Life At Bethsaida
The girls begin their day at 5:00am. Several times per week they go for a 2-3 km run along the dirt road leading past Bethsaida to the town of Mpigi Magohe. Often a volunteer wakes up to go running in the dark with them! Only some of the girls have running shoes, the others wear their plastic flip flops. After Morning Prayer, a wonderful experience with all the girls praying and singing in the dark, the girls then clean their dormitories and wash up themselves, before coming together for a short breakfast at 6:30am followed by morning assembly.
During the week, the girls have classes from 7:30 in the morning until 2:00pm or 2:40pm in the afternoons with a tea break at 10:30pm and a short break at 12:30pm. Wednesday mornings are devoted to sports where they either play on the school's playground or do aerobics in the dining hall, and on Friday mornings, Forms I, II and III receive religious instruction.
In the afternoon, following their classes, they garden, care for the school's livestock, pray, and study — an activity they continue after their 8:30pm dinner as well, until, pulling down their mosquito nets, they turn out the lights at 11pm.
On the weekends, there is a bit more flexibility in the schedule. Visitors frequently come on Saturday mornings, and exams are often held on Saturday afternoons. On Sundays, most of the girls walk the two miles to the local church to attend morning mass. Saturday or Sunday evening can be a time for dancing, singing or other recreational play. Also, they are eager to learn more about the world, computers, books, and places different from Tanzania.