actually dumpsters, some orphaned by HIV/AIDS and others whose moms have passed away and their dads just cannot take care of them. Unlike many orphanages the number one goal of Cradle of Love is to ideally get the babies back with their families (i.e. if the mom comes back for the child or seems stable enough to care for them). Cradle of Love has been around for a while and the infrastructure and resources are not bad at all. The babies have beautiful nurseries, great toys, clothing and plenty of space to run around. Though as you can expect all of the little tykes are desperately craving for attention, love and a good snuggle. With over 30 babies and just under 6 staff members per shift it is impossible for each child to get one on one attention during feeding, bathing, play and "I just need love" time. The intimacy of meal times and bathing is turned into just another routine that needs to be done and done times 30 babies...its chaotic! At first the babies were a bit apprehensive to the new face of Maria and I but QUICKLY latched on. It was nice to feel needed and wanted but I could not help but wonder if these beautiful little beings had ever felt that...needed, wanted and loved. I hope they felt my love during my day of volunteering and I will be back again. The organization is quickly running out of money and resources. If you would like to donate time or money please let me know or visit their website at Cradle of Love. Pictures below of my time at Cradle of Love Baby Home.

Clara! My favorite little thing ever!! So sassy and funny!!

Emmanuel the charmer.

Noel the sweeheart.

Jackson fast asleep.