Going to school - Uganda Style

When we woke up on Tuesday after the incredible down pour... the ground was rather WET and the air was 'cool' and damp, but it didn't seem to bother any of the kiddos!  While we were navigating mud puddles, they were still running around in sun dresses and shorts.  This became the weather routine for the rest of the week; a little rain over night and then an intense sun by mid-morning.

  After breakfast we loaded on the bus and headed just down the street a primary school.  My understanding is that Ugandan primary schools are similar to our grades 1-6.  After primary is 'senior 1-6' which align with our junior and senior high.  The school is run by Canaan which helps provide some income for the orphanage and also allows the orphans from Canaan to attend.  Sponsorships from donors as well as paying kids from the the neighborhood enables the school to operate.  You can see that the school is only half finished.  The upper level is still rough block and brick and doesn't have windows or paint.  Everything is open air which has to be 'enjoyable' as the sun comes up and the temperature reaches the mid-80's.

Each class has anywhere from 40-70 students to one teacher.  They sit 3-4 at a simple wooden bench built with a ledge for a desk.  There is a chalk board at the front of the room, a few books that are shared and basic paper tablets. 

There are no 'extras' in the room... no colorful manipulatives, shelves of library books, games, or toys of any kind.  This is the primary 6 room.  They learn science, mathematics, history and English.   They are also taught about Jesus and the hope they can have in Him.  If you ask them, many will say English or 'reading' is their favorite subject.  They go to school for 10-12 hours a day during the week and the older kids go on Saturday morning as well.

Our team split up into two groups and went to the different classes.  We talked to the kids - sharing about ourselves and our lives and families in America, then sang songs and played a few games.  We were honored to be invited into their classrooms to see where they learn.  

The kids asked lots of questions about America... like:  Do you have sheep in America?  How do you all fit in an airplane... it looks like the size of a Coke bottle in the sky?  Do you have Paw-Paw in America (Papaya)?  We tried to explain the concept of 'snow' since an inch had fallen at home before we left.  It was fun to ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up... answers like:  teacher, nurse, doctor, soldier, and one child said he wanted to be "white"!  That brought much laughter from all!

The second floor of the school is very rough...just cinder block and very gravely concrete floor, but they still use if for the older classes.  We taught the older kids how to play "Simon Says"... which worked out perfectly since one of our team leaders is actually named "Simon".  The kids laughed as they got caught when Simon - 'didn't say' and they had to be 'out'.  

While we were there the kids had their mid-day break time when they eat and play.  Many of them ended up in the front yard (dirt) area with our team... playing 'song' games.  They played a game which reminded me of our Red Rover... organizing into two lines facing each other - arms linked.  One side would march toward the other singing some 'taunting' song (in Lugandan so we could not understand what they were saying) then back to where they started and the other side would do the same.

 After several times going back and forth the groups would stop and pick one person from each side (their version of Goliath) to go to the middle and represent the team.  They would physically draw a line in the dirt between the two.  Another sing-song would start as the two in the middle would smack hands and then as the song concluded they would clasp hands and pull each other.. similar to tug-of-war.  Who ever could pull the other across the line - won for their team and the losing child would now be part of the winning team.  After MANY turns of this... the two American girls (or as they call us in Lugandan . . . "Muzungu") from our group ended up on the stronger team, so Bret decided to go in to help out the weaker team.  He was obviously picked to go to the middle while the other team sent in BOTH American girls.  

You cannot imagine the level of excitement as Bret was facing off against the two girls... the kids were about to explode.... and EXPLODE they did when Bret was finally able to pull both girls over the line.  The kids cheered and cheered!

  The next turn, they sent Bret into the middle again to represent their side.  The other team sent out the biggest boy they had.  Again the excitement mounted.  When it was time to clasp hands and tug-of-war... Bret 'struggled' a little and then let the little boy pull him over the line.  The ground literally SHOOK as the kids jumped and cheered that this boy had beaten the big Muzungu. The video below will allow you a chance to experience the excitement first hand!

 Oh the JOY and laughter that followed!  It was amazing to me the amount of energy these kids have especially considering what little they eat.  What fun to see the pure joy and excitement in their eyes to have a group of Muzungus to play games with in the middle of a muddy yard.  Reluctantly the kids returned to class and we headed back to Canaan's for lunch.

Back at Canaan's the younger kids were done with class for the day, which meant they could have us all to themselves.  Lots of playing, hugging and giggling going on before we headed into town (Jinja) to do a little shopping and stop by the internet cafe.

 

This is the soggy wet 'playground' at Canaan's... basically a slide and a lot of metal bars, but no swings or chairs left on the merry-go-round.

Tuesday proved to be a very FULL day interacting with the kids.  Amazing to see what their life is like in regards to schooling.  With virtually no public schools at the primary and senior level many in Uganda do not go to school since their family cannot afford to send them.  This makes it quite a privilege and blessing for all of the kids at Canaan's to have the opportunity.  They realize education is VERY important to make a difference in their future as well as the future of Uganda.