Cedric Pomalegni, Year 11

On Wednesday, the 7th of February, our school welcomed the children and caretakers of St. Dominique Orphanage, which is situated in Porto-Novo. All the generous donations from the Middle and High School made this event possible, giving us the opportunity to share a memorable experience with these wonderful people. The purpose of their visit was not just to share a day with us, but to remind us of the power of compassion and community.

Having set up the field prior to their arrival, the Year 11 class was eager to welcome the kids when they arrived at around 12:30 pm. We had set up mats in the playground area for them to stay, as well as chairs for the caretakers and tables for the food – consisting of chicken and vegetable pies, oranges and watermelons – we had ordered for them. Once the kids were seated, we shared the hot and fresh chicken pies (prepared lovingly by Mr Tonji's wife) and began to mingle with them. After finishing their food, the kids went off to explore within the confines of our field. They exuded joy and fun as they scoured the playground, rode the slides and ran across the field. We brought out some footballs for them to play with, and we even joined in on the fun with them. In particular, there was this one kid that my classmates and I nicknamed “Broski’ who was such an energetic and enthusiastic kid to play football with. He was returning all of our passes, did the best he could with the dribbling and even scored a few goals! Over at the playground area, many students were immersing themselves in the joy of the moment, taking turns carrying the babies and playing on the slides with the little ones. One after the other, the classes of years 6 to 12 came to the field to see what their donations had amounted to – a highlight reel of wholesome and heart-warming moments with less fortunate, yet amazing people.

Alas, the end of the day came far too soon, and it was time to say goodbye to our newfound comrades. The remainder of the food was packed up for the orphans to take home with them, and we tidied up the field to go our separate ways. In this brief encounter, we learned that compassion knows no borders. Our hearts expanded, and we understood that we are all part of a larger family – one that extends beyond our school walls. The visit from St. Dominique Orphanage was not just an event; it was a reminder of our shared humanity, and we are infinitely grateful for such an enlightening experience.