2+4=FUN!

Metaha,

The last two weeks classes have been very productive. The children have been on time and excited to learn. The volunteers have been rising to the challenge of taking on more responsibility each week and the class is progressing nicely.

Two weeks ago we took a small break from the curriculum and surprised the children with much-needed gifts. Thanks to some wonderful donations, we were able to provide the children with warm clothes for the cold winter nights, as well as some basic toiletries. The hostel where most of the children stay has been undergoing some major renovations, which has left them without regular access to bathroom facilities. The children were very happy to receive the toiletries, as they can be put to good use now that the hostile upgrades are almost complete and they will be able to bathe once again!

Gabriel posing with a soccer ball.

The process of giving!

Children showing off their new items!

Last week was another big step for the Omapitiro Weyuva Class. I was out of the office all week and could not supervise the class, which meant that the volunteers were fully in control. We had a meeting before my departure so that we could discuss some of the activities for the class, and upon my return I discovered that they not only carried out the class flawlessly, but they also had some amazing pictures to show for it! The lesson of the week was mathematics, which was taken from the books we purchased through donations. We made copies of the sections so that each of the children had their own "worksheets" which they were free to write on. The children really enjoyed the way the books taught the math and can't wait to continue the lesson this coming Friday.

Children working with the abacus to learn math easier.

Children going through their math notebooks with help from volunteer.

For now, Uhara Nawa

Learning Makes The Wheels Go Round.

Metaha,

20 degrees and sunny; the perfect weather to learn how to ride a bike. The volunteers brought in their own personal bikes for this class period and the class provided the helmets. You could see the children’s smiles grow as the volunteers explained what the next two hours were going to consist of. Even though most children were very excited to learn how to ride a bike still others needed to be convinced, by watching a few riders, about the safety of the bikes. After the first few children took a couple laps around the parking lot the children formed a never ending line.

Blaundina helping Urimeke balance as she learns.

Everyone helping others.

At the start of the class it was great to see the volunteers helping the children balance the bike while they were getting the hang of it. After a few of the children took their turn some of the other children, who already knew how to ride were also anxious to help their fellow classmates. The volunteers allowed this to happen and it turned out to be a great teaching moment for the children. This freed up the volunteers to write a few journal questions on the whiteboard. At the end of the class the children were given some time to draw themselves in their journals riding their bikes. I believe the class could have gone on for many hours if the children didn't have to head back to the hostel for dinner.

Children writing in their journals with the bike class in the background.

For now, Uhara Nawa

Leaps and Bounds

Metaha,

Our classes over the past two weeks have been filled with excitement. The children are eager to learn everything and anything the volunteers can teach, and the volunteers are rising to the challenge. With each passing week the volunteers are taking more initiative, assuming more responsibility, and developing their own unique styles of teaching.

Two weeks ago we took the children to the Ministry of Youth, where we rented the computer lab for a couple of hours. The excitement was palpable on the short walk from the Red Cross office; the children chattered away, and many ran ahead striving to be the first in line to enter the building. We arranged the groups so that older learners who had used a computer before were paired with the younger ones who had never touched one. First, we went over the parts of the computer and explained basic functions of the screen, mouse and keyboard. Then, we commenced with the first computer lesson on mouse skills!! The children took turns working with the mouse, clicking and double clicking on shapes of various sizes and positions. It was amazing to see the older children explain the process to the younger ones and then step aside so that the younger children could practice on their own; it was a perfect demonstration of experiential education! We spent over two hours in the lab, and all of the children made it up to level five of the Mouse Skills game. The children loved it and they can't wait to learn more computer skills.

The entire class working on the computers!

Children looking on waiting their turn at the mouse.

The older children teaching the younger ones on our donated laptop.

This past week was another great class. The volunteers asked the children what they would like to do and they came to a unanimous decision to finish the movie "Over the Hedge." The volunteers quickly wrote out some questions on the white board to help increase the children’s English comprehension and then started the film. The questions they came up with encouraged the children to think for themselves. For example, question no. 3 asked, “What is one word that you did not understand in the movie?” After the movie ended, each child came up one by one and wrote their answer on the whiteboard (You can see some of the answers in the picture below). Then, we took out the dictionaries and had the children find the definitions to each of the words. We concluded by allowing the children to draw and write in their journals. Overall it was a very entertaining and enjoyable learning experience, and we are all looking forward to our next class!

Watching the movie.

Three children writing in their journals.

Children writing on the white board.

For now, Uhara Nawa

Changes for the Better

Metaha,

The original plan for Friday’s class was to go to the Ministry of Youth for a computer course, but without notice our plans changed. Shortly before our activities were scheduled to begin, we were informed that the facilitator for the activity could not make it. We quickly formulated a new plan, which involved watching the movie “Over the Hedge” and answering questions as a method of increasing English comprehension. The volunteers hurriedly set up the television and DVD player and prepared some questions on the dry erase board. I am always impressed with the volunteers and their ability to adapt to changes.

The children watching the movie and answering the questions.

After watching about an hour of the movie, we went over the children’s responses as a group. Many of the questions were open ended, so it was very interesting to hear what the children came up with for answers. For instance, when asked the question “what did you learn from the movie,” one of the children proudly raised her hand and told the group that it is wrong to steal. Overall, it seems that the children took away excellent messages from the movie, and they also thoroughly enjoy the characters. The third question on the whiteboard was “what animals are in the movie,” and instead of having them write out their responses, we asked the children to draw pictures of their favorite characters in their journals. Some of the most popular characters were the turtle, the dog, and the skunk which pretends to be a cat.

Drawing the turtle.

Below is a series of pictures of one little boy named Titus Angula. When I mentioned to him that I wanted to portray his journal and drawings on the Internet blog he was very excited. I hope you enjoy!

Titus Angula is in the 3rd grade.

This is the front cover of Titus's journal.

His drawings of his favorite charicters in the movie.

Until Next Time, Uhara Nawa

Journals and Smiles

Metaha,

The children were early as usual, which got the day off to a great start. We gave out some footballs and allowed them to play while the HBC volunteers planned the day’s activities. Since this was our first full class period of the term (without having to distribute any items) it was time to get the children started on making their journals.

The journal concept is very important in the Omapitiro Weyuva after school class because it will allow the children to express their creativity by writing their own personal entries. Written memorization is the norm in Namibia; many of the regular school classes are taught by copying word-for-word what the teacher writes on the board. This system leaves very little opportunity for the children to be creative.

The volunteers putting together the starter kits.

From the money donated by many folks in Luxembourg we were able to buy colored paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glitter glue, and many other items that allowed the children to make their journal their own. We simply made the materials available. It was up to the children to decorate the covers in any manner they saw fit and all we asked of them was that they put their names somewhere on cover.

The children busy working!

Watching the children make their journals was a beautiful sight. You could practically see the creative wheels turning. To start, the volunteers punched holes in the paper and cut the string to assemble the journals. Then the children went to work. They were given 30 pages of brightly colored paper, 2 pieces of cardboard for the covers, and 2 pieces of twine to bind them all together. Many of the children took the time to arrange the colors so that they could make theirs special and unique. Some of the younger children required the aide of the volunteers to thread the twine through their journals, and they were more than happy to help. After the assembly was finished the children took to decorating. Some made collages with magazine cut outs, while others drew brightly colored pictures with the markers and used glitter glue to accent their artwork.

A volunteer helping a younger child lace up his journal.

All and all it was a great time for the children and the volunteers. Of course we finished the day up with some cool drink and a group picture.

Smiles all around!

That's all for now, Uhara Nawa.

5th June OVC Class

Metaha,

Day after day I am reminded that things in Namibia just don't need to be rushed. If something can wait for another day...it will. For example last week we distributed many pairs of shoes to the children. One would have thought, why don't we kill two birds with one stone and distribute the children's school items at the same time? Well, that's just not the way it goes.

This week we had one of our biggest turn-outs ever. 27 Children were waiting on the door step at 15h00 all with huge smiles on their faces. I guess the word got out before hand that we were distributing pens, notebooks, file folders, scissors, and pencil cases that were donated by the Namibia Red Cross Society headquarters in Windhoek. The children started writing their names on the items the moment they received them to make sure everyone knew who they belonged to.

Older children helping the younger ones write their names.

Taking ownership in the new notebook.

Cool drink makes the world go round.

After distributing the items the children decided they wanted to sing you all a few songs of praise and thanks. The songs continued for long after our allotted time but no one had the heart to tell them to stop. It was a mixture of singing and dancing that couldn't be beat. Below are two clips taken from the hour of goodness.

Sorry for the poor video-manship...I will do better next time.

That's all for now, Uhara Nawa

Metaha,

After a month-long break from school, the children are back in classes and ready to learn. Friday May 29th was our first OVC class in six weeks and the children were very excitied to be starting the second term. 

The new term started off on a great note. The Home-Based Care volunteers decided that it would be nice to have the guardians attend the first meeting with the children so that they could see first-hand how the program operates. Thanks to the generous donations from Saguaro Christian Church in America, we were able to purchase new tennis-shoes for all of the children and they were distributed during this meeting as well. The children were very excited about their new shoes, and showed them off proudly.

The children washing there feet before putting on their new shoes.

36 new pairs!

Showing off the new kicks and a huge smile!

Thanks!

During the school break, we recieved the funding for the Omapitiro Weyuva class and we were able to buy most of the items which the children needed including books, journals, and some audio-visual equipment. These materials will help to guide the volunteers while they are teaching, while simultaneously engaging the learners. Some of the topics we will be covering in the coming weeks include english, math, computers, journaling, gardening, and health and sanitation to name a few. Now that all of the parts of the class are in place, we are excited to see it reach its full potential!

I would like to take this time to personally thank all of the people who donated to this project. You are the reason that these orphans and vulnerable children have this opportunity. On that note, a huge thank you goes out to Florence for organizing everything. I know you put your heart and soul into this project and the children appreciate it greatly. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Jenny, her father, and his church for the donations which we used for the shoes. The childrens' smiling faces say it all!

Well for now, Uhara Nawa