Yes, I am blogging again!
After a month’s break at home in England, I am back in
Rwanda with a new challenge, working at a Primary School in Kigali which is
supported by a small NGO. The project is in its second year and the school has
been designed to be a model school for local Rwandan counterparts to visit and learn
from. The infrastructure is innovative, staff get constant on-the-job support from
an international education specialist and the children learn in English from
Nursery 1 until Primary 6.
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| The beautiful school, equipped with elephant slide and nursery children singing on the grass |
My role here is the interim Country Director for the NGO. As
such, I am Head Teacher for the school and Lead Practitioner in charge of staff
development. Over the next few months, it is my aim to find a local Head
Teacher to come on board and lead the school. Our long term plan is for the
school to reach ultimate sustainability without requiring additional support from
an INGO.
So another wonderful opportunity for me and the chance to
stay in Rwanda for a bit longer. If you look back at some of my other blogs,
you will see the stark contrast between this school and the rural schools I was
working in last year. The school has its own library, play time equipment and
local and international learning resources. It also has nearby grazing cattle,
the occasional visiting goat and a local community which is more reminiscent of
my time in Kibungo than Kigali. Definitely another home from home. Every
morning and evening the children shake my hand to greet me and sometimes throw
themselves at me for an opportunistic hug! It’s really nice to be based in one
school and have some consistency…..and I haven’t been called Muzungu once, the
kids here have already learnt my name!
More to follow – I promise not to be silent for so long this
time.
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| Children reading in the school library |
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| P3 Learners saying "Hello" |
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| The school swings with 'Customers' waiting for their turn |
