School Clubs Visit

At the beginning of next week, the company is expecting VVIP's (Very, very important persons!) Sue arranged to have the chairman's house cleaned and the Guest House is also been given the "once over" for the visitors. As she is away for a few days, she asked me to supervise the above work. The cleaners washed the carpets, took down all the curtains and washed them. Washed all the bedlinen and soaked the mosquito nets in insecticide. Below is just one section of the washing line full of curtains. Sue's patio, the chairman's patio and front lawn was lined with washing!

Just some of the washing being done to prepare for the special visitors next week. Isn't this a beautiful garden?

Last week in Eldoret, Sue and I bought white damask material for tablecloths at a factory shop (I bought two kikois/shuks as gifts for friends in SA. They were a fraction of the price you pay at tourist stalls and shops). We also bought two meters of red damask for serviettes. I took the material to the sewing "fundi" on Tuesday after market and she said I could collect the items on Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs Selous, seamstress/sewing fundi in front of her dressmaking shop

I duly collected the items on Wednesday. Normally there are only two toddlers sitting on stools near her while she works. When I looked up after paying Mrs Selous, I found a large group of children standing around and gazing up at me!  

I was sorry I didn't have my bag of sweets/candy with me. I  normally keep these in my basket (which was too full going to school) and hand out treats along the road

At school I visited the art class first. The pupils each had a leaf on the table, and with water colours were painting the leave and pressing it onto a blank paper

As I'm a wordsmith I normally don't try my hand at conventional art,  but, for the above picture above,  I helped a little guy mix the colours, press the leaf down and lift it carefully to reveal our artwork!  (I'm sure I saw the teacher frown at the smudge mark near the image!)

I had a message - which I'll divulge at the end - with photographic evidence,  for all the clubs.The teacher quietened the children and I was able to speak to them.

Next I visited the Science Club which was held outside. The pupils were creating a rainbow prism. They had a piece of glass in a basin of water and were reflecting it onto the veranda wall. I had a skeleton of a ghekko which I donated to the Science Club for their natural display.  Once again, the teacher called the pupils to form a semi circle around me and I delivered my message. They, like the Art Club, promised to heed my words. I don't know how, but I didn't take a photo of this club!

Caroline (the Head Teacher)  and I walked across the school field to where the Wildlife Club was busy with their project. This club is incredibly popular with the most members - 36! (Could it be that they get to go on weekend outings to the nature reserves?) The pupils are very dedicated and I found them preparing a wildlife garden. They'd already created a pond and I promised that I would take them some grasses and papyrus plants to fill up around the water feature. As the soil is clay there, I showed them how to add leaves and other dry material to improve it.

The Wildlife Club stood around me as I delivered the same message as I had to the previous two clubs

My final club to visit was the Journalism Club. As you can imagine, I had quite a few projects to share with them. I took my articles (in the SA magazines) and showed them my byline and bio. I also showed them my WIP (my recent two articles) and the revision and correction in red pen on the documents. I shared the fact that I'd been writing since I was twelve and today I write, write, write.  I didn't mention electronic writing i.e. Blogging as they don't have computers or access to the Internet. (they're 12 years and younger) I also stressed that it's hard work, writing. And conversely, it's also easy. You can write about anything. We discussed the many different topics and they became quite excited about the ideas.  

Then I showed them the photo I had brought as I put my message across. (warning: not for sensitive viewers)

On Sunday Sue had been at the dam and photographed, among other things, the little flock of storks. When she downloaded her photos at home, she was shocked to see the following:

The bird flew up everytime anyone approached it. Sue thought if they could catch it, saw off both ends of the arrow, they'd be able to pull it out, as it was through the crop. I 've been to  the dam twice while Sue's been away but the stork was nowhere to be seen.

I spoke to all the children that unnecessary pain inflicted onto a dumb animal is a no-no. One little lad said he thinks it's a young man who wants the bird's feathers. This could well be, I only hope he stayed around to collect the desired feathers when the birds finally dies/died. At the Wildlife Club the teacher stressed that the children shouldn't even kill a frog and they all agreed.

The head teacher has pasted this photo on the school notice board, each club has a photo in their classes. Each pupil said they 'd tell their older brothers, cousins, friends, who like to hunt, to take care not to aim at birds and animals that you cannot eat.

Let's hope that this photo made enough of an impression on pupil and teacher alike that they spread the word and so we may prevent a similar situation in the future.