Education
Introducing evening studies at HHFL
Written by Michael Habib Mkanda
With the concept that diligent work goes a long way in positioning one to achieve their destiny, we started the after- school program to help teach the kids the place of diligent work in a person’s life. The program runs after school each day for 3 hours from Monday to Friday and the students will seat an assessment test on Saturdays to weigh their progress. Having started yesterday the kids are really enthusiastic about the program and yesterday’s classes were a success thanks to the kids and Teacher Duncan for his assistance.
We are also thankful to the rest of the staff for agreeing to work with us in our schedule. Most importantly I would like to thank Mother Hanne and Father Ted for the opportunity to undertake this program with the kids and facilitating it.We hope that it will bring a positive change in the pupils’ academic performance and even life. Also Computer Literacy classes are an important part of the program and they are mandatory.We hope the program will be a success and we pray for the best.
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Hanne and I are very impressed with the good work that Michael is doing with the children. About 3 weeks ago, Michael appeared in our compound to volunteer. He is a top graduate of Lenana Boys School, a top ranked national school located within a 1/4 mile of our project. He is now enrolled in Nairobi University and intent on a law degree. I have gotten to know and admire Michael’s people skills, smarts and social conscience. I have spent several hours engaged in conversation with him and have watched how Michael interacts with our youth. He is selfless and inspirational. The kids are very eager and willing to spend 3 hours after school each day working on their syllabus subjects under his guidance. Michael thoroughly enjoys it too. It’s a win win !!
Ted
| Michael leading a Class 7 group in Swahili |
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| Grade 8 students working on a map quiz under the supervision of Teacher Duncan |
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| Teachers Susan and Ngina working with the class 5 and 6. |
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Back to school!
Written by Kennedy Otieno
Monday morning and all the students were finally prepared to return to their different schools. Mother Hanne and the staff had been a very busy time getting all the books, uniforms and supplies organized. Transport problems with the matatus on strike delayed the departure on Monday. On the second day (Tuesday), all of the students paraded with their uniforms and belongings. We took a group photo with the high school students in the morning because they were leaving for different schools located in diverse locations around the country. The primary school students from boarding school in Kilgoris Academy paraded in the afternoon with all their belongings, trunks, mattresses and their shopping. Daniel and Esther were very excited because they were joining boarding school in Kilgoris for the very first time. Daniel was running around very excited, just waiting for the departure for school.
During the day, they bound their new books bought by mother Hanne. All of them were very happy to go back but with something in their minds “Hard Work.” Everyone knows that good grades will mean more opportunity for a better future. Now we look forward to seeing them during the April holiday.
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Christmas Lunch at the Rusty Nail
Written by Mercy Achieng
On the 24th December, the hostel kids got a surprise. Mama Hanne and Baba Ted took us to a place one can hardly imagine. We were taken to a restaurant called Rusty Nail. It is situated next to the Karen dispensary. The environment was cool and indeed nothing was rusty as the name suggests.
The rest of the kids did not get the chance to go because they had gone to celebrate Christmas with their families. With us was Lucy, our manager accompanied by her sweet little daughter, Cidella.
We got to the restaurant at about 12.00 noon. Mama Hanne was very happy to see all of us looking so nice. The girls had worn some white and pink t-shirts that Mama Hanne had brought us the previous day that made us all look wow!
What we saw next was amazing! Mama Hanne and Baba Ted had rented a restaurant that catered for us only that day. We were very happy. There was a shining Christmas tree situated in one corner of the restaurant, Christmas carols were being sung on a radio, several jikos were lit to produce heat because the weather was chilly and lastly there was a fireplace surrounded with comfortable sofas where we all sat taking our juice before having our lunch. Mama Hanne took a picture of us having a toast. Cidella, Lucy’s daughter was roaming around the restaurant feeling very happy.
After a short while, lunch was served. The table was arranged nicely. Some of us, who never knew how to use the fork, spoon and knife altogether learned that day. Everybody’s mouth was watering as their stomachs grumbled for food. We ate fish fingers, chicken nuggets, carrot sticks, tomato slices and chips. It was branded the name ‘buffet’. Everybody made sure they finished every bit of the delicious food and went for a second round. We ate to our satisfaction. We had vanilla ice cream later on which left everyone licking the cones all along. We sat chatting and suddenly a man came and greeted us. He introduced himself as a magician. Many of us had never seen a magician before. That was the surprise of the day. What the man did was extraordinary. Mama Hanne and Baba Ted really made us happy. The man incredibly changed the normal paper into money and gave it to one of us. Everyone was in doubt as we tried to figure out if it was real money. He taught us magic words; ‘pije paje pije po’ which we chorused to make the magic happen. We all laughed our hearts off as he did other magic things. Thus the encounter was very extraordinary!!
Later on we went to the volley-ball pitch where some of us played while others played hide and seek. The day ended very happily. ‘Home time kids!’ Mama Hanne and Baba Ted shouted. Some were reluctant but since the day was done, we had to go home; all in a jovial mood!
Finally we take this opportunity to thank all the people who made that day a success. We were told that Jennifer Hardie, one of our friends and donors, sent money so that we could enjoy this great experience. We also abundantly thank Mama Hanne and Baba Ted!!
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