”Making A Difference” (M.A.D) is today making a debut at Albyskolan with a series of children’s activities planned between 14.00 to 20.00. The idea is noble because Kenyan children are very isolated in Stockholm. Their parents have several meeting forums but the children have had no opportunity to meet, play and know one another in an organized activity.
Generally, it is expected that Wakenya Wazazi will be heading towards the function with their kids although nothing can be certain. MAD is an idea that Wakenya need to support because it is unique. Kenyans without children might not be able to understand the importance of MAD but for the lonely parent(s) with a heap of plastic toys as the child’s only alternative companion that keeps the little ones busy day in day out, MAD could as well be a big relief worth trying.
There are Kenyan parents who take their children outdoors eg to MacDs or to several playing machines and pay-up venues available in town. However, these playing fields are no replacement when the scenario pits Kenyan children playing together under a well organized program manned by Kenyan “Kid masters”.
The bottom line is that the initiative is super and Wakenya who understand the real potential of the initiative should congratulate all forces that have gathered to try and “Make A Difference” in a pathetic situation which has conspicuously been lacking in initiative.
The good words having been said, it is also good to look at certain aspects of the initiative that could be improved. The first issue that might have to be revised is the “Name choice” of the initiative. “Making A Difference” sounds a very fantastic kinda name but its acronym of MAD could be a bit maddening.
The initiative takers could have settled for a name whose acronym is more “child-friendly”. Imagine taking your kids to a “MAD function” so that they can be able to meet “MAD children” to engage in “MAD programs” designed by “MAD organizers” in order to make them permanent “MAD members”?
Alternatively, imagine that you have just arrived with the kids from a “MAD event” and you are trying to tell the story to a friend.
“I am just from MAD and I can tell you that those MAD leaders are good. They came up with some MAD ideas that really made my kids Mad with play. I think Kenyan parents need to support MAD because this is what we need. Now, my little one is asking me when he is going back to MAD to meet the new MAD friends and the MAD teachers to play the MAD games”. The person you are informing might be forgiven if he or she enquires whether you have gone nuts.
Surely, this does not sound romantic unless it’s me who might be getting mad about the name choice. The name is out of tune with the agenda and carries lots of negative connotations which might deprive the initiative the gusto it needs especially during these nascent stages. I believe that it is an oversight which might be corrected otherwise kudos to MAD initiative takers.
Okoth Osewe
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