Late last year, Anna and I went with all the volunteers to visit Francis at his family’s home in Sokoke. Francis is a graduate from the ASSETS bursary scheme that was set up by A Rocha Kenya (refer to ASSETS post by LJ Baird, 2010) and is the only child in his family to go to secondary school. He had been invited to come to Mwamba as an ASSETS volunteer, to gain skills that might help him in finding jobs or further study. He was joined here by another ASSETS volunteer, Janet, whose visit has already been told (refer to Shamba Shenanigans post by AM Baird, 2010). Some of the things they were taught included catering, housekeeping and computer skills. Anna and I were given charge of teaching them these computer skills. We focused on Microsoft Word skills and Anna prepared an excellent set of 10 lessons that were accompanied with assignments. About once a week we would sit with them for an hour or so and show them the wonders of Word. Each assignment required them to practice what they had learnt and built upon the previously lessons by repeating some old tasks.
Francis with a younger brother standing in front of the trees ASSETS gave him to plant in the family shamba.
This teaching experience highlighted that I came with many assumptions and much subconscious knowledge. Things that are obvious to me or seem intuitive to me are completely foreign to a Kenyan who turned on a computer for the first time a month or so earlier. It was a good learning experience for me.
Although there is SO much more for them to learn about computers, these initial lessons will hopefully give them the courage to explore and learn through using the computer. They have been profusely grateful for the help we could give them.
Just before they left, we presented them with a certificate in Basic Microsoft Word Skills (from the Bairdo Academy). Certificates are highly prized in Kenya and can be given out for anything. These computer courses are so popular that Anna has now taken on two new students.
A drinks break Kenyan style
Another skill that we could share was swimming. Francis had never been in the ocean before his time at Mwamba and was very eager to learn how to swim. Anna was an ideal teacher, having taught many young children to swim. Francis was a quick learner and braver than most of her previous charges. It was hard to hold him back. And now he can swim, primarily with the doggy paddle, though he has basic freestyle in his repertoire .
Story time: Francis telling us one of his many tales: how he was 'born on the way,' the tortoise that spoilt the forest tree top party and how chickens left the forest to be warm by fires on their shambas.
When back at home he worked the family farm, looked after his siblings and prayed for divine intervention to allow him to keep studying at college. With college fees in the realm of 60,000-100,000 Kenyan shillings (Ksh) a year (about NZ$1,000 - $1,600), such dreams of college are practically impossible when an unskilled labourer can only hope to earn about 200 Ksh per day, if they can find work at all. This weight bears greatly upon him and saddens his usually high spirits.
We were, however, able to give him a ray of hope when we employed him as a casual over the Christmas/New Year period, which was followed up with him finally becoming the ticket officer at the ASSETS Gede Ruins Platform (one of the duties he was to perform during his original stint at Mwamba). By saving this money and with help from a few friends, I am confident he won’t have to wait for 5 years before his dream can come a reality.
Teaching Francis's siblings how to play with a fizbee
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