24 May 2010 22:23Having spent a fair while in the library over the weekend, it became clear that the boarders do not have a large number of activities to keep them amused.
It was therefore with great pleasure that Tina and I took the new sports equipment over to the school this morning and arranged to see the sports master and mistress after lessons.
We had acquired a wonderful array of items in the UK before setting out, some of which we bought, but many of which were donated, particularly from a friend of Chris’s.
It was raining, so we unpacked the large sports bag in the resource centre and displayed the goodies – plastic cricket set, nine footballs along with pump, badminton set with extra shuttles, a variety of soft and also bouncy balls, plastic golf clubs, small “air” balls, table tennis bats, pitch markers, tee shirts, basket ball and practise hoop and board, bean bags, parachute and skipping ropes.
Needless to say, a large crowd of excited children gathered, all of whom wished to participate! As far as possible, the pupils played in the long corridor, which wasn’t always easy, but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The boys (mostly) were delighted to be able to help by pumping up the basketball and footballs.
Hopefully, the pupil will be able to “have a go” on the “Aspen” land tomorrow if the weather is more conducive to outside games.
Jean
23 May 2010 21:37
On Monday we saw the occupational therapist at work with some of the children, including a little girl with microcephathy whose legs are constantly bent at the knees and needs splints to help them straighten. We met her mother today, a beautiful young lady, who was thrown out of the house along with her daughter because of the apparent shame the disability brings on the husband. There are so many sad stories.
Mother and Daughter
It is good to know, though,how much books in general are appreciated. The head boy and head girl came down to the library today (Sunday) along wiht some friends, and spent the majority of the morning revelling in the chance just to sit and read books.
Jean
22 May 2010 21:03
This afternoon Josphat drove Tina and me forty kilometres to see Mercy, a girl who used to attend Aquinoe. Since she hardly ever sees her, Mercy’s mother (a single parent) came too. The family is from the Pokot area, where girls are not usually considered to be candidates for education.
Although the mother always wanted her daughter to have the chance of an education, she often could not afford the small fees, so Mercy had to stay at home. Five years ago, a couple of friends decided that they would like to sponsor Mercy and she has been a regular at school since then. Due to the sponsors’ generosity and continued support, Mercy has been able to move on to a catholic girls’ high school.
The journey took us due north, to Kapenguria and beyond. We have visited Kapenguria before as an important museum is situated on the outskirts of the town. It is located in the former prison where Jomo Kenyatta and the other “patriots” were imprisoned by the British when they called for independence.
The surrounding countryside changed as we drove. To begin with the land was fairly flat or undulating and there was much maize and many vegetables. As in many parts of Kenya, animals are not only kept in the fields, but on the roadside so they can graze the grass verges – goats, sheep, donkeys, chickens and a few cattle. The land became higher and the settlements more sparse, with fewer brick/stone/metal buildings and more traditional dwellings with mud walls and straw roofs.
Mercy is now at St Cecelia’s High School and is in Standard Two. She was rather shy and spoke very quietly, but had a lovely smile and was proud to wear her “Best at Maths” badge, achieved for work last term, for photographs. The school authorities allow the Pokot girls to stay there during the holidays as, if they were to go home, the fathers may well not allow them to return to be educated.
The sunset on view during the return journey at the end of the afternoon was beautiful!
Jean