A Fast Start to 2018
January marks "Mwanzo" (New Beginnings) in many ways. For our preschool and primary students, it is the start of the school year. And we certainly celebrated big this year, with the addition of a new teacher and class (Grade 4) at the Mwanzo Education Center.
While the teachers and students enjoyed the December break, activity on the school compound continued at an unbelievable pace - both with the construction of the second story of the primary school, and with our water project. Exterior walls on the second floor are finished, as is the new roof which is allowing us to build a comprehensive water capture/retention system.
Since November 2017, everyday many workers have toiled heroically in digging the underground space for our 4 new 10,000 liter cisterns, which will provide our students, teachers, and limited numbers of community residents a more reliable and safe source of water. Loyce and the Board hope you sense the great joy in the below pictures of hard work and wonderous accomplishment.
Another surprise that brings us to tears: Our primary school students on the own got together and decided to elect a Class President and grade monitors. This was a tradition of children's education in Luo society, which "disappeared" for many years. Imagine the joy of seeing our young students restoring this practice, and with it the dignity of tradition. You may remember hearing about one of our brightest students, Natasha, who lost her grandmother - her caretaker - in 2017. Natasha, our bright star, was elected Class President for the 2018 School Year!
The below pictures surely convey the empowering hope that our students and adults are building through impactful change.
From the bottom of our hearts, I thank you for your support to and solidarity with the residents of Rabuor Village and the 11 nearby communities, who benefit from your gifts of the heart!
Liz Gilbert, Margaux Kendall, Terry Moore, Loyce Ong'udi, and Mark Peterson (Board)
