There is an article published in TES magazine and website about my summer holiday in Rwanda. It is just a glimpse of what it was as I find it very hard to summarise in few words that unique experience.
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News | Published in TESS on 28 August, 2015
Last Updated:27 August, 2015
Section:News
10 July 2015 – 9:15
It is time for a nice picture. The students have done their best during the experiment:
POP SOUND
Hydrogen gas is recognised by the ‘pop’ when it burns. The ‘pop’ is the sound of a small explosion.
I was impressed by the teacher and students interaction, participation and motivation.
The beauty of life is to be thankful for what you have at any time. You can be surprised by a smile, be excited for an invitation and amazed when things are bleak. I find life is a lot easier the lower I keep my expectations as it helps me to understand the reality. With a positive attitude you see the bright side of life. So, strive for the best you can have in your life.
My happiness is to enjoy what I do, wherever I am and with whatever I have.
My experience at GS Rango Secondary school brought peace to my heart and love to my soul. While I was listening to someone, I was learning. When I was looking at something, I was delighted at the thought of reaching that land. In the classroom I saw enthusiasm, bright minds and hard working people. They are all eager to learn and ambitious for a better future.
13 July 2015 – 9:07 am
I think that life is like a game of chess. You have to take decisions, move toward different directions, face rules and obstacles in order to succeed. But above all you have to learn how to think and think critically of the consequences of the decision made and taken, because they will affect you and other people.
After meeting teachers and students, I realised that not all of them knew about the game of chess. Some had never heard about it and a few had seen it in films. Despite the fact that I never mastered chess, I met teachers and students in the library for a session. It was amazing! Look at us!
10th July 2015 – 7:46am
It was during a chemistry lesson that I was invited to speak to a group of students. I was not only surprised with this opportunity that was given to me, but I was also impressed by the students’ confidence and the type of questions that they asked. And one question in particular that struck me was: “How can you inspire us?”
Wow! I took a deep breath and I said: “Well, I have been a teacher for 20 years, but more than that I have been a student for my entire life. It means that I learn something new every day. Yes, some people have inspired me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. So like you, I still have dreams and it is impossible to predict about our tomorrow. What I know is that, you have to live your present life to the full and you need to give the best of yourself in everything you do. Be honest, try hard, be wise and critical. But above all, be yourself! Find out about your talents and explore them. Whatever you do, do it with love.”
Again I took my breath, caught a glimpse of the whole class, but they were staring at me:
“In fact, I only can be myself! I hope I can share with you who I am and my life experience. Life is wonderful and usually full of surprises. And as an example here I am, my first time in Africa, Ruhuha, at GS Rango.”
One day after school, walking on my way home with a few children and having a nice conversation, I asked them: “What do you do after school when you get home? ” They all gave me the same answer: ” I wash my uniform.”
That day when I arrived home I could see that my neighbour who had just arrived from school was also washing his uniform!
Rwanda provides a unique perspective on how to continue to move towards its development to accomplish 2020 vision. The aim is to transform the country “into middle – income nation in which Rwandans are healthier, educated and generally more prosperous.”The switch to English can be challenging, but reading regularly will bring a significant number of benefits to the young people and their education.
Regularly, I used to meet the students in the school library to explore the books available, as well as to help them to choose a suitable reader level that they could both read and understand.
The school grows a garden with different vegetables and fruits for its own sustainance. It is a type of labour that often young people can look down on as a punishment. But by teaching agriculture the younger generation will support and improve farming and living in Rwanda.
I was able to identify most of the leaves except the “dodo.” Dodo is an African indigenous vegetable that is grown and harvested in the wild. I had it everyday for my luch in the school. It was picked from the school garden, rinsed, chopped and cooked with beens, banana and meat. Delicious and healthy! I love it.
Tomato – urunyanya
Onion – igitunguru
Papaia – paw paw
Banana – igitoki ( plantation) and umuneke (ripe banana)
Orange – icunga
Dodo
It was lovely when the students kindly taught me how to play Igisoro in GS Rango, Ruhuha.
Igisoro is a game played in Rwanda and in some other countries in Africa. It is a two-player game with 4x 8 holes in the ground and 64 seeds. As you can see through the pictures below we replicated it in a different way. We drew a table on the floor and used little stones instead of seeds.
Take a look at the posters below! They are not colourful and neither present elaborate designs, but it strikes me that they do catch my eyes and my thoughts. I am wondering if the same happens to you my reader. There is always a message to be delivered as there is an impact in the learning environment.
