The swingless swing

Do you remember hot sunny days at recess at school?  

The shrieks of children having fun?

The joy of dancing with friends? 

Giggling with buddies -- waiting to be next on line for the swing?  

We imagine,  that you, like us, remember these days. 
You also might know children who are currently in school, who play at recess like you did.
You must know kids who are now creating memories that will last a lifetime.

We also know children who play at recess. Kids who hug joyously and dance with abandon.   
They too, wait for the swing… but while the frame of a full, once complete swing set remains…
there is no swing. 

There is not a chain that remains -- just the frame which once held up the swings

You would think that such a sad sight might mean that the "swings" were no longer used. 
(Yup, that would be a rational conclusion.) 

You would think that children would need to find somewhere else to play…

You might ask yourself, what good is a frame with no swing on it…
you might think it nothing more than an eyesore.

Then you haven’t met the children of Mwebaza School!

These wonderful, joyous, energetic children have taken this frame, this “swingless swing” ...
and turned it into a make-shift monkey bars!


They still wait joyously for their turn.

Their enthusiasm is palpable.

You do a double take and forget there is no swing there!

I have seen a lot on my first day in Africa.  I have seen warmth, friendship and collaboration.   

However, I believe it is the “swingless swing” which will stay with me most of all.  

To me, “the swingless swing” is an example of…

The overcoming of adversity.   

Of turning something bleak into something bright…

Of looking at what’s possible - instead of what is.

There is so very much to be learned from these wonderful children and the “swingless swing.”

To help the children at Mwebaza School soar even higher than they could on the greatest swing set,
please visit us at

https://mwebaza.org/