Mwajuma

Today I met Mwajuma. She is the sponsored child of my dear friend Sherri. Mwajuma was small and shy, but lit up like a christmas tree when I told her I was a friend of her sponsor. She trailed me all day long, and at the end of the day, I was able to give her the giftie sent by Sherri. She was thrilled, and was able to read the easy-reader books included in the gift. Wonderful to see how a small gift can offer so much happiness!

Later: Each day that I see Mwajuma, she takes a running leap into my arms for kumbatia kabisa (absolute hugs) and can't seem to tear herself away from her visitor, no matter how the swings are calling during play time. This is actually unusual for a student at St Jude, as many of them have had less than stellar life experiences, with people coming and going, and situations that do not build a strong sense of trust. Mwajuma is one of a kind, and the sweetest little girl I have ever met (know that the list includes thousands)!

The picture above is of Mwajuma receiving her giftie from Sherri, just the beginning of a million smiles!

First Day Back

Today was my first day back at St Jude since December. I spent the day talking with teachers and observing in classrooms, looking for evidence of progress in teaching techniques. The evidence was everywhere I looked - Rooms full of student work, word walls, and informational materials - Small group hands-on work going on in almost every classroom I visited - Highly engaging instruction and strong positive interaction between teachers and pupils. I can honestly say I saw more progress than I had ever expected. Work still to do, but so great to see teachers accepting the challenge so readily!

The photo above is of Mr. Peter (right, science) and Mr. Koringo (left, maths), two of the teachers who have been put in leadership positions at the school. In the coming year, Mr. Peter will be in charge of the new school campus at Usa River. In this photo, they are in deep discussion of the leadership book that we are using to discuss principles of democratic and shared leadership strategies. These two are a great find for the school, bringing knowledge, experience, and a strong commitment to the children and the goals of the school.