While we were in Kenya we began a movie night every Saturday at Nice View Academy/Orphanage. The kids would go to school during the day until around 2 then the kids who live at the orphanage would do their chores (wash clothes, sweep the dorm, clean the compound etc.). Around 5:30pm or so we would have dinner and wait for the crazy dark! Then Chuck and I and a couple of helpers would take all our a/v equipment to a classroom to set up the movie. We have an electrical converter (going from 240v to 110v), DVD player, projector and speaker system at Nice View, but we use a white sheet for a screen which works great, very flexible and easy to carry around!
While my helpers and I would set up the equipment, Mutie (the night watchman) would hang the “screen” and Chuck (with a couple more helpers) would bring the snacks to the room. Meanwhile there would begin to be a buzz in the compound, “what movie are we going to watch?”, “we’re having soda!”, “are they ever going to be finished setting up so we can get into the room!?” and finding their friend so they can sit next to each other when the door opens.
The first week we had the kids who live at the orphanage gather for the movie, the next week we noticed that Jane and Catherine (both teachers at Nice View and who live on the Academy’s compound) joined us for the movie, then after that people would happen to be around Nice View at movie time – usually they were family members of either the students or teachers. Everyone was welcome and we would arrange desks, sit on tables and bring in chairs so everyone could watch the movie.
For snack we would have either popcorn and soda, chips and soda or biscuits (shortbread-type cookies) and milk. I preferred the cookies and milk but the kids voted on the popcorn and soda. Since it’s only once a week I guess it’s ok!
Each child would stand in line at the door with their own plate – they each have a dish they are responsible for and use this for all meals at Nice View. Many times while kids are lining up I will have to ask if everyone is there, because of the crazy dark I couldn’t see how long the line was and they are unusually quiet in line because they don’t want to take a chance on being sent to their room for being unruly!
When everyone was in line they would be allowed into the “theatre”, each would stop at the snack area, get their bowl/plate filled with popcorn, get a soda and find a seat. As you can see from the pictures they are sitting two to three at a desk, but no one really cared because they were so excited to see the movie.
Once all the kids were seated a hush would come over the crowd as they waited for the movie to begin and once it started their full attention was on the movie! After the movie was over we would say a prayer of thanks and safety throughout the night then everyone went off to bed.
It was such fun bringing them something as simple as a movie to brighten their evening, something for them to look forward to during the day. We plan on starting movie night back up once we return to Kenya so if you have any DVD’s of movies and/or television shows you would like to donate to Saved By God’s Grace please send them to 4410 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite #7, Glendale, AZ 85308-1656 or you can give them to Chuck or I if you see us!