Development doesn't end at 5:00

Well this is exciting! It has gotten progressively easier. Walking around has become more familiar around Kariobangi. Learning about Education for Life's work has been fascinating and has invigorated my passion for education. Its interesting that the problems facing Kariobangi are a lot like the problems facing students in Canada. However, the gaps in Kenya seem to be much wider then the gaps we experience as Canadians. Teachers do not need to be educated in order to teach in Kenya which creates classroom problems. In fact some students don't even trust their teachers. Teachers can be misinformed about issues surrounding HIV/AIDS which creates problems since students hold onto these words. Marci said to me one thing that I will hold onto forever, "when you work in development, the day doesn't end at 5:00pm. This is the same attitude that drive us as Canadians and people around the world. As long as good people like this exist in the world, I believe progressive action can be taken.

It's difficult to walk around in the neighbourhoods and see whole families live in a metal shack with no access to water. Seeing poverty invigorates me even more to ask questions like, Why can't we get rid of poverty? What is wrong with the system when we allow people to live in horrible conditions? Do we care enough?

Touring the schools was interesting. The so called 'good' schools that have real materials and real classrooms struggle just as much as the classrooms that are 90 sqft. and seat approx 25 students in them. One of the booming businesses for students is pornography - to sell it to classmates. Students are disciplined here. Not in the sense of the cane, but when told to do something they do it and are far more engaged. I think this might be because of the the extraordinary surroundings they live in.

Emma, Sam and I played with a new soccer ball with the kids in the neighbourhood. Something that cost us below $20.00 can cost up to 2000 Kenyan shillings. Bringing something we take for granted really showed us how little they have. There was eighty children that followed us after we played soccer which was a little unnerving but George had said to us that it was completely normal. Its a funny thing to be the object of attention here. I wonder often what they think of us. For example, in my pack I carry my journal, water, toilet paper and bandaids. Very little but to them its fascinating. I had a man reach for my bag but nothing came of it. I quickly avoided the situation and was able to shimmy my bag to the other shoulder. Security is not only a big thing for us, it is a difficult thing for all people. Women like Marci have to consistently be safe at all times. This includes not going out after 9:00pm. Think of the luxuries we have.

Going back and finishing on education- it is interesting. Teaching is seen as a last resort job. Teachers will blatantly tell you that they hate children and teaching. Even those that are well educated do not enjoy it. Teachers are not paid well here and do not have the benefits that some teachers around the world enjoy. Its a difficult situation because these are some of the most important jobs that will hopefully get people out of poverty and the slums. I was offered a full time teaching job at one of the schools. I'm not allowed to do this and it is currently not in the cards for me but what I will be doing in addition to teaching life skills in a variety of schools is hopefully teaching primary math skills in a primary classroom. It will be for their entire term May-July (Children here go to school year round with three week breaks).

I vow to teach to inspire for my life. My best teachers have inspired me. It is an ideal to live up to.

Until next time,
Sebastien :)