14 Feb 2007
February 7, 2007
Hi everyone!
I thought we’d give an update, this time around, on some of the projects we have been working on that you all have helped us with. First up is our toilets project at Rebogile Primary School in Skerma Village. In October last year, we applied for a Peace Corps Partnership Program grant to build toilets and a partition at one of our schools. Some of you helped fund that project, and in late November, three shiny new latrines were constructed at the school. The kids are happy that they don’t have to run across the street to go in the field, and we are happy that this is a little more safe and sanitary than the terrible old toilets. During the school holidays in December, a partition was built of bricks to divide the big open room into two separate classrooms. It was plastered and painted and by the time school started again there were already posters hanging on it like it had always been there. It looks great and the teachers and kids are happy with the new additions to their school. We have yet to receive a list of donors, but know some of you did contribute so thank you, thank you, and thank you to whoever you are!
Our library book collection project continues to go really well. So far we estimate that we have received about 500 books. This week and last week we have held meetings at our schools to tell them about the books and give them a ‘to-do list’ that they need to complete before they can receive any of the books. We want them to do a little work before we give them anything, just to make sure they really want the books and will use them. We don’t want them to just become dust collectors! The to-do list includes making a plan on how they will use the books in the classroom, who will have access to the books and when, if students will be able to take the books home or use them only at school, setting up a maintenance schedule, and also a disciplinary plan for if books become lost or damaged. They also have to apply to one other book donation project to receive additional books. Adam and I plan on doing a few workshops sometime in the future to show teachers how to use books in their classrooms. So far, all the schools have shown interest and we expect all of them to receive books from us. Thank you so much to all of you who have sent books, and you are many! We have been excited about the response we have gotten from all of you, and will keep you updated on the progress. Thank you!!
On that same note, we would like to start to bring the book donations to an end. We are done here in September and want to make sure all the books arrive and are settled into their libraries before we leave. So if any of you are still planning on sending books to us, we would ask that they be sent by the end of the month (February!) if at all possible. The books take about 3 months to arrive and then we will have sufficient time to sort them out and give them to our schools. Please let us know when books are on the way, and remember to ship by M-bag. Thanks again to all of you who have sent/will send books. The response has been great and we are ready to get these libraries rolling!
Other than that, life continues as normal. We had the exciting experience of the village water pump breaking down for an entire week. It was damaged in a thunderstorm last week and was finally fixed yesterday. The natural spring in our village and the school’s windmill were the only water sources to be found, and it became a regular sight to see young girls and women walking to and fro with 5-gallon buckets full of water balanced on their heads. Quite impressive – and no, I didn’t try it! I have carried a few things on my head before, but I just don’t have the neck muscles – must be something you have to start at a young age.
We attended the area track meet last week, in which kids from two of our schools participated. 6 kids from our village’s school and 7 kids from another school of ours won their races and will continue on to the next meet which will be held this weekend. They did a great job, and all without shoes! It’s not because they can’t afford them, they just choose not to wear them because they are so used to running and playing without them.
It has been ridiculously hot lately, and most of the time we feel like we are melting, but thank God for ice and freezers. I think that is the only thing keeping Adam alive right now! Oh, and our fan! There has hardly been a cloud in the sky recently and the heat and the dryness and the sun have been relentless. I talked to my mom the other day and she said the high was going to be -1 degrees. I was pretty jealous, but know if I was there I would probably be longing for this heat instead!
I hope all of you are well.
Take care,
Andrea
Hi everyone!
I thought we’d give an update, this time around, on some of the projects we have been working on that you all have helped us with. First up is our toilets project at Rebogile Primary School in Skerma Village. In October last year, we applied for a Peace Corps Partnership Program grant to build toilets and a partition at one of our schools. Some of you helped fund that project, and in late November, three shiny new latrines were constructed at the school. The kids are happy that they don’t have to run across the street to go in the field, and we are happy that this is a little more safe and sanitary than the terrible old toilets. During the school holidays in December, a partition was built of bricks to divide the big open room into two separate classrooms. It was plastered and painted and by the time school started again there were already posters hanging on it like it had always been there. It looks great and the teachers and kids are happy with the new additions to their school. We have yet to receive a list of donors, but know some of you did contribute so thank you, thank you, and thank you to whoever you are!
Our library book collection project continues to go really well. So far we estimate that we have received about 500 books. This week and last week we have held meetings at our schools to tell them about the books and give them a ‘to-do list’ that they need to complete before they can receive any of the books. We want them to do a little work before we give them anything, just to make sure they really want the books and will use them. We don’t want them to just become dust collectors! The to-do list includes making a plan on how they will use the books in the classroom, who will have access to the books and when, if students will be able to take the books home or use them only at school, setting up a maintenance schedule, and also a disciplinary plan for if books become lost or damaged. They also have to apply to one other book donation project to receive additional books. Adam and I plan on doing a few workshops sometime in the future to show teachers how to use books in their classrooms. So far, all the schools have shown interest and we expect all of them to receive books from us. Thank you so much to all of you who have sent books, and you are many! We have been excited about the response we have gotten from all of you, and will keep you updated on the progress. Thank you!!
On that same note, we would like to start to bring the book donations to an end. We are done here in September and want to make sure all the books arrive and are settled into their libraries before we leave. So if any of you are still planning on sending books to us, we would ask that they be sent by the end of the month (February!) if at all possible. The books take about 3 months to arrive and then we will have sufficient time to sort them out and give them to our schools. Please let us know when books are on the way, and remember to ship by M-bag. Thanks again to all of you who have sent/will send books. The response has been great and we are ready to get these libraries rolling!
Other than that, life continues as normal. We had the exciting experience of the village water pump breaking down for an entire week. It was damaged in a thunderstorm last week and was finally fixed yesterday. The natural spring in our village and the school’s windmill were the only water sources to be found, and it became a regular sight to see young girls and women walking to and fro with 5-gallon buckets full of water balanced on their heads. Quite impressive – and no, I didn’t try it! I have carried a few things on my head before, but I just don’t have the neck muscles – must be something you have to start at a young age.
We attended the area track meet last week, in which kids from two of our schools participated. 6 kids from our village’s school and 7 kids from another school of ours won their races and will continue on to the next meet which will be held this weekend. They did a great job, and all without shoes! It’s not because they can’t afford them, they just choose not to wear them because they are so used to running and playing without them.
It has been ridiculously hot lately, and most of the time we feel like we are melting, but thank God for ice and freezers. I think that is the only thing keeping Adam alive right now! Oh, and our fan! There has hardly been a cloud in the sky recently and the heat and the dryness and the sun have been relentless. I talked to my mom the other day and she said the high was going to be -1 degrees. I was pretty jealous, but know if I was there I would probably be longing for this heat instead!
I hope all of you are well.
Take care,
Andrea
We are proud parents of the Three Little Latrines
posted by aliberatinsa at 2:27 AM
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