The Holiday Season 2012

Jan. 7, 2013 text and photos by Chad Lebo

[Version française ci-dessous]

The holiday season is a special and wonderful time for our children. Some of our children are able to spend time with their families and some of the children stay with us throughout the season. We do our best to show the children the love and attention they so deserve. Because of the generosity and kindness of donors, we are able to make sure each child receives a special Christmas gift. But the love and support does not end there.

We were able to have 4 special events this holiday season. We had a wonderful Christmas feast and gave gifts to the children before some of the children left to spend the holiday with family. The children put on an amazing Christmas show for friends and guests. On Dec. 25th, we had another special Christmas lunch for all the children and Santa Clause even came and delivered some ice cream. And to celebrate the old year and welcome the new year, we had a wonderful dance party and talent show on New Year's eve followed by a special lunch on New Year's Day.

We wish our family of supporters and donors could have joined us for all of these special events, but we are afraid pictures will have to do instead. If you click on the photos and links below, you can go to the full photo albums.

Christmas Feast and Giving Gifts
(click to see all the photos)

Christmas Show
(click to see all the photos)

Christmas Day Lunch
(click to see all the photos)

New Year's Dance and Lunch
(click to see all the photos)

Les périodes de fêtes représentent toujours un moment magique pour nos enfants. Certains d'entre eux ont la possibilité de rentrer chez eux, au sein de leur famille, d'autres restent quant à eux à Akany pendant les fêtes. Nous faisons de notre mieux pour leur apporter de l'amour et l'attention qu'ils méritent. Grace à la générosité et à la gentillesse de nos donateurs, nous nous assurons que chaque enfant reçoive un cadeau de Noël. L'affection et le support que nous leur apportons ne s'arrêtent cependant pas là.

Nous avons également pu organiser 4 événements pendant la période des fêtes. Les enfants ont pu se régaler lors d'un merveilleux festin de Noël, au cours duquel des cadeaux ont été distribués à l'ensemble des enfants avant que certains d'entre eux ne rentrent dans leur famille respective. Les enfants ont également réalisé un superbe spectacle de Noël sous les applaudissements des spectateurs, amis et invités. Le 25 décembre a été célébré autour d'un véritable déjeuner de Noël, le tout couronné par l'apparition du Père Noël et de sa hotte remplie de glaces. Enfin, le passage à la nouvelle année a donné lieu à un réveillon placé sous le signe de la dance, avec au programme, un "talent show" et une superbe boom. Le jour du 1er de l'an a une fois de plus, permis aux enfants de se régaler autour d'un bon déjeuner.

Nous aurions aimé pouvoir partager ces moments avec tous ceux qui nous apportent leur soutien, à défaut, des photos pourront témoigner de ces quelques moments magiques passés à Akany Avoko.

Si vous cliquez sur les liens et les photos ci-dessous, vous pourrez accéder à la totalite des albums.

Christmas Show 2011 [Video]

Jan. 7, 2012 Video and Text by Chad Lebo

Pictures and words can only go so far. If you want to really see and hear what our 2011 Annual Christmas Show was like, please watch the video. It is a high resolution video, so if you want to choose a larger size it will still be lovely.

Enjoy.

Annual Church Christmas Show 2011

Herod's military receiving orders from the King.

Dec. 31, 2011 Text and Photos by Anjara RAJAONARIVELO 
Edited by Chad Lebo

Every year Akany Avoko performs a Christmas show and each year it is better than the last.

On the night of the 19th of December, Akany Avoko had their Christmas show at the FJKM church in Ambohidratrimo where the children regularly attend. Usually Akany Avoko shares the church Christmas show with another group like a scout troop or sunday school organization, but this year only Akany Avoko was engaged for the opening night that began a week of Christmas shows at the church.

The Akany Avoko kids prepared quite hard for their two hour Christmas show that included: singing, storytelling, choreographed dancing and poems about Christmas. The show went very well and the public clapped for the kids especially for the youngest children when they recited their little poem. The best part of the show was the Nativity play, the story about Jesus' birth.  The Akany Avoko teenagers acted well and wore the fashions of the time of Herod, the king when Jesus was born.

All the children performed beautifully in the show thanks to their practice lead by the staff of Akany Avoko and the choir from the Lutheran church in Ambatovinaky.

Christmas Extravaganza

Any celebration that involves homemade paper hats is bound to be fun.

Dec. 27, 2011 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

What would Christmas be at a children's home without a Christmas show? And not just a show. It was an extravaganza of singing, dancing and acting. This fantastic day took a tremendous amount of work that all in attendance were greatly appreciative of.

But talking about singing and dancing is not terribly effective, so please click below and let the rest of the photos tell the story. And stay tuned for a video compilation of the show later in the week.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Day 2010

That is one nice and big Christmas lunch.

Jan. 19, 2011 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

Being away from home on Christmas can be hard. Many of the children at Akany on have not seen their home or family in months or even years for some. But on Christmas day, they were still surrounded by  friends and what could be a sad day was a wonderful day of love and celebration.

Annual Akany Avoko Christmas Show

Dec. 29, 2010 Text, Photos and Video by Chad Lebo

After weeks and weeks of practices and rehearsals, the children put on their best clothes and put their best feet forward for the annual Akany Avoko Christmas Show. The guests, staff and the children themselves were treated to dancing, singing and even a morality play with a quite convincing devil that only managed to scare a few children (and possibly this reporter).

Christmas Party Part 3: Music and Dancing

Dec. 24, 2010 Photos, Video and Text by Chad Lebo

When it comes to national Malagasy sports, karaoke is second only to excessive stamping of documents. It is no surprise then that the Akany Avoko Christmas party had plenty of music and dancing. The children performed some lovely and lively dances. But don't take my word for it. Watch for yourself in the video.

Christmas Party Part 2: Gifts

Dec. 20, 2010 Text, Photos and Video by Chad Lebo

There is very little to be said about the Christmas gift giving at Akany this year. There is much to see and hear however, so I will let the video and the pictures do most of the talking.

One thing should be mentioned though. All of the screaming in the above video is due to the biggest hit of the Christmas gift giving season...shoes. Yes, shoes. You may consider someone a heel if she gives you socks or shoes for Christmas (pun sadly intended), but here a nice pair of shoes is all it takes to set off screams of delight.

Christmas Party Part 1: Food

There are lots of way to give thanks at a meal: enjoying chicken like a hungry jackal
is just one of them.

Dec. 19, 2010 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

Food is an important part of life at Akany. Just as fine meal and company can make your day's troubles melt away. A good meal for the kids can make their memories of a troubled past fade. And Christmas time, as we celebrate God's gift to us, is a wonderful time for feasting among friends.

On December 12, we got an early start on the holiday season by having a day of food, friends, gifts and music. The Akany Christmas party was a long and marvelous day. Too many good things for one post, so we will start with the food and follow up with the gifts and music in a few days.