the last posting.
So far I've been to 8 schools out of the
11or so that I am attempting to work
with. Added 4 to the list this week.
It is a process though and doesn't
mean that I'll be active in the schools
any time soon but it's about building
the connections at this point.
We started a theatre group at the
the local school with the older kids.
Basically teenagers and they seem
like a really good bunch. A teacher
at the school has a degree in theatre
and he seems really good at it. I'm
just helping out and will do camera
work and video editting if it gets to
that point. The first practice was just
incredible and it is exactly what the
kids of their age need. It gives them
a way to express themselves.
I'm thinking if it goes well then maybe
the group can practice at some of
the other schools to create interest
for theatre in this area.
In the picture above you can see specks
of people in the background. That is the
beginning of the new soccer field and
track at the same school as the theatre
group. There is a new younger teacher
who arrived the same time I did and
he's the physical education guy and
is having a lot of energy and ideas.
In the past I've pushed for girls soccer
teams ... going for it again here. The
girls are limited to handball only but
that may be changing. The younger
teacher has talked to the girls about it
already and he has a friend in a town
over who can organize a girl's team
there. It just may work out.
Also talked to a couple of the schools
out of the 8 and a few have interest
in starting girls soccer also.
Plus talked about a spelling bee and
again, some interest there.
I am working in the health sector and
we planted 2 moringa trees (leaves
full of nutrition) in the back of the
maternity building. This will be to
demonstrate and hopefully create
interest before the rainy season arrives.
If the people are sold we will pass out
seeds when the rains come.
In general it's been a good week except
for the stress that Rex the dog creates
as he starts chasing the goats ... even
in front of their owners.
One lady was really mad as Rex started
going after her goats. She had some real
nice words for me. Don't blame her as she
thinks that Rex is my dog.
So, it takes ten minutes in the morning
before I take off trying to get Rex closed
in somewhere before I can leave. I'm
finished with Rex tagging along out
of the village. It's hard enough being
the only white person around let
alone having a dog that chases people's
goats around. Could slow down the
integration process a bit.
But I am really lucky that the theatre,
sports, girls soccer and spelling bee
are becoming possibilities this early
in my tour here. Usually it all starts
happening a year or more into it.
Despite Rex, it's been a great week.
It's all just the beginning and some
of it might not happen but ... it
just may.
If it all does it's going be fun around
here.
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