Amani is a charity that assists the development of community groups within Kenya. One area of the charity is to link schools in the uk with schools in Kenya – specifically in the Kadongo region. Mrs. Green was able to visit Nyarulu during the Easter holidays, in order to see what challenges they face and to begin forging a link between our two schools.
I didn’t know what to expect on my (first) visit to Kenya, however I was looking forward to it and were excited about meeting our link school. I had never visited the continent of Africa, and everything I had seen was on the news or in books, so I felt a little apprehensive and nervous about what I was expected to do, say and behave like! I needn’t have worried – the wonderful staff from Amani UK organised, advised and supported us through the experience of a lifetime and the making and strengthening of the friendship with our link school.
I had only recently become linked with Nyarulu school and had exchanged one set of letters with the headteacher, so when the opportunity to visit them (and be a part of the Amani team working in Kenya) arose, the timing seemed perfect.
Finally I arrived in Kenya and were given a warm welcome by the Kenyan Amani team, however, nothing you read or are told will prepare you for driving up to your school and being greeted as an honoured guest! Mary is the Deputy Headteacher and Rose is the Headteacher.
After being made to feel welcome by the teaching team, I was introduced to the whole school in a special welcoming ceremony with performances and speeches from the children. In the school, most children had not experienced a ‘white’ teacher before – so I had their full attention!
The buildings are basic – concrete floor and walls with tin roofs – there are no displays. During the holidays, the wooden benches and tables are locked away so that they are not stolen. The only running water is a tap in the yard and this is used to fill water containers for hand washing. They have no concrete playground – grass and mud (which gets very muddy and dirty when it rains!)
To fully immerse myself into Nyaluru, I had the wonderful experience of teaching each class an English hymn with actions – the children love singing and quickly learned the song and sang better than us! I also had the opportunity to show and describe some photos of our own school; both the children and staff were fascinated. Kenyan children are taught by rote, so the question and answer sessions were interesting!
Day 2 was even more special – by now the children were no longer shy and couldn’t wait to run up to me and say “hello!” – it was novelty for them, and also for me, as I was the centre of their curiosity!
I took gifts for our Nyarulu; a children’s Bible, a parachute, a long skipping rope and a football with a pump. However, the parachute was a complete mystery to the children, and they had to be taught how to play with it. What was meant to be one class turned into the whole school surrounding me in excitement – organised chaos! With half of the morning gone, I then taught the story of the 10 lepers in an English drama lesson – another new experience for the children, teachers and myself!
The school then treated me to an end of term closing ceremony with more traditional dances and speeches; again a fantastic experience I will remember for many years to come.
The whole trip felt like a once in a lifetime experience and it was a real privilege to see behind the tourism into the real life of Kenya. I hope that this is not a one off visit and plan to continue to make strong cultural links with Nyarulu and perhaps revisit them a few years down the line! I would also like to plan to fundraise as Nyaluru is in real need of resources and equipment – particulary in music and PE equipment.
Linking with Nyaluru School in Kenya will undoubtedly enhance the understanding of the children at Baxenden, as a way of helping them to understand culture differences and to develop their knowledge and understanding of the wider world.
