With Hamomi volunteer Blake Simpson's permission, this post is pieces of his very moving updates. I am so glad he is sharing his experience so everybody can see it. Enjoy!
Week 1 - Click for Week 1 Video
Nairobi
is a beautiful land filled with all types of cultures that arise from the 42
different tribes in Kenya. Bryn (another volunteer who coincidently attended
WSU) and I spend a little over an hour every day walking to and from Hamomi
through the slum Kawangware.
It’s an amazing trek that allows us to hone
down our Swahili skills from all the street greetings.
The
second day I began shadowing some of the core classes and exercising with the
children, they love my jump roping and karate skills!
They are the most loving
and kind children I have ever encountered in my life.
Opposite from my primary
education experience, the kids are almost jumping out of their seats to answer
questions, read problems, and tell us their stories.
I
am already overwhelmed with a sense of love and compassion for these children,
as they are very affectionate in their mannerisms.
My favorite are the
preschooler and 1st years, they fall over in joy every time I show
them a new trick or handshake.
I cannot wait to ingrain myself in the
curriculum and really start making some steps toward a better education for the
kids.
Week 2 - Click for Week 2 Video
All
is well in Nairobi as I become more acclimated with the school's class schedule.
The two other volunteers I had mentioned (Nikki and Bryn) both teach classes
(photography and computer sciences) that were added to the curriculum when they
arrived in replacement of PE times.
Luckily, we are able to share times since
3-4 PE classes a day are very exhausting. This is because the kids don’t
understand the names or even types of exercises I am referring to when I say
things like “suicides up the hill”, so I’m getting the full workout in as well.
I don’t mind this though, as it’s not like I’m going to the gym in my off time,
plus the kids love to observe and repeat. Since the classes are mixed sex, this
creates a bit of a dilemma with the women and their skirts.
Although they are
long skirts, exercising the abdominals and doing any type of leg lifts can
become a serious task for obvious reasons.
When all else fails though, go back to the roots of PE and Africa: football (soccer)!
Nikki recently implemented a
tutoring program for the 8th graders since they just took their
practice exams and really need help to prepare for their final exam in November.
This final determines the children’s fate for secondary school; they must get a
250 or better to move on.
Although all of them with the exception of one got
between a 320 and 260, there is still a lot more material to learn, especially
with the English section.
Seeing as there are about twelve 8th graders, I have taken four of them under my wing to help. They love the
assistance, and my point of view on answering their questions. I began with
their English papers, which mostly contained errors of past/present tense and
spelling.
I love these kids, James, Prudence,
Sasha, Livingstone, Joy, Ejohn, Purity, and the list goes on. My face aches on
the walk home from smiling all day, and I honestly don’t know how to explain
it.
I want to bring every one of them home with me to show you all how much
love they have to share. I am already finding ways to create a social business
through not only Hamomi, but also my own clothing company that will bring me
back here every year. The things I enjoy doing, I mean truly enjoy and think
about every night are so simple, walking through the slums, teaching 8 year
olds hand shakes, even mixing fresh fruits I buy on the way to school with the
beans and rice they provide us.
I encourage every one of you to
contemplate experiencing this; it will change your life forever. Please, do ask
questions, give answers, debate and relate with my experience because it is
inspiring.
A smile goes a long way here, much further than it does in America,
and the best part is it’s free to give out and accept!
-Blake
