A Day in the Life at Simba’s Community Center:
Little smiling faces peep through Simba’s Footprints' gate all day long, but the community programs officially open at 3:00pm when the Standard 1 and 2 kids get out of school. The kids come running through the open gates, as the community center comes to life as the place to be after school for the kids living in the surrounding Mji Mpya neighborhood. The grounds have space to play football, netball, and basketball, as well as swings and a see-saw. Simba's is a safe space where parents can feel secure sending their children to play and learn; but most importantly for the kids, Simba’s is the place where you’ll find your buddies playing games and unwinding after school.
At 4:00pm, the older kids start to appear as they leave school. Some students come to study for exams in the library, others are getting dressed for football or netball practice, and some are there to practice their instruments and receive music, dance, or drama lessons.
Whatever brought each child to the center that day doesn't matter, as all join together in a group warm up. Warm ups are run by one of the local program coordinators or the managing director, Charles (or as the kids know him “Teacha.”). Sometimes warm up activities involve stretching and exercises or a quick game of sharks in the water!
At this point, the kids split up into their chosen programs for the afternoon. Some kids head to the music studio to pick up where they left off last lesson with Teacher Pete. You can hear the music bumping as the dance program kicks into high gear, rehearsing for their next community event. The younger kids usually are happily creating some new craft or finger painting with Mama Dina, full of laughter and excitement. The rest of the kids are heading to the football grounds with their coaches for practice.
Simba’s directors Belinda and Charles do their rounds, checking in with different students and making sure everything is running smoothly and the kids are safe and happy. Often they will have parents come for a visit to problem-solve issues they are having with their kids.
Some days a local leader will stop by to collaborate on planning a community event. Everyone feels welcome and respected while visiting the Simba’s Community Center.
The day wraps up around 6:30pm; as the kids leave, some are singing a new song they learned in music class, others holding their newest creation from arts and crafts, while others are tired and dirty after a hard but fun football practice.
No matter the activity that each child attended that day, they left Simba’s feeling more empowered to be creative, to be a leader, and to just be a happy, healthy, well-rounded kid. The Simba’s community sleeps soundly at night, already dreaming of the possibilities that tomorrow will bring!
