Kenya: Such love for these kids...

Today I went to the lower campus (baby class [age 3] through class 3) today during break time.  There were endless games, songs and dances.  The energy in that alley was exhilarating!

It's been another busy few days in Nairobi.  We've once again been at Red Rose School each morning for teaching and volunteering.  I've been letting the high school student also assigned to my class (Std. 4) do some teaching... but I've also taught some songs, including "Yonder Come Day" and "We Shall Overcome."  We also did a bit of solfege (some of the kids knew the "Do Re Mi" song from The Sound of Music!).

I am absolutely in love with these kids.  I can't describe to you how incredibly kind and humble they are.  Sarah, our American trip leader, is a math resource teacher and brought a huge bag of plastic compasses and used plastic rulers.  When we brought a class set of compasses in the other day, you'd have thought it was the best thing they'd ever seen.  They stared at the packages for a minute or two in utter disbelief.  Amazing.  It really puts things in perspective.  I will never look at money the same way ever again.  I am a bit worried that my life will feel utterly exorbitant when I get home.  I can tell you one thing, once I pay off my credit cards, every cent of my extra cash is going to this school and these kids.  If you can afford it, it costs $360 to sponsor a Red Rose student for one year.  I will help facilitate this sponsorship if you're interested.

Tuesday afternoon we were toured around Kibera by the staff of Carolina for Kibera, an NGO started by a UNC alumni and ex-marine.  I read the story if the founding of this group in the book It Happened on the Way to War, which I highly recommend.  Yesterday afternoon we visited Bura Bura Girls Boarding High School in East Nairobi.  It was interesting to meet these girls and learn about their lives and their educational experiences.  We had an opportunity to meet Vane, one of the ten high school scholars sponsored by Children of Kibera Foundation.  Ten scholars received an all-expenses paid scholarship out of a pool of 600 applicants.  We attended the academic assembly for the end of term at Bura Bura where the administrators and teachers announce the academic standings-- the top student in each subject and then the top ten students in each class.  Vane was the #1 student in Form 4 (equivalent to to American 12th grade). See photo below.

Tomorrow the high school students I'm with bid farewell to the Red Rose students.  I'm not even leaving and it's tomorrow and I'm already getting sad.  I can't imagine how hard it's going to be to leave these kids.

Photos, in no particular order:

 Chaperone Margaret Halpin did some art with Class 6

 

At Buru Buru Girls Boarding School.  In the front from left to right: Jeff Okoth, Vane (CoKF High School Scholar), Buru Buru administrator.

 Chatting with students at Bura Bura

 

Having dinner with Bura Bura's music teacher and Ken Okoth.  I had my first serving of ugali, a Kenyan staple food. 

 This is Sandra from my class.  She's pretty awesome... and she wears her Obama hat every day!

 Walking through Kibera.

 

We had the students do an art project where they could draw a magical invention.  I thought this was very sweet.

I love these kids so much.