HOLIDAYS AT ST. CLARE

With the end of national exams in November, the girls at St. Clare Centre began preparing for Christmas.  Of the 365 girls at St. Clare, about 150 will be able to go to their home villages for two weeks for a Christmas break. 

Father Riwa sees this return as an important step to reuniting the children to their extended families, their tribal languages, customs and celebrations.  Most of the girls have some extended family in their villages.  However, it can be unsafe to return as many of these girls have already been promised in marriage; sometimes the food is so scarce the girls go hungry.  Before any child can make the trip, a guardian (usually a relative) must come to St. Clare, be interviewed by the administration and confirm the girls will be cared for in their home villages.

For the 200+ girls who will remain at St. Clare, Father Riwa and the administration try to make their holiday special with organized games, opportunities to sleep longer and meals with meat or fish.