Swaziland and Mozambique,

Back in Swaziland by the beginning of February, I have visited our demonstration preschool at Helemisi some times. Very nice children! We agreed on the last staff meeting to start a project on making this preschool one of the best in Swaziland. All staff will give their ideas in the next meeting!

Last week I also did a quick two days visit to Maputo. I met with Bernardo Muthemba who is working to get our application to start a preschool teacher training through all the different offices. He has also done a great job by finding a number of documents that need to follow such an application. Leif Listgaard, a Swedish missionary at the street children's centre in Maputo also took part in the meetings.

The picture: Bernardo with his wife and two children, a neigbour and a friend of the children, with me in from of Bernardo's house.

I also had a meeting with the director and three staff members of the Faculty of Education at the Universidade Pedagogica. They seemed positive to assist us, and we hope they will sign our certificates. This will give our preschool training a good reputation. The Director also was interested in cooperation with our Competence Building Network for Early Childhood in South and East Africa.  We will soon have a new meeting with them.

Another nice happening this week was that Kirsti had invited a number of our friends here for a celebration of my 60. birthday. We had Mrs. and Mr. Tsabedze, Mrs. and Mr. Khumalo, Lars Blystad, Lars Olsen, Mr. and Mrs. Thwala, Evy Surdal and Mrs. and Mr. Dlamini (Absalom and Flora). Kirsti had a nice picture show about different aspects of my life, and had made a song, there were speches and a song from the guests and also nice messages from our daugheters, sons in law and grandchildren. A memorable evening.

Summerfield was a nice frame around the occation. The menu was very good!

Kirsti and me listening to one of the good speeches!