Madam Kelly, Boarding Mistress

I’m very happy to report that we’ve begun a boarding (feeding) program at Gwangwa this term. As Boarding Mistress, I can say that according to our register we have 64 boarders. That’s about 20% of our students, which means we are off to a great start! We’re currently serving three meals a day, seven days a week to 43 girls and 21 boys.

Boarding fees for one school term have been set at K6500 ($43) per student. Those who can afford this option are staying within an old school block within our fence (for girls) and an old school block at the primary school nearby (for boys). Don’t worry, those girls who have not been able to afford the program and have chosen to continue as self-boarders are of course still allowed to stay within the fence in the second old school block. Currently there are 46 girls choosing this option, or rather who cannot afford the boarding fees.

We recently held a meeting with all of the boarders to go over a list of rules which I and the boarding Master put together for them, as well as to decide the best menu for our budget. It was pretty cool to be a teacher, watching your students make their own decisions, especially when not too long ago, I was in their shoes.

After a long meeting we decided on the menu below. It may seem a bit redundant to you, but keep in mind by having the same side dish for lunch and dinner, we’re able to cut costs on both firewood and labor. It’s a bit boring but my students are generally happy about it, especially with a morning tea break each day.


Breakfast Tea Break Lunch Supper
6:00-6:30 am 10:10-10:30am 2:00-2:30pm 5:00-5:30pm
S Porridge Tea with sugar Nsima with beans Nsima with beans
M Porridege Tea with sugar Nsima with veg. Nsima with veg.
T Porridge Tea with sugar Nsima with beans Nsima with beans
W Porridge Tea with sugar Nsima with meat(goat or cow, eggs for vegetarians)
H Porridge Tea with sugar Nsima with beans Nsima with beans
F Porridge Tea with sugar Nsima with veg. Nsima with veg.
S Porridge Tea with sugar Nsima with beans Nsima with beans

As Boarding Mistress, I keep an eye on my students and try to make sure they’re comfortable bringing any issues they may have to me. My girls have come to expect a visit from me at least once a day to make sure their “hostels” are being kept tidy and just to wish them a good morning or good night.

This past week, two of my Form Three girls came to me, concerned about a Form Two who was ill with malaria. I went to her in the hostel, phoned her parents and then arranged for her transport to the health center and home. She was back at school just a few days later.

Surprisingly there haven’t been too many discipline issues or quarrels amongst the girls or boys. However, two weeks ago, a pair of Form Four boys tried to organize a boycott of the feeding program when they weren’t given the meat they had been promised one evening. This little hunger strike was resolved without much trouble the next day, but I have to admit, I’m smiling just thinking about it. It’s encouraging to see my students stand up for something they believe in.