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This week we heard from Erica Kenny that during the week of November 10-14, the school at the Eastleigh Community Centre is administering a "guarded exam". We believe that this is a national government exam. The Kennys were told that they would have to cancel their ESL class during this week and that we can not be in the building. Erica was not certain why they were not told about this earlier but commented,"This is Africa!!!"
As it turns out , Malcolm and Patty Card are planning to go to Amboseli during this same time and have invited us to travel with them. Amboseli is the second largest game park in Kenya and is known for it's elephants. It borders Tanzania and is famous for its view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Malcolm and Patty Card were appointed as CBM Global Field Staff to Kenya in 2004. Malcolm is involved in Leadership Development while Patty is working with the Guardians of Hope HIV/AIDS program. The Cards are also team leaders for CBM's African Field Staff. What a great opportunity for us to see more of Kenya and to learn more about the CBM work there.
Tonight we invited Katie Carline to our home for dinner. Katie is in her first year at Tyndale University and Seminary in North York. Her parents, Paul and Kelly Carline were appointed
Global Field Staff to Kenya in 1995. Initially the Carlines worked in the Eastleigh Community Centre where we will be volunteering. They now coordinate Sharing Way Development Projects , teach ESL and work with the Somali community in north east Kenya. Katie is a delightful young woman who was able to give us a good overview of what to expect in Nairobi and Eastleigh in particular.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
More about our Trip
The Canadian Government recommends that travellers not go into the Eastleigh Community because of the high crime rate. We will be travelling each day to the community centre with the Kenny's. The Kenny's have had no difficulties because their faces and their van are well known in the community. The Kenny's take security very seriously and are cautious at all times. They never travel into Eastleigh at night. There are risks but they are manageable.
CBM has arranged for us to stay at Heart House, a guest house which is about a 20 minute drive from Eastleigh. This guest house is located in a very safe and quiet community called Ridgeways. We are told that the food is great, the rooms are big and clean with hot running water which is not always available in Kenya. We will have internet access at this guest house and so intend to post regular updates on this blog for family and friends to read.
We are planning to take a three day safari in the Masai Mara at the end of our assignment. We have been told that this is trip is something we must do. The Masai Mara is one of Africa's best wildlife destinations. It is renown for its scenery and the abundance and diversity of wildlife.
We have decided to take some soccer balls (deflated) and a pump as a gift for the school. When asked, Erica Kenny let us know that the children would very much appreciate this gift. We are also taking some teaching aids, i.e. alphabet letters for the teachers to use in their classrooms. For the Kenny's we are taking chocolate chips, chocolate dipped granola bars, candy canes, a few strands of clear/white Christmas lights and gummy bears. These are a few of the things the Kenny's are missing from Canada.
CBM has arranged for us to stay at Heart House, a guest house which is about a 20 minute drive from Eastleigh. This guest house is located in a very safe and quiet community called Ridgeways. We are told that the food is great, the rooms are big and clean with hot running water which is not always available in Kenya. We will have internet access at this guest house and so intend to post regular updates on this blog for family and friends to read.
We are planning to take a three day safari in the Masai Mara at the end of our assignment. We have been told that this is trip is something we must do. The Masai Mara is one of Africa's best wildlife destinations. It is renown for its scenery and the abundance and diversity of wildlife.
We have decided to take some soccer balls (deflated) and a pump as a gift for the school. When asked, Erica Kenny let us know that the children would very much appreciate this gift. We are also taking some teaching aids, i.e. alphabet letters for the teachers to use in their classrooms. For the Kenny's we are taking chocolate chips, chocolate dipped granola bars, candy canes, a few strands of clear/white Christmas lights and gummy bears. These are a few of the things the Kenny's are missing from Canada.
Background Information about our Trip to Kenya
When Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) heard of our interest in a short term mission trip, Don's experience working with the Somali community in Toronto and Joy's career in teaching, they quickly approached us about going to Nairobi, Kenya , to work with the Somali refugees. We will be departing on November 6, 2008 and returning to Toronto on Decemberr 9, 2008. We will be travelling KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Erica and Aaron Kenny are the CBM field staff who are working with the Somali community in Kenya. They have three children, Tristan ( 9), Emma ( 6) and Ava (20 months). They will be our hosts while we are in Nairobi. We will be working with them at the Eastleigh Community Centre in Eastleigh, a suburb of Nairobi.
The Eastleigh Community Centre ( ECC) is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa established the Centre. It operates on their church compound as an outreach ministry to the people of the Mathare Valley and Eastleigh communities. The people living in the Eastleigh and Mathare Valley communities are extremely poor and disadvantaged. Many families have settled there after fleeing the violence in Somalia. CBM and the Kenny's started to work at the ECC in the fall of 2007.
The Eastleigh Community Centre has a school on the property with about 350 students, 40% of them being Somali. All the students come from very poor backgrounds and need a lot of encouragement to learn. The students start school at 7:00 AM and leave about 4:00 PM. There are 60 staff members at the centre including 12 teachers, a number of social workers, trade instructors and office staff. The centre teaches students from grades 1 to 8 and offers many trade courses for the parents including hair dressing, sewing and fashion design, hospitality, pottery, automotive, electrical and secretarial.
English and Swahili are the primary languages spoken at the Community Centre. The children are taught in English. Aaron and Erica are running an ESL program for the Somali mothers as most speak no English.
The Kenny's have arranged for us to assist in the classrooms at the school in November. We will have the freedom to choose what ages and subjects to work with. We will be using the curriculum that the school follows so won't need to take any supplies from home . We will also have an opportunity to assist the Kenny's with their ESL program. From December 1 to 3, while the students are on their year end vacation break, we will provide professional development/ training sessions for the teachers.
We have been asked to provide training on "cooperative learning" since that concept of learning is not used very much in the school. We are also considering facilitating some sessions on "how to engage and encourage children in learning". Fortunately we have three weeks to observe and share with the teachers in the classroom leading up to the training workshops so we may decide to do something very different in the end.
Erica and Aaron Kenny are the CBM field staff who are working with the Somali community in Kenya. They have three children, Tristan ( 9), Emma ( 6) and Ava (20 months). They will be our hosts while we are in Nairobi. We will be working with them at the Eastleigh Community Centre in Eastleigh, a suburb of Nairobi.
The Eastleigh Community Centre ( ECC) is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa established the Centre. It operates on their church compound as an outreach ministry to the people of the Mathare Valley and Eastleigh communities. The people living in the Eastleigh and Mathare Valley communities are extremely poor and disadvantaged. Many families have settled there after fleeing the violence in Somalia. CBM and the Kenny's started to work at the ECC in the fall of 2007.
The Eastleigh Community Centre has a school on the property with about 350 students, 40% of them being Somali. All the students come from very poor backgrounds and need a lot of encouragement to learn. The students start school at 7:00 AM and leave about 4:00 PM. There are 60 staff members at the centre including 12 teachers, a number of social workers, trade instructors and office staff. The centre teaches students from grades 1 to 8 and offers many trade courses for the parents including hair dressing, sewing and fashion design, hospitality, pottery, automotive, electrical and secretarial.
English and Swahili are the primary languages spoken at the Community Centre. The children are taught in English. Aaron and Erica are running an ESL program for the Somali mothers as most speak no English.
The Kenny's have arranged for us to assist in the classrooms at the school in November. We will have the freedom to choose what ages and subjects to work with. We will be using the curriculum that the school follows so won't need to take any supplies from home . We will also have an opportunity to assist the Kenny's with their ESL program. From December 1 to 3, while the students are on their year end vacation break, we will provide professional development/ training sessions for the teachers.
We have been asked to provide training on "cooperative learning" since that concept of learning is not used very much in the school. We are also considering facilitating some sessions on "how to engage and encourage children in learning". Fortunately we have three weeks to observe and share with the teachers in the classroom leading up to the training workshops so we may decide to do something very different in the end.
Friday, October 3, 2008
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