Eastleigh School

After a time of prayer with Erica and Aaron, we headed back to Eastleigh. Our driver, Martin, took us there today. (Friday)
Upon arrival at the school, we had an initial meeting with 25 Somali women. These women are in 1 of 3 ESL classes that Erica and Aaron teach.
We then went and had a good introductory meeting with Jackson, the Head Master of the school. He was very appreciative of our visit and said that the teachers have been looking forward to our arrival for some time. He shared with us some of the things that he would like us to do with the teachers. Jackson then took us to the staffroom to meet his staff. The staffroom is extremely small and bare. It has two small tables at which the teachers sit at and the chairs are wooden and hard!
One of the staff took us around to introduce us to all the students in the various grades. After that, Don went to one class and Joy went to another. The teachers immediately involved us in "teaching" although in the 7th grade class it was going over last year's end of the year exam in science. The exam is on everything taught in the 3rd term and might also include some items taught in the 2nd term. It was multiple choice.
The classrooms are very bare. There is nothing on the walls and the paint is very faded. There were holes in the ceiling tiles. There is blackboard at the front and the teacher uses white chalk. The children sit on benches 2-3 on a bench depending on their size and work in notebooks.
45% of the children at the school are refugees from Somalia, 20% were from Ethiopia and 35% are Kenyans.
We ended the day in a grade 4 music class. The children sang a number of songs for us and Joy in turn taught them a couple of new songs, The Hokey Pokey, Deep and Wide" and an extended version of "If your happy and know it clap your hands". The children enjoyed these action songs.
When we return on Monday, they are going to teach us a new song and we are to teach them a new song!