A Little Hiccup and a Wonderful Week 3

As I mentioned in my last post, we've had a few challenges to deal with recently. One of those, we aren't able to host our camp activities at the school. We still haven't exactly figured out why, something to do with governmental changes in education and the school calendar. We are still able to serve breakfast and lunch at the school, but the activities are now being held at a church down the road. It's bit of a logistical hiccup, but we are making it happen!

Monday

Michelle taught the kiddos 2 new songs complete with movements. The camp hit is easily, "Elephants Have Wrinkles." It's a great kids song and even the older kiddos are getting into it. We can frequently hear them singing it quietly (or loudly) when they are working on something independently or when we are walking to the field.

Amanda and I lead 2 different crafts in the main church hall. We made flags representing the counties of the kiddos and volunteers - Kenya, Sweden, Spain, Ireland, Canada and the USA! We also made owl pencil toppers out of felt and googly eyes. Somehow the two crafts morphed and we ended up with some hipster flags.

Tuesday

A day at the field. We taught the kiddos the game, "steal the bacon." It was quite humorous watching Principal Francis join in with the games!

Wednesday

Wednesday we practiced our songs and the dance to "Beat It" in preparation for our mini camp showcase on Friday. We also made catapults. They were pretty simple catapults made out of Popsicle sticks and rubber bands. We gave each kiddo a pompom to try to catapult it into a cup. I think this has been one of my favorite activities of camp. As I have said before, most of their educational experience is theory and fact based. They don't get a lot of hands on practice. It was fun watching them figure out how to turn the catapult so that the pompom flew in the right direction. They moved the base to make the pompom fly higher or lower. Definitely some good STEM learning happening today!

We also made musical instruments out of water bottles. We enlisted the help of all the volunteers in our home stay since June to save 5 liter bottles and smaller water and soda bottles for this activity. The kiddos decorated their drums and shakers and were quite pleased with the results. They were so focused on their creations, you could have heard a pin drop, until the instruments were done and then their was a glorious cacophony of percussion noise in the church!

Thursday

Amanda taught a science lesson about color mixing and we taught the kiddos about the color wheel. They were pretty impressed that all colors can be made from mixing primary colors together. We went to the field for games. When we came back to school for lunch, we had visitors from the volunteer organization we were affiliated with last year. They were really impressed with what we've been doing with the kiddos. It's nice to have validation from others in Kenya outside of the school.

Friday

Last day of camp, or as the kids call it, Camping. We had Little Einsteins with us again. We played games and made volcanoes! Even the adults were impressed with the volcanoes. So many smiles and so much laughter all around. Not only did they wear science gloves, they got to wear goggles!

We ate lunch a bit early so that we could give a little performance for the parents of all the songs and the dance the kiddos have learned over the 3 weeks. They took home their group animal masks (which we had completely forgotten about since we made them week one)! We sent each kiddo and each adult home with a certificate of attendance or appreciation and shed a few tears.

Teacher Michael got to the demonstration. He was so excited.

We will be back. Despite some setbacks, Camp Marafiki Pamoja was a huge success!

Week 2 Wrap Up

Thursday was the usual games at the field. I introduced the kiddos to some new tag games and we played for a long time! Kiddos were worn out and hungry. 

I also taught a lesson on tooth brushing. I had soaked hard boiled eggs in soda, milk, and water. The shells of eggs soaked in the water and milk stayed in tact, the shells of the eggs soaked in soda bean to deteriorate. Huge shout out to my friend Mary-Margaret for the idea. It really helped demonstrate what happens to teeth when you don't brush them and consume too much sugar! I demonstrated good brushing technique using the eggs and my fingers. You make do with what you have at Camp Marafiki Pamoja. It's all about creative thinking!

My dentist at home, Dr. Schroeder, donated enough new tooth brushes, toothpaste, and dental floss that all the kiddos got to take one of each home and we were able to give the teachers at the school one of each as well! Thank you Dr. Schroeder! 

Friday was a fly by the seat of your pants type of day. It was a bit stressful for many reasons that I won't get into here. But the other volunteers rocked it and made beaded necklaces and friendship bracelets with the kids while Amanda, Michelle, and I sorted out a few behind the scenes types of things. 

Earlier in the week, the older kiddos made shampoo with Jane. Once it was ready to go, we packed it up in empty soda and water bottles. The kiddos were so excited to take home something useful that they had helped to make!

Week 2

Remember when I said I was bad about taking pictures? We get so wrapped up in the activities that by the time I remember to get out my camera, it's too late! Needless to say, I forgot to take pictures on both Monday and Tuesday (Amanda took a few) so a few from Wednesday will have to do!

Monday the 3 groups rotated through making animal masks for their groups with Michelle, playing games with Amanda, and dancing with me! I'll certainly take photos of the masks - they were drying so the kids haven't worn them yet.

When the groups came to my rotation, I taught them a short dance to Michael Jackson's "Beat It." They were so cute. It's a pretty basic line dance that I taught in my own classroom when I was teaching PE. But, this style of dance was so foreign - literally- to the kids that it was quite amusing to watch. We all had so much fun. Even the teachers got in on the dancing after a while!

Tuesday was another day at the filed for games. We did relay races with much more success than last week. Not as many wipe outs, but we also skipped the 3-legged race! We played a big game of tag, or chase, as it is called here in Kenya. We were all worn out when we got back to school so we did a lesson on heart health and blood to wrap up the day. The older kids have been reading the BFG as a read-aloud and it's such a great way to unwind before lunch.

Team Elephant won this one!

No one can run as fast as Kenyans!

Red "Blood" Cells. Later we added white blood cells and platelets.

Today we did a craft in our groups to start the day. The kids each made one (or two or three) "God's Eye." It's a craft based on a Mexican tradition. We had so much fun! It was really interesting to me how limited some of their fine motor skills are. So much of their education is theory based and memorization that there is little time for creativity. Here's a link to an interesting article on some of the proposed changes for the Kenyan educational school system. It's also worth noting that most of these kiddos don't have access to crayons, markers, yarn and Popsicle sticks at home so they aren't getting the practice there either. While the little ones made colored hands and feet to make banners to decorate their school, the older ones made shampoo with Jane. Sounds like it was quite an expereince. I'll check out the finished product tomorrow!

Days like today are a great reminder of why we are here doing camp. It's enriching activities in a safe space for the kiddos. Exposure to things that are not necessarily essential to a good quality life, but certainly help prepare them for future careers.

 

Days 3 - 5

If the first 2 days were fun but a little shaky, the next three were fabulous!

Janet, Francis (school principal), Amanda

Quick Recap:

We've assigned all the kiddos to 3 groups: Lions, Elephants, and Giraffes. They looked at us a little funny at first, but now they can immediately find their group and their group leader when asked. They've already started forming an attachment to their groups and chant their team names whenever we have little competitions. It's great - just like the day camps I attended as a child.

Wednesday we rotated the groups through 3 activities:
1. Making Oobleck with Amanda
2. Music with Michelle
3. Germs and Hand washing with Janet and Jane

It finally felt like camp. They were all laughing a smiling all day long.

Thursday we went to the field for games. We did relay races as a whole group. They ran, skipped (sort of), crab walked (hilarious - most have never seen a crab), and final a 3-legged race. So, I didn't do the best job explaining a 3-legged race. Like a good teacher, i explained and demonstrated how to go down to the end. What I neglected to tell them - to continue moving as a unit when you turn. They each tried to turn individually and as a result, one kiddo almost always ended up on the ground! Good thing they all thought it was hilarious. I wish I had pictures... I guess you'll just have to gather a group and have a 3-leg race of your own! '

Friday, we had guests at camp. A few months ago, Michelle learned about an organization here in Kenya called Little Einsteins (http://www.littleeinsteinsea.com/index.php). They are AMAZING! Michelle reached out to them with some questions about where to get some supplies we needed for camp and they responded and offered to come to camp and run experiments with our kiddos! They came today and they will come again next Friday! For FREE! They are donating their time and resources to come to our camp!

Part of Little Einsteins' mission is to give back to kids in need, but we just never imagined that our request for assistance finding materials would be met with an offer to come to camp. They run after school science activities and school holiday camps. They also run a Saturday program. Camp is still a relatively new concept in Kenya. There are a lot of Vacation Bible Schools but not many camps the way most American's or Canadian's think of camp.

They sent 4 of their staff to camp today. They played games with the kids and did two experiments. The first one was making a tea bag fly. I think we were just as impressed as the kiddos. The second one was about carbon dioxide with a classic baking soda and vinegar reaction. The kiddos were so impressed with the experiments and just loved being called "Scientist so-and-so." They got to wear gloves - most didn't want to take them off for the rest of the day! Next week, we may get a few lab coats and goggles. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

These boys just couldn't stop giggling!

Little Einsteins also lead the group in games. I joined in the balloon races and then was called upon to pop a balloon by sitting on it!

I'm really excited for camp to continue next week! Check back on Monday for more updates! 

Two Days In

We are having a great time and are slowly working out the kinks in the plans! 

Janet, Michelle, Amanda: Enjoying lunch after Day 1!

On Day 1, we had a few minor set backs. We had a few kids who were not on the list show up. And it's so hard to tell them they can't come back - we just don't physically have the space. But, we also had a few who signed up and didn't show up. So, we may actually be able to add a few of the new ones to the list.

I headed to camp on Day 1 after traveling for 30+ hours and only getting 4 hours of sleep in a bed. So, needless to say my brain was not completely in my head! Amanda and Michelle had been sick all weekend. So, we had to reshuffle an activity we forgot the materials for! I ended up putting my old PE teacher hat on to play games in the school yard.

We have 4 volunteers cooking lunch for all of the kids. Jane, my favorite human ever, one of her friends and 2 of the teachers from the school. There are also 2 local university students helping out with camp. In fact, 4 of the 7 teachers from the school and the school principal are donating their time off to come to camp every day! Now that's dedication!

On Day 2, we walked with the kids to a big field for sports and games. We played soccer (football) and ran around with Frisbee and jump ropes. I love watching the kiddos play. Some of our youngest campers don't speak much English yet (1 of the reasons we are so thankful for our teachers and local volunteers). But play, it's a universal language. I had so much fun playing soccer with the girls (yes we played girls and boys separately....) and with the little ones.

GOAL!

We rested before lunch with a read aloud. I started reading the BFG to some of the older kiddos.

Lunch is by far the highlight of the day! The kiddos come from varied backgrounds. Some come from families who can provide lunch, but most, do not. They are loving having a huge helping of delicious food at camp and it's such a joy and it's humbling, to be able to provide it for them.

Going back!

Last summer, I went on an adventure unsure of what to expect. I had been to Kenya a handful of times, but always with my family or with a group. Even though I was meeting up with a group of volunteers this was a big trip. I've travelled alone many times, but this felt different, maybe it was the length of time I'd be gone or the uncertainty of the experience. I didn't know what my homestay would be like. I didn't even know where I would be placed.

I decided long ago that I wanted to work in Kenya, like have a job in Kenya. So I decided to test the situation with a longish short stay. The best way I could find to do this, was through volunteering. I already had some knowledge of Kenya, but wanted to enrich my understanding. I figured if I immersed myself in the culture and learned as much as I could, I'd be a better person and a stronger candidate for a job when that time rolls around. I'd have a better understanding of the people with whom I'd be working.

I had mixed feelings about the volunteering I was signed up for. And, after six weeks, I still did. International volunteerism is complicated. It sets up complex and often frustrating relationships. It's hard to balance the expectations of the volunteers and the expectations of the community. That being said, I believe international volunteerism can be successful and mutually beneficial. I wouldn't be going back if I didn't!

I met Amanda and Michelle in our homestay last year. Amanda and I spent nearly every day together and became good friends. Our skills and interests complimented each other and we realized our collective strength could do big things. Our original volunteer placement was challenging on many levels but together we made it fabulous experience! As we talked with the volunteer coordinator and the school, principal, Camp Marafiki Pamoja was born.

About six months ago was when the real planning began. We wrote a proposal and started raising money. Raising money is hard! Thank you to all who contributed with items and money. We really couldn't have done it without you! Amanda is an absolute rock star, by the way. This whole thing would never have gotten off the ground with out her determination and the support of her networks in Canada!

We are hoping to give our campers an authentic day camp experience complete with arts and crafts, games, science experiments, music, and movement. We are hoping to keep hem safe during their school holiday and make sure that they get at least one good meal a day. People often ask why not do these things at home where there are also kids who spend their school holidays idle and don't get nutritious food? There is need everywhere.

I'm so excited this has all come together. I'm nervous it won't go well. I'm hopeful the kids and the community will benefit - even half has much as I have through this whole process! I look forward to blogging this experience and sharing it with you.