Back at work

It’s been three weeks now since we returned from Serengeti (and we went back to work!  We’re not just here to safari) and two weeks since we farewelled our friends Lou and Rob back to Australia. If you’d like to read the tale of our safari — long version with excellent pictures — go to Steve’s blog where the story is there in 3 instalments.  Suffice for me to say we had a lovely time (you can’t see too many giraffes and flamingos) and it was great to relax after a stressful and tiring 8 months of work though safariing can be stressful and tiring in its own way. (Again, see Steve’s blog!)

The trainees at Olkokola have been back for 4 weeks and have been very busy.  The carpentry boys have been making the furniture for the new education room.  Last year were awarded a grant by the Wheeler Foundation to set up a self education room / library and I have been working on that.  All the self education resources I have been developing will be housed there and our trainees can work at their own pace in their own time on literacy, numeracy and other skills.  The carpentry boys were also working on a cupboard for The Plaster House which they were rightly very proud of.

The masonry boys have been working on water diversion infrastructure — drains and channels — which is getting a workout currently as the ‘short wet’ goes on and on.  It doesn’t look like we are going to get a ‘dry’ before the ‘long wet’ starts.  The boys also helped the carpentry trainees on renovations to the education room which has a new ceiling, new power points and light and is freshly painted.

The tailors have been busy making school uniforms as the new school year began but have also made the first hundred washable pads for the 4AllFoundation and another 120 that female students and teachers have been given.  We are in the process of setting up the enterprise with proper book keeping and inventory management as an example of how a business should be run,  Everyone should be able to see that minimising waste increases profit — an economic, environmental and social win!

I haven’t forgotten the Agro-Vet trainees.  I discovered a Kenyan public television series called Shamba Shape Up.  It gives good advice on all aspects of farming and livestock management in upbeat 30 minute episodes.  I have downloaded the swahili language versions of all 9 series (nearly 90GB!) and they are on the centre’s laptop computer.  I also indexed the 168 episodes so they could easily find the relevant ones to the topic being studied. 

I have started working on a website for the centre.  Have a look at it if you have a chance and send me feedback.  Here is a link. It is still a work in progress so ideas to progress it will be gratefully received.  You could challenge yourself with the Swahili version!

Sometimes I feel useful at work, sometimes I don’t, but being part of this community is fun and uplifting and the welcome I receive every morning makes my day!

And it's not all work - Australia Day BBQ Sunday last, welcome home to the landlord party Tuesday night and on Thursday night the inaugural Rotary Club of Arusha West Trivia Night at which our team - the NIDA Needers (a story for another day!) - came 3rd out of 23 teams

We'll be home in Australia for 2 weeks around Easter, maybe we'll see you then! Love from Jenny.