At least six boys sharing from one plate.
All gone!
By now, I would be totally amazed (in fact, flabbergasted) if I were to see an actual lunchroom in a rural South African school. With classroom space already at a premium, a dedicated lunchroom is out of the question. Kids at both the primary and secondary schools eat lunch wherever they wish — classrooms or school yard.
Most primary learners bring their own plate on which to have food served. The secondary kids don’t seem to have their act together nearly so well. About one out of five have a plate (which is usually a shallow tin plate or a large, colorful plastic saucer), but that doesn’t stop them from getting their share of food. Note: Even fewer have a fork/spoon, but most people in the rural area eat with their hands anyway.
It probably happens, but I have never seen kids fighting each other for food. Perhaps it is because there is always enough or because they are generous and accustomed to sharing. The boys in the pictures above ate together from one plate without incident. I see similar actions all around the school yard. This is highly commendable given that for many of these learners, the school lunch is most likely their only meal of the day.
Kids waiting to get to outside faucet to clean plates.
