If you haven't already figured it out, we are working in a very poor community. This was brought home in a number of ways today though students without shoes, school uniforms with holes, and an almost total lack of resources. To the credit of the Kenyans, they continue to fight the uphill battle to even the odds for their youngest citizens who will have to compete in this century. We spent the afternoon at the Gichunge Primary where they were eager to show us their brand new computer room. I've attached a photo. It is without computers, tables or chairs (I think this is where something like "hope springs eternal" fits in!) The students were bent over their school notebooks on the floor recording what the teacher had written on the blackboard about how a computer works. As I write this on my Retina MacBook, I am pretty humbled by the leap they are determined to take.
This brings me to the topic of name tags. It was the Head Teacher (Principal) who had proudly shared this computer room with us. He is the one on the front line everyday. Back in his office, seated on a wide variety of chairs that had been gathered for us, we talked about how to best conduct the projects we had planned for the week. We presented him with the name tag we had made for him. He looked like he was seven-year-old again … it was a combination of delight, surprise and amazement. Yep. We had made his day! His plan was for us to surprise his entire staff down through the night watchman.with their tags tomorrow (Can't wait to take that picture!)
So as you clip on your ID tag or corporate name tag tomorrow, imagine never having had anything like this before. We are in a part of the world where a name-tag can make your day. Tomorrow we are back to both BLISS (the high school) and Gichunge sitting in on classes and working on projects. It will be another long day, but worth it.
Finally, with all the usual news of terrorism, disease and corruption in Africa, know that we are in a place that is fighting to beat the odds. And with God's help, we are determined to help.
The Kenya Team
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