We searched long and hard for volunteering opportunities in Africa. After weighing up the pros and cons of dozens of placements we settled on one based around chimpanzee protection and improving the corresponding primate tourism. We had just 2 short weeks to achieve our goals, so it’s fair to say that we were a little bemused when taken to the local primary school on our first day and told we would be spending every day for the next two weeks there.
What was even more shocking was that it became apparent pretty quickly that we were not there to help out with struggling students, or to lead fun activities on the environment or give the teachers a break while we lead PE – no, we were there to teach the curriculum whether we liked it or not. First cab of the rank was the P4 class (primary 4), I was introduced and after exchanging pleasantries the teacher suggested I take a lesson on plants. For the record, I know virtually nothing about plants so after some awkward negotiations in front of the class we agreed I would teach the about animals. Again, I’m no zoologist, but when it comes to 10 year olds if you stick with what you know you’ll probably be alright. Minutes later the teacher heads off to the staff room and I’m left alone with a sea of 46 Ugandan eyes staring up at me attempting to understand a white foreigner with a funny accent speaking a language they have only a basic understanding of.
With a stick of chalk my only prop I managed get the kids to shout out names of animals one might find in Uganda followed by a list of animals that come from the land down under. I gave a pop quiz at the end of the lesson and spent my first recess break marking. It wasn’t quite the monkey survey I had anticipated but things only got more interesting as the day progressed…
The P5 class was next, and again, 5 minutes after walking in the room the teacher decided it would be a nice time to nip out and I was at the blackboard with a giant novelty compass which held chalk teaching then kids how to draw an equilateral triangle with nothing but a compass and a ruler.
Later than day we spoke with the volunteer coordinator and came up with a different approach that would make better use of our strengths and also be more closely aligned with the primate conservation we signed up for. We initiated a photography related project which I’ll speak more about in my next blog and also undertook some vital boardwalk maintenance that had been neglected for too long. We continued to spend some time at the school each day interacting with the kids, but in a more social capacity such as taking a PE class or playing some soccer or netty (which we loved almost as much as the kids did).
I’ll leave you with some photos of the school and the kids, stay tuned for the next instalment which will detail the project we undertook that the kids will remember for the rest of their lives…
SORRY ABOUT THE PIXELATED IMAGES – IF YOU CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES THEY WILL LOOK MUCH BETTER. UNACCEPTABLE, BUT IT’S THE BEST I CAN DO ON THE iPAD. SORRY. Photographers – avoid the Blogpress app – they sabotage the look of your blog for their own marketing purposes on a paid app.
