Filed under: Giving Back/Community Impact
The children in the slum school in Nairobi sit in the dark, but you’d never know it. They’re happy, awake, and attentive. Dang smart too. I’m still having a hard time understanding how these kids defy everything taught in educrat school. Experts at teaching children say that kids can’t sit for a long time, they can’t start school too early, they can’t learn to read or do math without proper lighting and full tummies. Oh, and they (the administrators) can’t operate without more money. Can’t, can’t, can’t.
All I saw was can. When we arrived at the school, we entered the building from a bright, day lit street into near darkness and deafening shouts from the children, “Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!” The welcome continued for four or five minutes; it brought tears. Our group leader Jacob Critz came in a few minutes late, and the cheer started again (Jacob works for world-class student housing company and trip organizing partner Aspen Heights–SHOUT!). Clearly, these children can shout!
They eat three meals a week, all provided by the school. That’s all they get. If they want more, they can fish it out of Mt. Garbage where (some) of the air toilets land (see last post). Their dads have died from AIDS, their moms are HIV+. They live in a slum, a bad one.
Yet, they could all read, and I mean read well. My second grade class read to me on a fourth-fifth grade level. One of the girls (Hailey, I think) was teaching in the darkest part of the room, and she said those children answered rather complex math problems quickly and easily. Little food, no light, immense joy, still learning.
This picture shows the children dancing and singing for us. They are praising God for all He has given them. Their praise is a little deeper than most. Little food, no light, immense joy, still learning.
Hmm, imagine what they could do with nutrition and lights.
1 Comment
be blest Jack. this trip must have given you the reason why I rate our leaders alongside vultures.
Comment by nyanyuki July 20, 2011 @ 4:18 pm