There are often unique features in different families as far as parenting and child behavior is concerned; specific families have their secluded ways of bringing up their children into being responsible citizens or grownups. In the African culture most children are less expressive of their feelings not only towards their parents to their siblings and others as well. They are unable to express to their parents if they feel they have been wronged or if there is any sort of conflict. In the African culture you also find something called the ‘gender difference syndrome’, in which a male child is brought up to think that he is superior to his sisters and all females in the world. In the Bagisu culture of Eastern Uganda, male circumcision is a cherished custom. A circumcised male child is privileged to command total respect from all people, both female and uncircumcised male. Such a child is considered to be more of a man, and more honored, than even a far older, mature, uncircumcised male. For instance, he is eligible to share a conversation with older circumcised men in his community where as his uncircumcised counterpart is not, no matter the age difference.
An African male child is taught that work such as cooking, washing dishes, fetching water from the well, and doing laundry, is work typically meant only for the females and not men. In the most remote areas of Africa where this way of thinking is strongly held on to, men laugh at fellow men who wash dishes, cook for their wives, or any other kind of ‘female work’.
Joy of a Child, however, is different. There is a uniqueness to the culture of the house as far as child expression is concerned. First and foremost, brotherhood has been engrained into every kid. They are always reminded that they are brothers and sisters and so they need to treat each other with love and respect. To further encourage the children to express themselves, the house holds a ‘family court’ in which the kids express their complaints about each. Corrections are conducted under the guidance of the staff, and forgiveness bridged between the warring parties. This is always finalized by the formally warring parties hugging and becoming friends again. Also during the family court, the kids have a chance to express what they feel about the elders (house parents or staff) in the home, in which the elder involved also asks for forgiveness from the child. Family court is held every Wednesday night and all the kids always look forward to it, not to get an opportunity of judging others, but to put things right amongst themselves. This unique form of free expression has taught the kids honesty, love and forgiveness.
There is nothing like a ‘gender difference syndrome’ at JOAC. Both boys and girls share the same roles in the home. Just like the girls, boys cook, serve the food on the dining table, wash dishes, do laundry, baby sit Daniel, and fetch water.
The uniqueness of Joy of a Child is that the Kids have been taught how to freely express themselves and respect each other regardless of gender, age or background.
Blog by Joseph Ochwo
