Friday, October 16, 2009

Oriwo Education Centre

I have been on my OSP for over a month now and time seems to be going very quickly. My two projects are coming along well and are keeping me busy. I spend most of my time at Oriwo the nursery school. The children and teachers have really opened up and are very welcoming. Craig and I have bought them small tables and chairs so that the children don't have to sit on the ground anymore. Giving these tables and chairs to them was one of my favorite days I have had in Kenya. We didn't tell the teachers or students that we were doing this and one day we just showed up with all of it. The looks on their faces was something that I will remember forever. The land owner who is also the head of the school came out of her house dancing. The children sang us songs with the biggest grins. We have also given the school stationary, books and charts which has already been put to good use. I know that my time spent at Oriwo is always worthwhile. The children have so little but I have never seen happier kids in my life. I have also started teaching at Oriwo which is both exciting and challenging. The children are so eager to learn and have so many questions. At times it is frustrating because their English is not very good and my Luo and Swahili is very very limited. There are a few children that live near Oriwo that I have a very soft spot for. Gloria is in the baby class and has the biggest smile I have ever seen and Brina is going to start in the baby class next year. The two of them run up to me as soon as they see me yelling 'MZUNGU MZUNGU!' That is my favorite part of the day seeing their bright little faces. There is another little girl in the ready class who is very quite and has a lot of potential but after her mother died her father abandonded her and her grandmother can not afford to pay for her books so her chances of going to primary school are limited. It's quite sad beacuse she is probably the brightest kid in the whole class. I hope to sponsor her. Well that's everything that has been happening at Oriwo and next time I will write about my womens group.