AND......

Another wonderful school day with the beautiful children. It has become a custom now for the children (all of them) to rush to us and overwhelm us with hugs when we arrive in the morning. It is so warm and wonderful and something I think we will always remember.
Everything is going along smoothly. Joyce seems to know exactly her goals for the children. We put up 2 new leaves on the tree today, one for Provia and one for Christine. The new girls are running circles around the boys, who worked very hard and were not very silly at all today. In the face of the sweet new girls they are really trying hard.
Then there was rain. BUT not just regular rain. This was a torrential downpour, complete with black sky and mud running down hills like fast moving rivers. Unbelieveable. Nobody seemed the least put out by this except me. In the darkened classroom (no electricity) the children continued to do their writing. They even ventured out to the bathroom and didn't look the least bit wet when they returned-amazing. As I write now it continues to rain but lighter than when it began about 3 hours ago. NOTE: my research on-line said quite clearly that Feb. was a Dry month. It has been raining every second day and I have another weather migraine. I'm sueing Google.
As ever,
Ellen of Africa

It's Days Like This ....

Feb.24, 2010.
What a special greeting this morning. Accompanying the usual "Good morning Teacha Doreen " was a group hug, filled with loving energy and smiles. What an incredible way to start the day.
All sorts of posters are up around the classroom. There are those with letters , numbers and various words . Even Judy's tree of kindness has been resurrected to encourage the children to commit acts of kindness to each other. The children are lapping it up as if it was all a sweet treat and the focus and motivation this morning was quite high. So exciting. Some of the new students are raising the bar in the classroom challenging the others to work even harder. They are so beautiful with their faces bathed in smiles of pride.
We are even managing to individualize some of the lessons according to the various levels. This is quite a breakthrough as well.
The porridge was almost on time today and there was out door play time as the mud had dried up somewhat from Sunday's downpour. We reconvened with a story by Mercer Mayor called "I Was So Mad", a precursor to introducing the tree of kindness. The children loved it so much that they immediately chorused, "Again please " the moment I stopped. Now how is that for a universal reaction?
The rest of the morning was spent learning about Canada as Teacha Joyce and myself introduced the pen pal letters I had brought from a grade two class in Terry Fox Elementary. Thank you Ms.Roberta. The students were over the top with excitement. They were so amazed about the skating on ice. Luckily I had some photographs, courtesy of my son Daniel, in my camera to show them just that. We started the responses to the letters and all went well. It was a wonderful day! It's days like this that keep you coming back for more.
Blog entry by Doreen

BACK IN THE SADDLE

After being away for a long week-end to explore some of the beauty of Uganda, Doreen and I returned to class this morning. Great joy, big hugs all around and a feeling of love. I for one was very pleased to see them all again, especially our new pupils that we chose on Thursday.
Most important Teacha JoYce was back full of health, energy and creativity. I wanted to know if the children had asked about us. "No" she replied. I realized we had never told them we were leaving for a few days- a nasty omission considering how many loved ones (like mothers) have disappeared on them in their young lives. I felt really badly.
However it was a good morning even if porridge was late and the children became a bit wrangy around lunch time. You know the drill-under the table over the table, out the door, behind the door. They needed to eat and play.
I was happy to have successfully read them a story and accomplished a song with them- awhole 25 min.
I was back in the saddle again.

Ellen of Africa

ONE STARFISH AT A TIME

Feb.18,2010.
Today Ellen and I, along with Mr. Okoth, the headmaster of St. Henry's Primary school, went down to Namuwongo. Namuwongo is a shanty town on the outskirts of Kampala of approximately 500,000 people who have come from various areas affected by wars,such as Rwanda, Burundi, the Congo, Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda. Our mission was to choose six children to be part of our project. Six children to be chosen out of 150,000. Before we got past the railroad tracks, we were approached by clusters of children. They seemed to know why we've come. One little girl took my hand, a smile on her face.Flies were swarming around and landing everywhere but none of the children seemed to notice. They were focused on being picked to go to school. They had to meet two very important criteria; one was that they have only one parent or none, and the other that they have a guardian who would make sure that they would make it to school daily. We met the parent or guardian of each child and went to see where they lived. Then we all went back to the school for interviews, informal testing and registration. They all wanted to come. I am so touched and impressed that these people who suffer so much put so much importance on education.
At the end of the day, I am filled with sadness that we could not do more. There are so many.. I took no pictures but I will never forget what I have seen today. And in the end I have come to realize that we did not choose the children, they chose us. Or perhaps it is as Mr. Okoth says. "God has chosen them."
Doreen

CHAOS

So Teacha Joyce is still home recovering from malaria. I recovered from my food difficulty but it rained-like I have never seen before- for most of the night so I woke with a migraine. I don't understand , Google says it is supposed to be dry in Uganda during February. Google lied. I decided to come to school anyways as an extra adult body surely I would be useful. Ha!!!!! Doreen and I have absolutely NO credibility with the children. We were all in Teacha Sara's class which probably numbered close to 30 children under 6. Seating space is limited so the children are sitting cheek to cheek, all the better to push, pinch, grab and do anything to make your neighbor cry. We tried to get some number work done, with the children copying from the board into their notebooks. Ha!!!!!
I don't even know how to describe the chaos other than to say the children behaved like children. Some stuff is developmentally universal. Finally we got them singing and dancing Yeh. But Sara was called to a staff meeting, the porridge was 1hr. late the children were hungry, tired and very cranky. One little girl's crying began to sound like a mantra, some were covering their ears against the din, most were running around causing trouble, I was guarding the door looking for the porridge and Doreen had fallen onto a chair.
What I found very interesting was that at one point they all sat down. Some children had brought their own snacks and had gone to their bags to get them. All those with food shared with their friends. What a wonderful sight. The peace didn't last long , but while it did it was heavenly.
I haven't lost hope yet.
Ellen of Africa

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

Feb.16,2010.
Today had all the ingredients of disaster. Poor "teacha" Joyce was sick with malaria and had to go home to rest. Poor "teacha" Ellen was home sick due to some adverse effects from last night's Indian food ,and poor "teacha" Doreen was the substitute for the large part of the day. I was seriously considering faking malaria symptoms so I too ,could go home to my bed. As with all children and a substitute teacher, they tested me to the limits. Julius was busy "beating on his friends". Jacobi was grabbing things out of the garbage and throwing it at the others.Charles was on the table, and Michael was under the table,while little Hillary was literally hanging off the the wall. The others divided their time between crying or simply being stunned by all this activity. I prayed for porridge time so they could run off this excess energy and it started to pour. Someone's laughing at me. It's not even rainy season.
The headmaster took pity on me and combined classes with the group we share PE with. Phew, some relief.

WATCH OUT FOR THE COWS.

Feb. 15, 2010.

Picture a city of over 7,000, 0000 people having what seems like 10,000,000 cars and ONE traffic light. That's Kampala. There we were, one afternoon last week, sitting in traffic with nowhere to g, when all of a sudden, a herd of long horn cattle came running through the turn about. They were on their way to slaughter.

Today in class, Ellen and I empathized with those cows. Joyce, the class' teacher was extremely sick, we suspect with malaria. The children took advantage of the situation just like kids anywhere and we lost control. It was an endless day.

Doreen

SONGS: THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Feb. 12, 2010.

We start the day out in the yard. Every Monday and Friday they hold parades at St. Henry's Primary School. This is how an assembly is referred to, a parade.. a much more fitting term as it is a joyous celebration with ongoing movement. A half hour later, we head to the classroom, bathed in sweat.

A multitude of lessons, printing, numbers, stories and then it's time for porridge and break time. The children play with makeshift balls made out of garbage. They play soccer, creative and full of laughter.

I take this opportunity to make the acquaintance of one of my student's father. Michael is a little boy in our class. Bright and full of motivation to learn. He is quite promising with his ready smile and his eager attitude. He lives on the school grounds in a double shack with his father, grandmother,stepmother and brand- new, half sister. His birth mother left after the death of his natural sister. His home is located beside the teachers' bathrooms.

I introduce myself and tell him how special his son is. He does not care.

Back to class, for art lesson. First we draw and then incorporate play dough into the lesson. The children love the play dough and we constantly need to remind some not to eat it. The morning ends with some tunes from Raffi. Picture the children marching around and dancing to "Banaphone" . Children, who have lost parents and siblings to AIDS or the war in Northern Uganda. All is forgotten, as we sing together in harmony.

I HATE PE

The morning began with thunder over Lake Victoria, a threat of rain that didn't materialize. The day opened to magnificent sunshine and a lovely breeze.
Although we arrived at school earlier today the children were already seated and playing with many of the new materials we have brought. I took the opportunity to visit with the class of the deaf girl in P1 who I will work with each day for a 1/2 hr. Monika class s at PE I was told and directed o the outdoor field where PE is held.
You might imagine an area equipped with jungle gyms, swing sets balls, hoops etc. AND you would be wrong!
There s a field of packed earth, children, and 2 Teachas. That's it.
Two amazing teachers leading the children in a most vigorous aerobic workout of group games, some of which resembled capture the flag and tug of war. The children laughed and ran and played and clapped. I clapped too.
After PE I tutored successfully tutored Monika., then returned to my class to dis cover it was time for PE. I couldn't believe it. So we returned to the field, to the game with the hot African sun above us. No more breeze. everybody except one of us was joyous.
You know when I was at school I had the physique of an athletic child but actually I was terrible.
And it still shows because I still hate PE!!!!
Until the next time I remain
Ellen of Africa

I Have Arrived

Feb.10,2010.
It was a glorious morning, sun shining and no mud puddles to decoratively splash the back of my legs. There is always a chorus of "Good morning , Mazungo" from the children on the way to accompany me on my walk. I was almost at the top of the red clay dirt road, close enough to hear the children's' voices , when I felt the warmth of two little hands slip into mine.
"Good morning Teacha," two little smiling faces chimed. With that, we all rushed up the hill to class to start our day.
I had arrived.
Two more children showed up today, Julius and Doreen. Still sick,with flowing noses and booming coughs. Our day was filled with printing lessons, where we incorporated the peg boards I brought . The children are fascinated by every new thing but their favorite is the children's literature. Each chance they get they gravitate towards the books. Hillary can sit forever "reading" his book upside down. He's three! Julian on the other hand needed a little couching in the care of books as he didn't know how to turn a page. Now every time he turns a page , he says,"gently". I have no idea where he got that from.
We had PE in the sun at 9:00 and laughed and ran and danced. The children who are not in school but are from the surrounding areas, watched with envy tinged with sadness. I too watched them with sadness , wanting to include them all in our games.
More math after playtime and to relieve some of the "sillys" we danced and sang to Raffi.
Wonderful day, life is good.
Doreen

AND THEY LAUGHED

Day 2 at school. Daniel was away sick. Actually we were greeted by his illness when he vomited twice yesterday morning. Poor little guy. So there were only 5 children-4 boys and 1 girl-and three teachers. Great ratio. I find the children to be quite advanced in their academic level. The learning is mainly by rote, which seems to give the children a good feeling of security. Not to mention how well they are learning.

The teacher is one of the most creative,energetic,warm and intelligent pre-primary teachers I have ever seen. A dynamo.

Today we brought more supplies with us.I brought Play Doh. Wow what a perfect response. Everyone loved it. We had to limit Teacha Joyce to the amount she used. She was so creative. The children got so much inspiration form her pleasure that they moved from their usual shy positions to joyfulness and they laughed.

ellen of Africa

WE ARE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE

Feb.8,2010.
I am in love for the first time in a long time. With the country.. with the people.... with the children of Namuwongo.
Ellen and I spent our first day at St. Henry's Primary School and were instantly smitten. They welcomed us in a special assembly outside clapping a rhythmic song. Peter, the headmaster treated us like visiting royalty and Joyce, their incredible teacher, was welcoming and made us feel like we truly belonged. We had tea in the teachers room and met the rest of the staff who were equally welcoming.
But it's the children, the children with their shining ,beautiful, faces attentive to task at hand, diligently learning all the skills, who swept us away. All were so focused ,except for one and of course she found me...
Tomorrow we are planning to spend lunch with the teachers and then I will stay on to work with the Peace and Justice Project with James.
Thank you Judy and Howard for creating this dream so that I can live it.
Doreen

I am excited to hear that our 2 newest volunteers have arrived in Muyenga, and are safely at the Kenrock Hotel. I hope this is the start of an amazing venture. Unfortunately, according to James,one of the 2 mentors of the Peace and Justice Club, Olivia is no longer the teacher. He named the new teacher as Joyce. Is this the Joyce we know so well???She was one of the first teachers when we were at In Need Home. Welcome Joyce,if its you.!!Ellen and Doreen, how are you finding the hotel?Remember,you can ask them for a different breakfast! You will love the children in our class,and be pleased to hear that there is some movement between LOVE Central, and St. Henry's. I can hardly wait for daily news. LOVE Judy

ONE MORE BIG SLEEP

SO JUST TONIGHT LEFT IN MY COZY BED BEFORE WE HEAD OFF TO UGANDA. I WONDER IF I WILL BE ABLE TO SLEEP.
MIRACULOUSLY I HAVE PACKED EVERYTHING INTO ONE BIG SUITCASE. I NEVER KNEW I HAD SUCH A TALENT.
HOW DO I FEEL? I DON'T KNOW?
EVERYTHING I SEE, SMELL, TOUCH WILL BE NEW. I WILL BE EXPOSED TO A NEW CULTURE. THIS IS EXCITING. I WILL FEEL SORROW AT THE POVERTY I CANNOT SOLVE.
I HAVE HAD A LIFE FILLED WITH GOOD LUCK AND JOY. I WISH TO BRING SOME OF THIS TO THE CHILDREN OF THE NAMUWONGO PROJECT. I WANT TO MAKE THEM LAUGH, AND OF COURSE LEARN THEIR ABC'S.
I AM BRING THEM PLAY DOH
NEXT TIME IN UGANDA.
Ellen

THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW

Feb.3,2010.

Refrains of songs keep running through my brain....
"Tomorrow, tomorrow ,
I love you tomorrow,
You're only a day away".
Perhaps it is because this trip is helping me find my voice. I feel as if I am running to meet myself, in a place called Namuwongo.
Tomorrow.....