Farewell

Monday, March 26

During the past four days our seventeen volunteers made a huge difference in the life at Kisima. But, the children and teachers still are in need of so many things.

The dormitories still do not have enough bunk beds and the small children sleep three maybe four to a mattress.

Two mornings a week they only have tea for breakfast, meat once or twice a week, one egg a week, one piece of fruit a week and rarely any vegetables.

While we did bring some school supplies, their lesson books were in tatters. There are no drawers in the school desks so there is no place to put their things. They are in need of text books appropriate to their age and grade level.

Monday was our final day to finish the projects and make whatever last minute purchases we could.

A few volunteers took up a collection amongst themselves to combine with previously donated funds to purchase mattresses to replace the worn out ones on the existing bunk beds. Because Sarah and I were still in Kitali town purchasing shoes for the kids, I missed the opportunity to photograph one of the safari vans returning with fifteen mattresses--some in the van and some tied to the top.




Shoe shopping.












Fresh cut lumber was delivered from the "timber" yard so a bookshelf could be made for one of the classrooms. The original plan was to build one for each classroom but we ran out of time. And, everything took time. The school only has a few hand tools and getting materials is difficult since they have no vehicle.

This photo shows a moment of frustration when the hard green wood proved to be almost too much for the hand saw. Soon after this shot, the saw broke.












When I went to the play yard to photograph the newly installed swings and volleyball net a group of boys followed. They love to pose and have their pictures taken. They were wearing new t-shirts that were overruns from a US conference.



In this photo the swings are taped to the bars so the kids won't use them before the concrete sets.



















After this shot, they said, "one more, one more" and lead me to the Kisima sign.



It is painted on one of the small cow dung buildings that currently serves as a storeroom.








While in the vicinity, I caught this photo of one of the boys pumping water from the well so the other kids could get a drink.




























I also walked to the front gate and saw the line of families still waiting to come to the clinic. During our stay, the medical team saw close to two hundred individuals from the community.

















Waiting outside the clinic.












Later in the day it was time to distribute the last items that were brought--knit caps for the boys. One might ask, "Why would caps be appropriate in that hot arid climate?"









The love them!
















I mentioned that they liked to pose for the camera................











We made our preparations to leave.









But, not before the kids gathered in the courtyard for more songs.
















Some of the teachers
















and some of us.













As the sun began to set,













the students started to gather for the lowering of the flag.

























It was now time to go but, not before Director Martin and his wife, Margaret expressed their appreciation for all that had been accomplished and the difference that has been made in these few days.




We drove out of the gates knowing we had made a difference but there is still much to be done.

Kisima: Last Days

Sunday, March 25

Each morning we were out of the hotel by 8:30. Today, Sunday, we arrived to find all the kids scrubbed and in clean uniforms. They were preparing for their Sunday church service. It was held in one of the classrooms--all the resident students, some teachers and the seventeen of us.
The kids enthusiastically participated in each part of the service and when they sang their faces lit up. They love music and singing.

Sunday is unstructured and eventually many of the day students return to spend the day.


We engaged the group in a variety of activities such as reading from some of the books that were donated.........













playing ball in the courtyard......














and more puzzles. The kids are like sponges and absorb anything new.













Additionally, a class was held for the teachers to instruct them on how to use some of educational materials and teaching tools that were brought.

At mid-day the lunch bell rang. At this time on previous days each of us would go to the little storeroom that had been set aside for us and grab our granola bars, almonds, dried fruit, etc. Today however the chef switched his Sunday menu and served pinto beans and rice for lunch instead of dinner.



He wanted us to try them.












They were quite good and afterwards I stopped by the kitchen to return my bowl and compliment him on his tasty beans.














After lunch it was time to distribute the donated clothing. The kids patiently lined up to await their turns while this young man shows off his new orange cargo pants.







Gerda Fink, who organized this trip and is the primary supporter of Kisima sponsors this boy who is excited about his ROCK pinball t-shirt.







Too many choices.






Don't even think about it!



Happy little girls with their new dresses.




Tomorrow, Monday is our last day. It is bitter sweet because a great deal has been accomplished yet, everyone is tired and feels like they will never get the red-clay dirt out of their clothes, shoes and hair.

In an earlier blog post I mentioned that we had to wash our clothes every night. Well here is a photo of our bathroom at the Mid-Africa Hotel. We washed our clothes each night in a tub just like the kids at Kisima did. A side note about the photo-- the bathroom was "all-in-one"and everything was washed in cold water including our bodies--not by choice, it's just that, well--it is what it is!







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Progress at Kisima

Each day we traveled in our three vans approximately seventeen miles to reach the school. It was 45 minutes mostly on pot-holed, ruddy, dusty roads.








As we entered the gates each day the kids were always waving from their classroom windows eagerly awaiting our arrival. Our presence meant something new was going to happen that day.






Classes were given in dental hygiene. We brought over 200 toothbrushes and tubes of tooth paste.

One of our group gave instructions about brushing and the kids loved it when their teacher would demonstrate by using her cup to rinse her mouth then step out side the classroom door to spit it out.

After the demonstration, each child was given a little bag with their toothbrush and toothpaste. For the balance of the day each one proudly carried their bag.















The singing and dancing group that entertained us when we first arrived is referred to as the school choir. They were perfect candidates to learn the recorder, a small flute-like instrument. Over 200 were donated by Virginia school children and the Kisima kids quickly learned the basics.













Sarah brought letters from 30 first grade students from a Flagstaff Montessori school. The students want Kenyan pen pals and each letter included their photo.



Eager Kisima students read the letters and composed their responses.









Sarah took photos of each of them, then a group shot.





Each day more and more was accomplished.












More progress was made on the playground.













Our vet, Bonnie treated the cow for worms and an infection. Earlier she had examined all the animals to determine their general health and treat them if necessary. Each of them needed something.



Mosquito netting was rehung so that it covered both the upper and lower bunks and curtains installations were underway in each dorm.

By Friday afternoon the medical team had seen each of the students, both the orphans who live at the school and the day students, over two hundred in all. The most common things that were treated we're intestinal worms, scalp worms such as hookworm and ringworm, colds and congestion problems as well as mild malaria and three cases of active TB.


Sarah observing the clinic operations as the kids lined up waiting their turns. After each one was seen they we given some sort if gift.








Saturday, with the kids out of school, many more activities were planned. What is usually a quiet court yard was over run with kids when dolls were distributed to all the girls and yo-yos to the boys.













Also brightly colored strips of fabric,we're handed out and the girls braided them to make head bands.





Later in the day everyone split up into smaller groups for various games. They loved such things as Lincoln Logs and puzzles.

















And, as would be expected of kids this age, they loved the interactive games on the iPad.




Also on Saturday, Sunday and Monday the clinic opened its doors to members of the community and this wonderfully weathered old man came in.



Here is another wonderful lady who visited the clinic on Monday.






Before leaving the school on Saturday, several of us visited the Talapia ponds built by the school on leased land. They are the only fish farms in the area and they provide 1000-1200 fish twice a year for consumption by the school and for income.

Kenya is a dry and dusty place right now so the ponds were a pleasant visit in the late afternoon.





This is the road back to the school.


At the end of the day we always return to our hotel tired and dusty. The red dirt gets in everything. We have to wash our clothing every night.







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