Hello from Africa! After yesterday's adventure, we were all ready for a very calm day. We went to our three classes and worked on various projects. A group of us worked in the kitchen, cutting tomatoes, peeling potatoes and dicing onions. The Daraja chefs were laughing at us all because our eyes watered due to the onions. They taught us to soak the peeled onions in luke warm water because that way you don't tear up. Another group of us began building benches in the garden. It is long tiring work but giving the girls a place to sit and work outside will mean a lot to the Daraja community. In accordance to the girls' curriculum, Jono, Julian and Paige taught a math class to the form 3's this afternoon. The girls seemed very engaged and interested in what their new teachers were teaching.
During sports time today, Jane and I taught the girls some softball with gear donated by the volunteers from San Diego. When we began our hour practice we had a very enthusiastic group of girls who didn't even know what softball was. We ended with a group of equally enthusiastic girls who are now pros at throwing, catching and fielding.
Another group of kids taught the form 1's how to work a camera for the first time in their lives. Step by step they learned how to turn it on, zoom, take and review their photos. After experimenting with their new skills around campus, they returned with a collection of their first photos that they downloaded onto the computers and learned how to edit. It was a very rewarding experience to watch them slowly understand the technology we take for granted.
After working and finishing a second bench in the garden, a few of us began the task of replastering the Shamba Shed using plaster made from clay, sand and water. This is a project we will be doing this weekend with the girls, led by Jane and Lizzy. The girls first built the shed with MA alumni Cora Went, using permacultural techniques of cob and adobe bricks. The girls all light up when they talk about the shed and you can tell by that, how proud they are of it. We are very excited to build upon the hard work of Cora and the Daraja community.
Tomorrow we are going to Nanyuki, the closest town to Daraja. We are all discussing what American breakfasts and lunches we will be consuming, French toast, hamburgers and milkshakes to name a few. Sumari, jumped for joy, doing a toe touch with excitement upon hearing of the upcoming shopping day. It should be very fun.
Sincerely,
Ps. Hi Miles M!
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