Kenya: first day at Red Rose School

I'll keep it brief here tonight.   I need to spend some time developing my thoughts in my written journal.  My head is spinning with questions and ideas.

Today was our first day at Red Rose School, a small school run by the Children of Kibera Foundation.  I have been assigned to Class 4 (ages 9-12, mostly 11 year olds... similar to American fifth grade).  Today we observed three classes (for us Kiswahili, English and Religion).  We'll do some more shadowing this week and then I hope to jump in and do some teaching starting later this week or early next week.

This is my new favorite picture.  All the kids in my class wanted to try taking pictures.  Clearly some of didn't know this was being taken.

Courtney is the high school student also assigned to Class 4. 

Teacher George -- English.  Today's lesson was on changing past tense sentences to present tense.

The school is amazing.  The KIDS are amazing.  Some students rise as early at 4:30 a.m. to get to school (on foot-- one boy in Class 4 walks 15 km one way).  They arrive at school by 6 a.m. and are in classes until 5 p.m.  There are two short breaks and a lunch period during the day.

The schools in Kenya are very much built on the traditional English system.  Students wear uniforms (for Red Rose students, red socks, khaki pants or shorts, a white and red striped undershirt and a red sweater).  Students in Class 4 sit in rows and are basically impeccably behaved.  I have never seen 10 and 11 year olds so focused in my life.  Tremendous.  They are very funny.  During the break they asked me a lot of questions, including:

• "What did you want to be when you were a little boy?" (explaining what an archaeologist is can be very tricky I found out today). 
• "What is your favourite football (Premiere League Soccer) team?"
• "How old are you?"

I was amazed by their knowledge of current events.  They wanted to know if I'd heard the story about the death of Kenyan minister George Saitoti a few weeks back.

After lunch, we spent some time with the Power Women of Kibera group.  This group of ~20 women started as a group of HIV/AIDS infected mothers who started to save a small amount of money to help each other buy medicine for themselves and their children (between the 20 of them, they are raising 72 children-- their biological children and others).  They have expanded their business and sell beautiful homemade beaded jewelry and handbags.  They taught us how they make their wares and we were able to make something.  I made a great necklace.  They are expanding and adding a salon onto their existing shop in Kibera.  What an amazing group of women!  I grew quite attached two my two "Kibera moms," Doreena & Caro. SUPPORT THESE WOMEN!  Click here!

 

Upon arrival back at Shalom House the students had a journal prompt and we had some very interesting discussions about their impressions of Kenya/Kibera/Red Rose School/etc. so far.  It so cool getting to experience this trip but also to see it through their eyes.