The volunteer work on site has now ended and all the volunteers have returned to their studies/ work. It was a very sad time for them all saying goodbye to each other. Some of the Kenyan volunteers even woke up to bid the UK team farewell at 4am on the day of their departure! It really has been fantastic to spend time together on site. The teams have made good friends and formed a wonderful community united in their aim of building the school for the deaf students. The end of the month was a sad time but also a celebration of the great work they have achieved together. The Facebook and Whatsapp groups have now been set up for them to continue sharing stories and life together.
The most important update is that the deaf students have now started their new term at school. It was wonderful to see them use the classrooms properly for the first time. It is great that they now have the space to set the classroom up properly for deaf education (curved formation of desks for ease of communication). They are very happy and excited to set up home in the new facilities. Currently only 6 of the 22 students have returned to school due to the current teachers' strike currently discouraging parents from sending their children. Let us hope they sort it out soon so all the students start their fourth term at school.
The most important update is that the deaf students have now started their new term at school. It was wonderful to see them use the classrooms properly for the first time. It is great that they now have the space to set the classroom up properly for deaf education (curved formation of desks for ease of communication). They are very happy and excited to set up home in the new facilities. Currently only 6 of the 22 students have returned to school due to the current teachers' strike currently discouraging parents from sending their children. Let us hope they sort it out soon so all the students start their fourth term at school.
The work on site is continuing to completely finish the new teaching block, the school fence and the gatehouse...not much more to do!
Now let us hear from Team Conqueror Elephants who want to share with us their stories...
"For me I was just requested by our Reverend to be involved in this project. I have learnt a lot how to make trusses and also cutting with the power saw. I have enjoyed learning how to use it. I have got experience of how to mix concrete. I have gained experience working with the bricks It will help me in the future, I can do things like build a small house for chickens. It is so valuable to have gained the know-how.
I want to commend the team here for identifying the need of a school for the deaf. People who cannot hear are often neglected in their homes so it is important that they have gained an opportunity to learn and have a safe community to be in. I pray that God blesses and expands the school." Bonface, Kenyan Volunteer
Now let us hear from Team Conqueror Elephants who want to share with us their stories...
"For me I was just requested by our Reverend to be involved in this project. I have learnt a lot how to make trusses and also cutting with the power saw. I have enjoyed learning how to use it. I have got experience of how to mix concrete. I have gained experience working with the bricks It will help me in the future, I can do things like build a small house for chickens. It is so valuable to have gained the know-how.
I want to commend the team here for identifying the need of a school for the deaf. People who cannot hear are often neglected in their homes so it is important that they have gained an opportunity to learn and have a safe community to be in. I pray that God blesses and expands the school." Bonface, Kenyan Volunteer
Team Conqueror Elephants and Team Simba, joined by Njogu, the Site Manager.
"I have learnt a lot from the other volunteers here. I feel happy when I stay with the team here. The UK people are good in explaining on what is hard for me. I had chosen good friends and he/ she are highly kind to me. I have learnt a lot of ways to build and I thank the UK teams for support my school ACK St Mary Magdalene School for the deaf." Jacob, deaf student
"The Conqueror Elephants started strong, even able to make the claim we had more members than the other teams. However, our numbers slowly dwindled as various members sadly had to depart. Let us take a moment to remember our former members....Hat (UK volunteer), Elias (deaf teacher), and Florence (deaf student). Hat and Elias had to leave for work commitments and unfortunately Florence got a cold so returned home. We have missed them so dearly. However, we remain strong...like concrete! What a link!
We have learnt lots of skills whilst here including making concrete, mortar, laying bricks, and making trusses. Trusses seemed to dominate our lives as we lifted wood, measured wood, split wood, cut wood, nailed wood, pulled nails out of wood....basically, a lot of wood-work!" Watching the sunset this evening sat on the roof I had helped to construct was slightly nerve-wracking, but also totally epic.
Jacob, deaf student age 20 who has studied in the temporary facility for one year. He is now joining the other students as they move into their new site.
There have been so many experiences - waterfights, moving mounds of earth together in the dark for the Archbishop's visit, visiting the children's home and climbing mountains. However, the thing I will take away with me most are the friendships that I have formed with the deaf students and Kenyan volunteers. There is so much joy and laughter in our little community that it is going to be very hard to leave." Katrina Elmes, UK Volunteer
"I absolutely love KSL. From the start of the trip, there were a few days where we had deaf teammates but no KSL interpreter so using my small KSL knowledge and a lot of finger spelling I interpreted for them. This boosted my learning a lot and also had an odd consequences. having been signing a while I always found going back to English quite weird and so I became a lot quieter than I normally am. The thing I really love about KSL is how expressive it is" Peter, UK Volunteer
I hope you enjoyed their insights. Watch this space as we continue to bring you stories of how the volunteer build trip went this summer! We will shortly be hearing from Trevor, the site's brave timekeeper who volunteered to be responsible for getting everyone out of bed!
RSS Feed
