Author: Matthew Pike
Placement: 1 month at placement 0205
Period: September
2007
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I have been working here for almost a month now. After the initial shock of entering a country so different to my own I have settled in to every day life here very well. One of the first things you notice is how welcoming everyone is. It is a strong part of Kenyan culture to make visitors feel welcome and wanted and this helps you feel a part of their community from the word go. The project here is still very new but has clearly enhanced the lives of hundreds of kids in the local community. When I first arrived at the school they all sung me a song and wanted to shake my hand. They enjoy running around and playing football and rounders with each other outside, but equally enjoy being in class and learning. Despite not having teaching experience I have been given the chance to teach English, social studies, maths, science and PE. The kids often get excitable and may lose their concentration from time to time. But the overwhelming sense is one of wanting to learn new things and embracing your ideas and the things you tell them and I couldn't imagine a more enjoyable group of children to teach. My other role here is one of publicising the project and this has led me to discover how the children live and the hardship they and their families face on a daily basis. Jobs in the area are scarce and many of the parents leave home each day hoping to earn two or three dollars with which to feed their family. I was shocked to find that many children regularly go without food on days when their parents have not been successful. So far my experiences here have been enjoyable and I have made some very good friends, but it has also been a real eye opener for me and has at times been upsetting. But the freedom I have been given by the charity to pursue ideas in my own way and my own time is everything I could have wished for to try and make a difference and help people in the region.