Christmas in the informal settlements does not always look like the cards — no snow, sometimes no tree, often a budget that snaps if you breathe too hard. Yesterday at ETCO we still made room for tinsel, for prayer, and for plates heavy with rice and stew.
Children elbowed gently for seconds; elders ate slowly, talking about grandchildren who had travelled or not. Youth who usually vanish into the city’s noise sat on benches and teased each other the way family does.
We are grateful to every cook, donor, and partner who showed up — cash, groceries, time. You made the hall warmer than the weather.
We looked ahead, too: New Year’s Day 2025 at the ETCO office — another shared meal, another chance to begin together. Mark your calendar and bring a friend; we will save a plastic chair.
