all work, no fun

Hey hey! So it seems I have left my blog to my visitors, but now that my busy month of May visitors is over, I guess I should resume writing.

The month of May was visitor central. The month of June has been work, work, work. So let me tell you about it:

LITERACY:

“Free Reading” So far I have given 2 schools books to try using them in a ‘free reading’ method that a friend Brett came to teach to them. Even the simplest teaching techniques that we all grew up with can be difficult to master if it is your first time seeing it. So this session on free reading lasted a few hours…the concept ‘let the children read for fun.’ I am still waiting to see the teachers using the books, but they claim they have to stamp each one so the pupils don’t steal them.

“The Library” I am hoping to receive many more books through Briana’s fundraiser (they spent a lot of time last semester collecting books and fundraising for shipping costs, an unbelievable amount of books and money was collected!!!!) In August, I am expecting to have all the books brought from Kampala to Kayunga, shelves built and the process of setting up the library started. Using the library may not start until next term since I want to get all the books stamped and a system set up for ‘checking out’ books. As for sustainability of the project, (since I was a bit worried getting this set up just 2 terms before I leave) a JICA (Japanese Peace Corps) Volunteer moved into the other side of my house and is gung-ho about the library and will watch over it after I leave.

“Guided Reading” I recently received 2 boxes of books, each box containing the same book so there are multiply copies of the same book!!!! Because the teachers are not even familiar with free reading, I will take over a few english classes next term to be an example of how to teach guided reading. I am hoping that I will also be able to start book reports and maybe even book wars…we’ll see when the next term starts.

“Pen pal letters” Briana’s Spanish class not only did fundraisers for books, but also wanted to get the primary children involved so a woman named Abby suggested trying pen pal letters. We have sent them back and forth between Africa and America a few times and every time the pupils here are so happy they are almost in tears. While my father was here, we took a video of the handing back of the letters to the pupils and it was posted online at http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=241bd62b01c442312eb5
Although we are still trying to perfect the letter sending back and forth process, it is still going on. In the last batch of letters I sent back with my brother, the children had been told their replies were coming and so they prepared some small gifts for their pen friends. Little dolls made out of banana fibers and things like that. Adorable!

COMPUTER TRAINING:

“Ssezibwa” Three teachers at Ssezibwa primary school have gone through the full computer training and taught the computer to other teachers for a full term so I thought the next step was for them to start a program at their own school. I loaned them one of the laptops my mom brought over and from what I hear the program is running well. I vowed not to bother them in the first few months they are doing their program just to see how it will run when I am not around at all. I am going to check on their program tomorrow…

“Bishop Brown” This is my center school. The program is still going on well although time is always an issue. I have again this term kicked out 3 teachers based on absenteeism. I may never understand why they don’t show up, teachers voluntarily sign up for this program and then don’t come?! Whatever. Recently though I have received 2 new laptops, one working and the other just needs a little lovin’ from Mr. Ryan Jones, my PCV computer-god friend. The new laptops multiply the number of teachers that can learn each term, which is always exciting.

Hopefully soon I will have this program running on it’s own…

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH:

It has been an interesting and surprisingly satisfying program (exhausting though). The program ran just like you are probably imagining it…we had on average 100 girls in each session (we did this at 9 schools) and presented on very basic information, such as general anatomy, puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, hygiene, STD’s and HIV/AIDS. I can only speak for the girls side because we invited PCV guys to talk to the male pupils, but the girls don’t ever get a chance to get this knowledge or ask questions. So we provided all of the above and we got some pretty crazy questions.

Almost every class asked about ‘visiting the bush.’ It is this cultural practice of taking girls to the village to show them how to elongate their labias. Odd, I know, but they are told that they can never produce and men will never love them if they don’t do it.

Other questions were fun, but pretty general. By the end of the sessions, we were singing songs about changes that happen during puberty, such as breasts, hips, butt and hair, butt and hair to the head shoulders knees and toes theme. And we also made human female reproductive systems. All was very fun!

And now that work is going on well, it time for a VACATION!!!!! This will be my first time off the continent…and the destination is EASTERN EUROPE with Hayley and Erica. Not sure if you can feel my excitement, but I am stoked!

PS All pictures I have for this blog are not accessible right now so I will post them when I come back from Europe in 3 weeks!