People in Action Updates
Bamburi Project Volunteer Diary – Alison Woolford
Have spent the day wandering around Mombasa old town and the city centre, and boy, do I stand out like a sore thumb here! No peace, but I’m actually really enjoying it, Kenyans are really friendly and helpful, and I’m in the spirit, so it’s well received.I start the volunteer program on Sunday morning at 10am with orientation, and will then move into the house, which is where I lose hot water again! I don’t actually mind the cold showers as it is very hot, it’s been in the 40’s most days. It is cooler in Mombasa, but much muggier, so actually worse I think.
3 November 2008
I am now in Mombasa for my volunteer program, staying in ‘The House’ (which just reminds me of Big Brother every time someone says it) with other volunteers, which is just like a hostel. Have met 3 lovely girls on the same project at me – Restoration – which is an orphanage and school. There are 42 kids living in the orphanage, with several kids having to share bunk beds. There is one toilet for the orphanage. It’s awful, to be honest. The school is just a minute away, and is comprised of one long mud hut, split into 2 halves, and two small tin rooms (free standing). Half the mud hut has 6 different classes in it, from Kinder to about Grade 4.The dimensions of this half of the hut would be around 20m x 5m – at the most. Each ‘class’ has a torn up blackboard, and one bench/table thing. Most of the bench/tables are broken or falling to bits, and since each class has up to 20 people in it, some sit on the floor too. The rest cram as many around/on the table and bench seat as possible. My class are KG2 (kinder 2) and the kids are around 5/6 years old. There are about 20 of them, and our area in the hut is about 1.5m x 3m. The noise in the hut, with 6 classes and teachers is insane. Seriously.
So at 9.30am, upon arrival, we discovered that they were down about 5 teachers today. This meant 2 of us that felt ok about it were just given classes of our own to manage. I unfortunately didn’t have a text book or anything (most teachers have a text book to guide them to teach from), and since I had no idea what they have been doing, what they know, what they’re capable of, I just started making things up. Very strange day, very strange times.Most of the kids in my class seem really violent and disruptive, and I spelt a large portion of my day pulling kids apart, trying to keep my class in my class space (and not wandering around), sending other wandering kids back to their own class, having kids climb all over me screaming ‘Madame madame’ to get my attention, and trying to teach at the same time.
It’s hot, dirty and dusty, and the floor is mud and dirt, complete with little stones here and there to trip over. There are no doors or windows, just empty holes. In this school, you’re lucky to have a piece of chalk.Even after just one day, there is no way you can remain unaffected by the situation here, and what you see, hear and have to deal with. It is shocking, heartbreaking, sheer hard work – physically and mentally – and at the same time, uplifting when you see these kids with nothing, less than nothing – still happy, smiling, laughing, and some really trying to learn.
All the children have scabies, holes and tears in their clothes, and most don’t have shoes. Those that do have shoes, struggle in sizes far too big or too small for them. My class only had half enough pencils – most of which were stubs that would have long been discarded in Australia – and they are expected to learn and pass exams set by the Kenyan Government. It is an impossible situation, when there are never enough teachers, and you have volunteers like me coming in and out, having responsibility.Anyway, I’m only one day in, and I’m really looking forward to another really tiring day tomorrow – I only wish I had longer, so I could really make a difference to some of their lives with education.
This volunteering thing is really having an impact on me……..big time. My class were so good today, even after 2 days with them I am attached, and they are really starting to respond to me. I wish I were staying longer. Much longer. One person really can make a big difference to these lives.I love my kids. Even after 2 days, they are really responding to me and learning. They haven’t had their own teacher for about a year. I wish I could stay longer and really make a difference in their little lives. They have nothing – less than nothing. At least I have this week with them.Hardly any violence today, and I even had a massive break through with the horror boy I wanted to strangle yesterday (seriously). I can’t believe I am enjoying teaching so much – I never thought it was something I would be able to do – ever. But I love it. Love it.Just throwing this out there, and obviously I’m caught up in the moment, but would you ever consider living o/s and doing work like this (teaching in orphanages) for 6 months with me? Just a pipe dream, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything until after the next election anyway, but I feel so passionately about this – I did before I came, but seeing the difference I can make to 20 little lives after just 2 days……it has a real impact.
5 November 2008
The kids were an absolute nightmare this morning – total horrors. Back to the feverish, loud, violent and disruptive behaviour, and I had real trouble trying to keep any form of order. I was finding it difficult to keep my temper, all of my hard work in the last 2 days seemed a waste. By the time the lunch break arrived, the weather had turned extremely windy and overcast – so I put the behaviour down to that…….however although the kids were somewhat more ordered in the afternoon, they still didn’t settle properly at all. Some of the kids have such attitude – it’s hilarious, but really testing too. The only thing that keeps jumping out is that I need more time for them.
6 November 2008
I can’t believe tomorrow is my last day teaching – I feel like I’ve been here so long, but that it’s flown by. Can’t believe I come home in one week. It’s too soon.
7 November 2008
Rained all night last night and the streets have been transformed into swampy messes. Was crazy driving to work in the Matatu in these conditions, and strange to be saturated by rain, rather than sweat in the extreme heat!! The road to Restoration was abysmal, especially from the orphanage, was a mud-bath. Walking through it in thongs was a joke and the ground around the actual school buildings was ridiculous as you sank completely into it the second you stepped on it. Was actually like a comedy of errors just trying to get into the actual mud hut.Only about half my class was there, the rain seems to prove too difficult for lots of kids. It was actually quite nice having a small group, they were more subdued and there was actually enough room for them at our table. There were of course the usual dramas and fights over resources, but overall, it was a productive day.
I didn’t tell the kids it was my last day, seemed a bit strange having been there only one week. Very sad to leave, and I know I will miss this place.
Follow & Contact us