After abit of rest on Sunday, our team was ready to return to our service projects again today.
Terry, Anson, and Zach got up earlier than usual and walked down to the school to continue working on the construction of more work tables for additional classes. Using the tools brought from Canada was very helpful and efficient for drilling and cutting metal pieces. Pictures of the finished work tables from Friday were sent to the registering body as step one to applying for Technical School status in hopes of a site visit soon.
The guys returned at 8 am for breakfast with the rest of the team. At breakfast we were all joined by Avelon, Tanzania rep for CACHA who came to support us and deal with some financial matters with Terry. After a breakfast of chepate with peanut butter or for some, the maple syrup brought from Canada, Terry and Avelon then proceeded on the half hour drive to the bank while the boys returned to the school. By noon all welding and painting was done for the new work tables and the legs and frames for 4 more tables were also completed. Both team members and the students were so excited!
Katie and Jane hired piki piki drivers to take them to visit the Tina School, an independent school running with USA sponsorship but administered by local businessman Fred Cha Cha. This is the elementary school that Terry Jane and Jonathan connected with for several projects in their first visit to Shirati and the place where they and Dylan, Nathan and Justin distributed approx. 300 backpacks ( donated by Chapman tours and many KCI staff) - full of school supplies to the entire student and staff body two years ago.
Arrivng on the property was inviting and invigorating. The school yard area was cleanly swept. White painted rocks provided welcoming pathways for all to walk and a Tanzanian flag flapped in the breeze by the admin building. Walking into the staff room was another heartwarming homecoming for Jane with hand shakes, hugs and introductions of Katie being made all around. This included a longer conversation and update time with Jonathan's friend teacher Goa and Jane who they later visited as he was administering a provincial oral exam with hs level 3 students on a bench outside his classroom.
After signing the visitor guest book in the administration office, Jane's good friend Linda Arot was called on to take the ladies on a tour to update them on what was going on at the school. Another teacher was requested to cover provincial testing that was occurring in her class.(NOTE: We had just arrived without notice but this did not throw anyone off or cause any upset feelings about the 'on- call' created!) It was encouraging to see new clean washrooms- (one squat pot for each class which students were responsible to bring water for and keep clean)- as well as a dormitory for level 7 students to stay in to help ensure better attendance for this their final grade before moving on to secondary school. It was also interesting to note great several worn blue Chapman Tour backpacks still in use from our distribution 2 years ago!
Meanwhile support worker Stephen and Connie took piki piki and bought soda and watermelon to take to visit Sarah, the dying widow and mother of 4 and before moving her family into the new mud hut we built last week ( see Aug 16 for details). Terry, Avelon, Care so ( driver) and Fred purchased a mattress, bed frame and blanket for her as she had been sleeping on the ground until now. The boys and Katie headed to market first to pick up their newly sewn shirts and shorts but they were not ready. Then the entire team attended the delivery of items and helped move the family into their new home. At last, Sarah was lifted by a male neighbor and her young son onto her new bed. It was very moving.
After supper the team played Dr President for awhile as a way to decompress. Chocolate had been found at a duka by the market earlier today so it served as a wonderful treat and the perfect way to end to a very full but rewarding day.
Terry, Anson, and Zach got up earlier than usual and walked down to the school to continue working on the construction of more work tables for additional classes. Using the tools brought from Canada was very helpful and efficient for drilling and cutting metal pieces. Pictures of the finished work tables from Friday were sent to the registering body as step one to applying for Technical School status in hopes of a site visit soon.
The guys returned at 8 am for breakfast with the rest of the team. At breakfast we were all joined by Avelon, Tanzania rep for CACHA who came to support us and deal with some financial matters with Terry. After a breakfast of chepate with peanut butter or for some, the maple syrup brought from Canada, Terry and Avelon then proceeded on the half hour drive to the bank while the boys returned to the school. By noon all welding and painting was done for the new work tables and the legs and frames for 4 more tables were also completed. Both team members and the students were so excited!
Katie and Jane hired piki piki drivers to take them to visit the Tina School, an independent school running with USA sponsorship but administered by local businessman Fred Cha Cha. This is the elementary school that Terry Jane and Jonathan connected with for several projects in their first visit to Shirati and the place where they and Dylan, Nathan and Justin distributed approx. 300 backpacks ( donated by Chapman tours and many KCI staff) - full of school supplies to the entire student and staff body two years ago.
Arrivng on the property was inviting and invigorating. The school yard area was cleanly swept. White painted rocks provided welcoming pathways for all to walk and a Tanzanian flag flapped in the breeze by the admin building. Walking into the staff room was another heartwarming homecoming for Jane with hand shakes, hugs and introductions of Katie being made all around. This included a longer conversation and update time with Jonathan's friend teacher Goa and Jane who they later visited as he was administering a provincial oral exam with hs level 3 students on a bench outside his classroom.
After signing the visitor guest book in the administration office, Jane's good friend Linda Arot was called on to take the ladies on a tour to update them on what was going on at the school. Another teacher was requested to cover provincial testing that was occurring in her class.(NOTE: We had just arrived without notice but this did not throw anyone off or cause any upset feelings about the 'on- call' created!) It was encouraging to see new clean washrooms- (one squat pot for each class which students were responsible to bring water for and keep clean)- as well as a dormitory for level 7 students to stay in to help ensure better attendance for this their final grade before moving on to secondary school. It was also interesting to note great several worn blue Chapman Tour backpacks still in use from our distribution 2 years ago!
Meanwhile support worker Stephen and Connie took piki piki and bought soda and watermelon to take to visit Sarah, the dying widow and mother of 4 and before moving her family into the new mud hut we built last week ( see Aug 16 for details). Terry, Avelon, Care so ( driver) and Fred purchased a mattress, bed frame and blanket for her as she had been sleeping on the ground until now. The boys and Katie headed to market first to pick up their newly sewn shirts and shorts but they were not ready. Then the entire team attended the delivery of items and helped move the family into their new home. At last, Sarah was lifted by a male neighbor and her young son onto her new bed. It was very moving.
After supper the team played Dr President for awhile as a way to decompress. Chocolate had been found at a duka by the market earlier today so it served as a wonderful treat and the perfect way to end to a very full but rewarding day.