Creativity fosters Creativity

The packers are in today. I'm getting ready to walk down that corridor of life and open another door...right Dad!? But, I am thinking of my time away from Africa as extended leave. I am certain I'll be back.

I first came to Africa to volunteer in three different local schools in Uganda. I found that my short time in three schools was making little impact and it was hard to build relationships in three schools in such a short time, so I then focused my time and energy in one school teaching mainly the P7 class at Valley View, on the outskirts on Jinja.

Teaching in a local school was quite an eye opener. I went full of fun ideas and resources (I think I was treating it a bit like 'summer camp', but the young Headmaster of the school, Hope, gently insisted that I focus on the curriculum, as children had to sit competitive exams for secondary schools and universities. Children learnt old fashioned English idioms off by heart and countless other, pretty useless, things. On paper it seemed that the pupils all had a good grasp of English, but unfortunately in conversations could say very little. Rote learning was the method of teaching and there was little opportunity for creative thinking or creating learners with problem solving skills.  Unfortunately this means that pupils and young adults may leave the educational system with certificates and high marks but are unable to get good jobs as many organisations recognised the limitations to the government education system. This means that in lots of cases the educational system is failing many pupils.

What I am saying is not new. We now know that rote learning does not give children the skills for life long learning, but in the not so distant past it was how everybody learnt in the shiny Western world, so we can't be so quick to be critical. Now, in the National Curriculum and PYP/IB system, although recognising that sometimes there is still a place for rote learning (when learning the times tables, conjugating Latin verbs, reciting Poetry etc), good schools and teachers will use each activity in lessons to encourage and inspire creativity, leadership and co-operative skills in each pupil. As educationalists, we recognise that pupils need to leave school with relevant skills for the ever changing environment that we live in.

DevEd is a newly established NGO that believes relevant education is the key to development. As a teacher, I value the mission of this organisation. They are currently carrying out a participatory assessment in Northern Uganda and aiming to build a pilot school with a tailored curriculum to fit the needs and values of the Amolatar community. DevEd believes this will empower the community as the curriculum will be more relevant to learner. Sounds great, don't you think?

If you would like to find out more about DevEd's project in Northern Uganda, watch this cool wee video clip.

It is so easy to get lost in our own world, we which are the centre of, but here is a way you can easily get involved. DevEd and Love+Water Designs are hosting a T-shirt design competition to raise funds and awareness for the organisation. Cash prizes will be awarded to two chosen winners. Designs can be submitted on the Love+Water Designs website.

Please spread the word about the competition, especially those of you in Uganda. Thank you!

(PS - To make you smile-I have just realised my external hard drive (probably along with a number of other things that I need before September) has been packed by accident in one of my 22 boxes. Whoops! Time to use some problem solving skills! )

Kibera-revisted

As I said in a recent post, I went back to Kibera last weekend. It is different every time, it changes with the seasons and is growing daily. This particular Saturday morning seemed particularly active. I think with the rains it just takes more effort to move around and it takes longer doing anything-perhaps this is why it seemed busier. There were more children in the classroom at the Kibera Mpira Mtaani project too. Maybe with the rains people are less likely to want to stay inside there homes.

My friend and I were well prepared for the visit; we wore out gum boots (wellies) as there is no escaping the mud and water and whatever else. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to live there with the weather we have been having at the moment.

Work is harder during the rains. There are only certain parts of Kibera that cars can get to, from the rest of the maze is only accessible to foot. So all the materials for building work (like the new classroom for the project) has to be carried in or pushed on carts (tough in the mud), therefore labour is more expensive during rainy season.

On the other hand, the smells are not as pungent as when I last visited. (This was a relief as we were working, teaching the ladies to make cards, in the room above the latrines). The only smell was of the fish being sold.

I want to show you more of Kibera. The largest slum in Africa. But I can't. I don't have any more photos. I find it hard to get my camera out and take photos in such close proximity to people outside their homes, or working, busily placing the oval tomatoes back into position on their pyramid. I think it's invading their privacy and space. I know I could ask and some might say yes and even enjoy it and quickly pose for a stranger.

I wish I could show you images of the men gathered round, getting involved in the argument that promised to turn into a fight; as matutus stopped more men continued to gather round the crowd, wanting to know what was going on and join in the 'fun', but a man was taken away and the fight dispersed before it began, all done with good humour and spirit.

I wish I could show you the group of children gathered round a TV watching The Last of the Summer Wine standing in the mud and dirt that surrounds them.

Another time, perhaps. I will try to take more photos on my next visit.

Greetings from Kibera!

I revisited Kibera Mpira Mtaani (their website is under construction-so I cannot pass it on at the moment) on the weekend with Anisa, who is heavily involved and committed to the organisation. I've written about the project a couple of  times before.  Firstly when I visited to do some painting with children on the weekend and then the time I made and took play dough.

The project is successfully developing and growing; becoming more and more self-sufficient.

This time we went to try and teach some of the teachers and older students to make greetings cards, so that they could be sold to raise funds for the organisation.

Phew-it was hard work! Some of the ladies were fantastic-so enthusiastic and motivated. Others were 'deafeated' not long after we began. A few more sessions are needed before the ladies will be confident in their tasks (it also became pretty obvious early on that an investment into a guillotine is needed!) but it was a great start.

Working overtime

 Although I have been to Kibera before, today's visit was a new experience. The seasons have changed. The recent rains have made the mud pathways even more uneven and bumpy now that the sun have dried them out. The paths are filled with rubbish; you can't really take your eyes off the route for long. Time has no meaning in Kibera. All your senses are working overtime; it is quite an intense experience, so a mornings visit seems like a full days work.

The office for my friend's project Kibera Mpira Mtaani, the study room (filled with 6 newly-donated computers) and the TV room (remember-I wrote about how the project is becoming self-sustainable before) are all above eco-toilets. So, as you can imagine, with the heat comes the intoxicating smells. You try not to show you have noticed. To screw your face up. But keeping the conversation flowing becomes difficult.

Thankfully we didn't stay there long. Vincent (one of the local employees and founders of the project) showed us the new tents and chairs the project has bought, which they can now hire out. Then we moved onto the 'classroom' , where the project holds after-school workshops and homework sessions. Local schools are now in their long 8 week holiday, so children are happy to go somewhere to read, play and learn in a safe and stimulating environment. As it is Christmas time, donations of bright and colourful books have filled the book shelves since my last visit; families are making spaces for their new toys and presents. The 'classroom' is really a very happy place to be. It is a relief to be inside it.

Anisa and I both made play dough for today's visit. The play dough seemed to go down well. A few cheeky chaps did of course want to try to eat it, but soon realised it wasn't a good idea! Helicopters, planes, girls with long hair,chairs and baskets were created. I worked on a snake (!) for a while, then spent the rest of my time picked the play dough off my hands!

Merry Christmas greetings were passed and goodbyes (until next time) said.

Fun was had by all, including my friend's adorable little girl, Yara, who visited for the first time today.

PS-I was offered this very cool t-shirt, but I reminded him that it may be a little small! :)

PPS-If you feel like you have not done your share of giving this Christmas, you can make a donation here to the project.

sticky fingers

This evening I made my first few batches of cooked play dough (first without supervised help from an adult, that is!).

I  am taking it tomorrow; I am visiting the project Kibera Mpra Mtaani again, with my friend Anisa. Should be fun!

Being thankful

It is American Thanksgiving tomorrow. If I celebrated this, I know it would be my favourite holiday. Not as commercial as some of the others perhaps. Just time to be with family and eat LOTS! Sounds great!

Today, my class at school visited their community development link. It was there first visit to the Cheryl's Children's Home, the project that this year group support.

As every community development link, both sides should be able to learn and grow from each other, rather than just a handing over of money or gifts. But, I have learnt, these visits for children in International (or Prep) schools can be quite difficult. From large houses, cars, classrooms, filled with belongings that we forget we want, to empty, dark shells of buildings. No wonder some children feel awkward in the basic surroundings; wide eyed, quiet and too shy to meet new buddies. 

However, today was not like that at all.

The older girls and boys at the home, led my pupils on guided tours of the Home and chatted to them with ease. My pupils soon felt more relaxed and soon the building was a buzz of laughter and high pitched happy squeals. Songs were sang, lunch was shared and genuine friendships began.

Some of the children at the Home shared their story of how they ended up being in care. Honest and harrowing, but their stories all had a happy ending middle end-of-the-beginning; all were thankful for the help they had been given, thankful they had been found and are looking forward, to a bright future. Dreams were shared, hopes of  being pilots, teachers and nurses.

Everyone in the room was thankful. Thankful that the children in the Home were now getting the love and care they deserved.  Thankful for the love and care we have around us. Myself; thankful for the loving, understanding and supportive (the BEST!) family at the end of a phone, friends that make the journey through life much more fun, the education I was given to get me where I am, the job, the car, the shelter, the luxuries and comforts that we take for granted, a full belly (!), a healthy body that can run (half!) marathons and help calm my mind during yoga and thankful for the love I have been given to share with others.

What are you thankful for?

PS -I think I need to start up my 3BTs (3 Beautiful Things) again.

Notes from Nairobi: Reminders that I am in Africa

This weekend I visited the infamous Kabira  for the first time. This Kibera (meaning forest or jungle)...opposed to the country club I was a member of in Kampala...this Kibera is a community in Nairobi with over 1 million people. (I will write more about Kibera in more detail another time- but did you see the Comic Relief documentary that sent British celebrities to live and work in the ‘slum’ ; ‘Rich, Famous & In The Slums’ ? ) The problems of Kibera are known around the world and money is thrown at it.( I will write more about  There are said to be approximately one NGO worker for every person living in the community-quite a figure.

The projects that work are (of course) self-sustainable.  On Saturday I got invited by a friend to visit a project, Kibera Mpra Mtaani,which she is heavily involved in; it is becoming self sustainable and (more importantly) a success! 

The project works by using football as a tool to reach out to young people. One of the things the organisation was able to do was buy a small plot of land at Kibera (from the very rich landowners...) for an Education Centre. The facility is a haven for pupils that go to school, that need a place to do homework (with lights etc).  There are weekend sessions, to keep children from spending money on watching porn and out of trouble. A lot of these teaching sessions are fun and active using resources that are not always available in local schools (not something the children often get to experience at school)-for example paints and colours were taken today to do some art with the children. There is a full-time member of staff and volunteer teaching assistants that run study sessions. To make the organisation establish sustainability it spent donated funds on a satellite to view football games. People  have to pay a small amount to watch the game (which is above some Eco toilets...and has a good view of Kibera!) and the money is then pumped into the after school/weekend education facility. I was shown the new fridge that the organisation got from Cocacola to sell sodas at games to raise funds. Sounds simple, it is in theory, and it is massively successful.

I got to meet  Steven, the first pupil that has used the facility and was supported by the organisation and is now starting University on Monday, studying Education. 

The next step or the club is to expand their facility (as there are often days with over 200 children in the tin hut) and build an ICT suite – again which would be self sustainable.

It was great to see the project working and to think about future activities and how I can become more involved with the project. We are going to make play dough to take for the session.

 

Visit the website and show your support; it is a fantastic organisation!