It is with the greatest joy that I report that the Kakamega Township Library is completely funded! Thanks to the generosity of you, my family and friends, the library needed 250,000 shillings....which is about $3125. The Salvation Army Long Beach has notified me of each donation, and they are preparing to wire the funds to Kenya West. The form to allow for the Salvation Army World Services wire transfer has been received in Kakamega, and my project supervisor has gotten the OK to complete it and return it to the US. I am particularly happy that your donations will be handled through the Army here; there will be greater oversight for the purchase of the books.
Because there is just over $3500, I will confer with the Army as to how to spend the money over and above the funds for books. New shelves will be needed for the addition of so many books. The windows need glass as well. I am overwhelmed that you exceeded the book money and we will have some improvement money. Every child at Township stands to gain from the donation of new books-they are provided for classes 1 through 8. Please take a moment to imagine the impact you are making on a disadvantaged neighborhood school.
It has been my intention to write and thank each of you. If you have not received a thank you from me or a receipt from the Salvation Army, please let me know. Because there was a donation that went unacknowledged, I was able to find that the check was not received. Do not hesitate to let me know.
My cup runneth over. You keep my spirits high and I thank you for your support, both monetary and spiritual.
xxoorox
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Wild Child
In the middle of Term 2, mid-June, we got another student in the Special Unit who appeared to be about 7 years old. She had never been to school and spoke only her tribal language (no Kiswahili or English). Her big smile and sparkling eyes invited us to like her right away. Because she had no clue about school, Timothy told me to continue taking care of my three students, and he would oversee Simani as she got used to the school environment.
Term 2 ended about 7 weeks later and Simani had shown her true colors. She walked with a swagger, hitting anyone and everyone. She played grab and run just to get attention, and nothing was off-limits: books, pencils, erasers,, anything I was using to teach, even a novel or water bottle from my backpack. I told my kids not to chase her and sure enough, she would come back, even more annoyed. Eventually most things were returned from some part of the school campus. She camped out in other classrooms where she was equally disruptive. When she wandered off campus, my girls went to retrieve her. She screamed, cried, and kicked. Timothy's oversight was almost nil and she learned nothing in Term 2 except how to be a 7 year old tyrant.
She's back. The other classrooms now deliver her back to our room. Even at recess, the older girls return her as they are finished being nice to her. Timothy is not on campus regularly so she runs amok. She stirs up my kids to a point of no return. She hauls off and hits each of them and then runs. Paul picks up the chase through the room and when he catches her, there is hell to pay. She can produce blood-curdling screams and tears on a moment's notice; Paul is under the tables, over the chairs, and in a corner gloating. It is not the stuff of teaching.
I told Timothy of her escalating frustration, boredom, and aggression. He seemed somewhat surprised and appreciated my concern. Alternatives for Simani were not met with much discussion. Term 3 may turn out to be a course in self-defense for me and mine.
Term 2 ended about 7 weeks later and Simani had shown her true colors. She walked with a swagger, hitting anyone and everyone. She played grab and run just to get attention, and nothing was off-limits: books, pencils, erasers,, anything I was using to teach, even a novel or water bottle from my backpack. I told my kids not to chase her and sure enough, she would come back, even more annoyed. Eventually most things were returned from some part of the school campus. She camped out in other classrooms where she was equally disruptive. When she wandered off campus, my girls went to retrieve her. She screamed, cried, and kicked. Timothy's oversight was almost nil and she learned nothing in Term 2 except how to be a 7 year old tyrant.
She's back. The other classrooms now deliver her back to our room. Even at recess, the older girls return her as they are finished being nice to her. Timothy is not on campus regularly so she runs amok. She stirs up my kids to a point of no return. She hauls off and hits each of them and then runs. Paul picks up the chase through the room and when he catches her, there is hell to pay. She can produce blood-curdling screams and tears on a moment's notice; Paul is under the tables, over the chairs, and in a corner gloating. It is not the stuff of teaching.
I told Timothy of her escalating frustration, boredom, and aggression. He seemed somewhat surprised and appreciated my concern. Alternatives for Simani were not met with much discussion. Term 3 may turn out to be a course in self-defense for me and mine.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Snapshot: South Africa
It didn't take me long to fall in love with South Africa. The history of the nation is full of intrigue: there was lots of give and take between the British and the Dutch. The Brits did most of the governing and the Dutch headed for the countryside to develop the land. The 20th century fight for freedom is part of that fascinating story.
Cape Town is the big drawing card for this magnificent country: the water and the coastline, the backdrop of Table Mountain, the gardens and green scape. Friends Anta and Gavin introduced me to many pals-how special it is to sit in someone's home sharing venison pie and funny stories. Took a car trip across the bottom of South Africa, traveling across fields that went forever, splashed with canola amidst a sea of greens. The 'wine farm' hardly describes the Dutch Colonial bounty of the wine lands. Walked the Cape of Good Hope and all I could think was: I can't believe I am at the bottom of the world (pictured above, with guides)! Saw bushman art on the walls of Drakensberg, wandered a stud farm in Zulu country, lived in a glass house in a game reserve, and took Rovos Rail across the dusty diamond lands. I visited townships and homelands, Johannesburg and Soweto. Too bad it is 10,000 miles from home. I must return to this land of contrasts and strength and beauty.
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