Kids in Africa do a lot of the same things you do. They go to school, eat tasty snacks and play with friends! Come along as we see what life looks like for kids across Africa. What looks the same and what is different from your world?
My name is Kelvin
and I am 8 years old. I live in a village in Thyolo, Malawi. I am the youngest of three children in my family.
I will be the village leader when I grow up! My grandfather is the chief of our village, and when I grow up, I will be the chief too. In my village, the chief helps people and ensures that everyone lives in peace with each other. I feel good because one day I will lead the people, continue our family’s tradition and serve my community.
I’m Dorcas
and I am 6 years old. I live in a remote village in southern Burkina Faso. My parents are farmers. My dad is feeling sick, so I ask you to pray for the healing of my father, and for peace and safety in my country. I want to become a teacher when I grow up.
Kelvin: In my community, I walk everywhere. I walk to church, to school, to the Compassion center and to the tea field to pick tea with my mother. I also walk to the market. The only time I use a minibus is when I am going to the city.
Dorcas: I walk to school near my house and sometimes ride my sister’s bike to the market. People travel to town using motorbikes or tricycles. My grandparents used to travel on the back of a donkey or a cart.
Imagine living on an island and traveling by boat! That’s what life is like for these children in Rwanda who live on Mushungo Island on Lake Kivu. The quickest way for them to reach their Compassion center each week is a 40-minute canoe ride!
Kelvin: I hang out at the school football ground with my friends. I love football and my friends say I am a good player. We make our own balls using wool from old blankets or carpets and then we cover them with plastic or paper.
Dorcas: I like to play hopscotch with my friends at the center, and make toy dolls out of corn.
Kelvin: I love macarons. Rice too but macarons are my favorite. I used to eat macarons when I visited my grandfather in the city, but here in my village, people don’t know what macarons are. It’s not my favorite but we eat nsima, a hard maize porridge, every day.
Dorcas: My favorite food is called moui-guila. It is balls of rice with peanut sauce. I usually buy it from a cook in the local market.
Kelvin’s favorite fit is a smart button-down shirt — perfect for the future chief of his village!
Dorcas is part of the Mossi tribe and loves the outfit she gets to wear on special occasions.
See what other kids around Africa love to wear!
Irene, Precious and Catherine are draped in kitenge cloth, which is worn by more than 100 tribes in Africa!
Paul and Salina are from the Pokot tribe in Kenya. How beautiful is Salina’s beaded head piece?
Abalvi performs a traditional dance in Togo. She’s from the Ewe people and is wearing her tribe’s special dress.
Elbethel wears a special dress called habesha kemis, which is worn by the Habesha people in Ethiopia.
Fast facts:
• African clothes are known for their bright colors and patterns that celebrate the wearer’s unique culture.
• Many families wear traditional clothes for church or special days and wear everyday clothes like T-shirts and shorts for school and play.
Mayamiko lives in Zambia, where clothes are often bright and covered in colorful patterns!
Kids in Africa wear regular clothes like jeans, shorts and T-shirts to play in, too, and often wear a uniform to school like Anaella, Ruth, Sifa and Kenia in Rwanda.