Christmas in Tanzania

Sr. Anne Cahill teaches at the OLA-run school in Mwamapala, Tanzania. In the run-up to Christmas, Sr. Anne took some time to outline a few events that take place in Mwamapalala over the Christmas period.

Sr. Anne Cahill, second from left, is making final preparations for the children's Christmas party which will take place in December 26th.

Greetings from Mwamapalala, Tanzania!

Midday Mass is the big feature of Christmas which includes a hundred plus baptisms of babies and small children.

Thanks to donations from Ireland we have hosted a Christmas party for the children these last few years. Usually we have our annual party on the Sunday following Christmas Day but this year we will celebrate on St. Stephen’s Day - the important thing for us is to have the OLA Dispensary hall free. We normally have between four hundred and five hundred children in attendance at the party! In the days leading-up to it, we prepare hundreds of ‘goodie bags’ with some sweets, biscuits, colouring pencils, balloons etc.

There are a few main parts to the day. The first is the food – it may be one of the few days in the year when children have meat. All are welcome to eat and there is usually some for a second helping! The children then play games, sing and dance and we give small prizes even a sweet is a gift. If the rain keeps off, they sing and dance all evening - their own disco style and all Africans are music/dance lovers! Also, during the course of the day, each child will gets their 'goodie bag'.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and every blessing for 2017!

- Sr. Anne Cahill

The DJ at last year's Christmas party in Mwamapalala, Tanzania.

Children preparing for the singing and dancing at last year's Christmas party.

Mary O'Driscoll has volunteered on a number of occasions over the past few years in Tanzania. Click here to read the thoughts of Mary on day-to-day life in Mwamapalala.