16th May
"My names Alex Ingram, I'm from the UK where I am a youth worker and work in the events industry...." is how I introduced myself to over a hundred ECD (early child development) teachers at the first of the eight week workshop that we are running. Its funny that I am putting together a workshop on something I have only recently acquired knowledge on. My introduction of myself and hopefully motivating speech seemed to go down well with many stops for clapping which did make very happy. I spoke of how we are here to share ideas, we are all learning and teaching at the same time. I also spoke of Picasso and how he said that every child is a born artist, the problem is keeping them that way. I said with ECD we can keep them artists for longer and use these skills that all children harness to help learn at this early stage in development.
Other than my mini speech I did a lot of organizing on the day and admin signing people in and sorting out forms etc. I also took a group of teachers to make sock puppets together which was great fun and hilarious. My puppet kicks serious arse!
The workshop was such an amazing success, in fact I was surprised at how well received it was and the amount of participation that we received. Having members of the Government and various education officials to speak at the end really helped to make the workshop feel special and I think is a motivating factor for both the Emerge volunteers as well as the teachers participating on the course.
15th May
Okay so blogging is not really the same as in India: limited Internet access, no laptop and a complete different kind of work...and well its just entirely different.
The rain last night was crazy, I mean actually insane. Its one of the rainy seasons now so in the nighttime it buckets it down. We have to strategically place towels to stop my room from flooding. In the morning I went with Peter and Marcel (two guys that work with E-merge) to St. Marks School with a water pump from the farm to pump out the water from where it floods. There has been a project to stop flooding and it is much better there, but still not perfect. Peter and I pump continuously between us for about two hours, the pump is a great design by a manufacturer called moneymaker. You use it a bit like a stepper or exercise bike unlike the traditional hand ones.
Later on Bart and I drove the two hour journey to Le Funga where one of the projects I a lot of responsibly for is happening. We are building the first form of a secondary school attached to an existing primary school. I measure up the room so I could design lockers and storage and also indicate towards the arrangement of desks and chairs once they have been made. We also visited the area education officer to discuss the beurocratic side of starting a school, getting pupils, staff, board of governors etc.
Later on we went to a great local Indian buffet place where I was shocked by the number of Mzungus (white people) they had all come for a friend of a friends leaving party. mmmm good food and even a little dancing. I enjoyed being in the bar for a little while but then it dawned on me that this is what I had come to escape from.
Beginning of first week
I am so happy to be back in Kisumu, it really does feel like a home from home and took no re-adjustment which was not something I thought that would happen.
My laptop has gone a bit crazy so blogging is not easy and accessing all my work is impossible but I'm working on it, plus internet is only at web cafe's.
Okay, so what have I been up to:
Well I've been living with Bart plus two other volunteers one from Hawaii and one from Brazil. We have a great team and work really well together. It has such a dynamic feel as we are all off doing different things working towards the same goals and feeding back and communicating with eachother.
In the last week we have been planning, sorting the logistics and making purchases towards an eight week course for ECD (early childhood development). Its funny that I am helping to plan and leading workshops even though this is something I do not have much experience of...except for when I was a child and experienced education and kindergarten. (which, lets face it, wasn't that long ago) Skills in drama, youth work, music and my own research are all coming in useful and I think its going to be a great course.
I have also been getting quotes and putting together designs for chairs at the High school which Emerge is pretty much organizing. It is a primary school and they are collaborating on making a first year of secondary. So i have been getting millions of quotes, doing lots of maths and trying to bargain down fundi (workers) and metal manufacturers....all good fun!
I have also been trying to get the best deal on books, I think the shop I am getting most from are actually making a loss as I bargained so hard...he he he
I also visited Marc where he is headmaster at his new school Arya, which is amazing. It has fantastic facilities and a great vibe, but is operating at its maximum and turning kids away...playing space is a real issue.. I am looking to help with ICT, school newsletter and fundraising for his hall floor.
Today was very strange as we drove to Salem home... i walked in to find it completely empty and could not here the sounds of kids voices that once filled that building. After a long time of difficulty with funds they finaly moved to there new home, which I visited and seems nice. I am interested to find out more about it. They have definitely downsized and are operating at maximum capacity which is low compared to the old location two years ago. The sheets and farming tools donated in 2007 are still there and in use, which is amazing! I think it shows it is a worthwhile place to keep working with as it is a sign that they are appreciative of support and that corruption is not so much an issue here, although as I've learnt, you still always need to be a step ahead with eyes wide open.
I will meet with Phoebie soon to chat about the home and there needs.
I've been so busy I am sure there are a million things I have left out, I will try and blog sometime soon. But I am really having an amazing time. It is very scary seeing the result of the civil war. Places i visited last time are Burnt to the ground, even big buildings, like a constant reminder of the civil war and current political situation. Things all seem very peacefull but I am keeping an ear to the ground.
Please keep in contact everyone even if I am not so good at blogging or updating. Not having internet at home, laptop dying and being so busy make it tough to find time to sit down at a PC.
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