September and October! Reaping the rewards of hard work!
The third school term started in September and after a short
break in August (we had our Mid-Service conference and medical checkups so not
much time off to travel!), the school activities and events were in full
preparation swing. The most important event was the Readathon and it was my
duty along with the teacher librarian, Ms. Handima, to organize the week-long
event at the end of the month. In the meantime, I went to Tsumeb up north for 1
week as a PC Resource Volunteer. I worked with another Volunteer to help train
the new PC group 44 in technical training. We assisted and helped coordinate
Namibian teachers and the PC trainees in lesson preparation and co-teaching
sessions. It was great to see other Namibian schools and meet teachers and get
to know the new trainees. There are about 50 new PC trainees in this group but
about half of them were doing training in Tsumeb while the rest were to the
north in Oshivamboland. What a great group of bright, talented and enthusiastic
people! They were also learning their new language and staying with host
families. I remember my PST training last year and it is probably the most
difficult and overwhelming part of your PC service. I’m sure this group will
nail it and I look forward to seeing some of them in the south south (as we are
fondly called) as many will be sent down this way, south of Windhoek.
Back to Gibeon! Apart from the Readathon, there were also
many teacher workshops (for the Namibian teachers, but this means they are
absent and you must cover for them!), a Gala event (a dinner fund-raising
evening), my reading program (still chugging along), the library and setting up
all those great new book donations (thanks Liz and our Italian lady group!), a
pen pal exchange (thanks Diana in Italy!) AND I got back in touch with the
orphanage and am meeting the kids twice a week to read stories, color, set up a
reading-craft area in their home. I want to identify the older kids at the
orphanage who are having reading problems and assess the young ones who are
starting English at the primary school.
I’m including a variety of photos: my Readathon helpers, 8A
English (I missed getting a group picture of these kids), kids at the orphanage posing (Oh! so proud!), some of our school’s
Readathon events and some various motivational events and awards ceremonies at
the school.
It is getting warmer…we are in spring, going into our
summer. I’m well, get lots of peaceful rest, and have learned how to fix
lentils in a variety of ways! Can’t get enough of them! We have a pending
teacher strike (warnings started in September but between voting on whether to
strike and negotiations with government…it may happen mid October. We PC must
not participate so we are told to stay home and not interact with teachers or
learners. When the strike does come, I’ll spend time with kids at the orphanage
and in the community…away from the school. OH! I also recently attended a
senior citizens of Gibeon luncheon and hope to get involved with them. I just
happened upon the meeting and the organizer acknowledged me (only white
non-clicking person present!). I was told they are doing evening English
classes for the old people….hmm…right up my alley, no? If anything, it will
improve my Khowkhowgowab, I’m sure.
