Yesterday, wednesday, part of GIN went to Shangilia, the orphanage that encourages performing arts. As I am the head of the group doing these trips, (service), I viewed the list and was pleased to see around 12 or so names. But only 6 people showed, including myself.
(It was slightly disappointing, as we had booked one of the larger buses, and we didn't even fill three rows.)
However, when we did arrive at the orphanage, we were asked to have a debate on "Should, or should we not cut down trees for farmland etc.?"
I was on the side that was against tree cutting, with Cora and Shubam. On the opposing side, Meg, my co-head, Rhea and Chayse. I think that we spent around 20 minutes doing this, and it was so entertaining seeing the littler ones proposing arguments, seconding each other and going against one another's arguments. Meg, Rhea and I had quite a heated discussion at one point, but we toned it down and let everyone have their turn to speak.
In the end, it was a tie, according to the number of arguments each side made, but the tree-huggers won in all of our hearts. This made me so happy, as I know that these children are Kenya's future, and if they do look out for the environment and protect it, then I know that Kenya is in safe hands. I just wish that that could be said for everybody.
After the debate, we split up into our groups. I was supposed to do art, but seeing as all three art 'mentors' were present, and many of the other groups were missing teachers, I went to help out with reading. I think that a lot of the children were slightly disappointed when they heard that only 4 groups (art, reading, storytelling and music), were being held, but it was all that we could do.
In our reading/writing group, Meg and I split the children, Meg taking the older ones, and I taking the littler ones. I noticed that the books that we were reading had all been donated by UKaid.
In my smaller group, we took turns reading, so I read one, asked them questions about it, and they drew the characters on the board, if they wanted to. Then I got one of the students to read a book, helping them on words that they struggled with.
It was really, really amazing doing this, because I feel as though, even though I am only doing such a small thing, I could be helping them get along in life by encouraging them along with the rest of our Shangilia group.
When it was time to go, I spoke to Cora and Shubham about what they were doing in art, and what we could do next time. This time, Shubham had brought line drawings for them to color in, and I suggested that next time, we get them to draw each other's faces, and then, at the end of the session, get everyone to guess who had drawn who.
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Operation smile is a program which was founded by an American surgeon and his wife, who is a nurse. They work to give free surgeries to children with cleft, or hare lips all around the world. Today, there are missions in many countries worldwide, Kenya included.
Last wednesday, a woman came to our assembly to talk to us about this program. She showed us two videos of the things that these children and their families go through because of their deformation. They both really pulled at my heart strings, and I felt as though I would cry. When she asked if ISK would be willing to help out with this, I almost wanted to stand up and shout "Me! I'll do it! I'd do anything."
Then, this week on tuesday, all of the students who had expressed any interest in the program were asked to come to Mrs Osborne's room. There, we talked about starting a student program that would help out, raise funds and pass the knowledge around to other schools.
At first, there were only 6 or 7 people present. But as the meeting progressed, more people showed up. In the end we had around 20 students!
We were all really pleased at the turnout, and the teacher said that the club would begin in January, when we would choose our president, co-president, treasurer, secretary and inter-school relations 'manager'.
I'm really excited, and I cannot wait to help out. :)
(The pictures have direct links to the Op. Smile websites.)
The event is quite simply a volleyball tournament called 'Spike to Support'. For those of you who don't know what spiking is, it's what the silhouette of the girl on the poster is doing. I think... :) To participate, you need to pay 400ksh, and anyone can enter. That means that teachers, students, parents etc. can join. 
