Mkwiro times - week three

It’s the end of week three of my expo as staff in Mkwiro and am loving every minute.  This week has been a bit tricky, have somehow managed to come down with a cold in one of the hottest countries ever and got infected bites on the back of my legs so am walking a bit like a cripple!  Overall though, it has been a really good week.  We have taken on teaching more standards at the primary school and I am really happy to say the kids are being amazing with me – no more mazungu being shouted across the playground – they all know madam Jo (although a lot of them cannot get the pronunciation right, I am constantly being called Joy, and have given up with kindergarten and told them to call me Johanna!!  I am starting to get most of their names in my head – usually they’re names starting with Mwuana for a girl and Mohammad for a boy! Adorably enough I have been written a letter by one of my students talking about how he wants me to teach him English, French and Computer skills, and was approached today by a girl in class who had written – I love Madam Jo Very much – on her hand.  I freaking love this place!! The people in the village are mental, but some of the best people I have ever met!  One of the teachers has said I am not allowed to leave in April! 



Some of the girls from Standard 4



                                                                                     

 Yesterday we went to read at the orphanage and I taught a few of the boys how to play UNO! Lots of fun, even though they were blatantly trying to cheat!   Today again was some teaching and we got to do Music & movement with the kindergarten class – They love the hokey pokey and found a new favourite in “Funky Chicken!”

So I am on the island for the weekend working and looking after volunteers and getting myself all sorted for next week when I only have one volunteer to work with, will also be helping the fundi out again with finishing off fixing the holes in the floors of kindergarten and will hopefully be getting some more paint to finish brightening up the classrooms!  Lots of work to get done so am quite glad I am here, but am looking forward to next weekend where all the community staff are off together and planning on partying the weekend away!

Whistle while we work!!

Currently I am working in Mkwiro primary school and although it is an amazing place there is a lot of work that needs to be done. 

Walking around a classroom which is basically filled with massive potholes does not make the best teaching or learning environment, so this weekend myself, Fran the community officer and Bertie who works in the Forest did something about it.  Along with help from a few teachers, a student or two, the village chairman and assistant and of course the supervision of a local fundi we went to work. 

Me, Fran and Bertie after a lot of painting                                    

 Fran and Mr. Ali, a teacher from the school plaster the floors

I can happily say we really did achieve a lot!  In two days we have managed to fully paint one classroom (didn’t realize how large it was so used a full 20litres on it and will be purchasing more to complete the other classrooms!) Re-paint the blackboards in 4 classrooms – it was at the point where you couldn’t read anything so teaching was bit tricky, and fully fill all the potholes in 4 classrooms so no more falling over in class!!  All three of us learned how to mix cement, fill potholes and level the floors Kenyan style!!

It has been an absolutely knackering weekend, but so rewarding, I hope the students like what we have done so far, and am planning on doing more work at the school in the coming weeks.  Just a bit of paint and a lot of hard work and love really makes a difference and hopefully will make their learning environment a lot better! 

I LOVE MKWIRO!!!

So as you know I have been placed in Mkwiro and am the community staff member here.  I am now about to go into week 3 of my staff placement and I freaking love it!!

Dealing with volunteers can be tricky and a lot of work, but this village is so amazing I just don’t care!  I have made some great relationships with the teachers at the school and the village chairman.  I walk through the village and feel so welcomed it is amazing. 

My first week of teaching was really hard, as with all children the students really played up and tried my patience immensely, but I worked through it, and thank fully they are working with me know!  It is an amazing feeling , when I walk through the school I get lots of students calling ‘Madam Jo!!’, greeting me and asking about my day.  They always ask when I will be teaching them next and are always trying to get me into the classroom when I am not supposed to be teaching.  I got dragged into a Kiswahili lesson the other day and was serenaded with a traditional song – absolutely loved it!!

I have also been asked by the headteacher to try and coach their team to victory in Netball, football, volleyball and debate competitions.  Not sure how much I will be able to help, but I will don my head scarf and do the best I can.

So on to week three and looking forward to what I have planned.  I am starting Adult English classes, will be tutoring some students in reading club and am starting my science club.  It is such amazing work and I love this community! It seems strange that there are only 8 more weeks of work left and so much to do.  It’s going to be tough leaving this island.

me and some of my standard 6 students