A Day of Pre-Primary in the Bush

 Welcome to pre-primary in Masai Land

I have spent a great deal of time and energy praying about the next steps to address the education problem here in Tanzania. 

Early learning is really non-existentant here.  Based on how we develop there is lot that is lost when a child just begins school at the age of 12 years old.  This is and has been a concern of mine.  While I was in the 

God was working to prepare the soil for seed.  One of our area church planter leaders and govt. leader saw what the kids had learned while on the center.  He wanted to send his kids to board and go to school here.  That was not a good option but as a result each church now has a preschool meeting in the area during the week.  They have found the meeting place, people willing to teach, and they have seen how important it is.  Most of the prep work is done.

I ventured to one of the schools to observe and experience what they are doing.  I am preparing for a training seminar for these teachers.  Bless their hearts they have no material to work with, only the Earth as a resource, and most of them are barely educated themselves.  So a clean slate is a good slate to work with and a scary one as well!  They do want to learn so bad both young and old.  Our first stop was to the cook house.   The preschool is given Ugi.  This is the same Ugi that one of our CHE groups have made and the funding possible by IDES.  I tried it for the first time and it is kinda like a very bland and watered down oatmeal.  But the mixture is full of nutrients and needed protein.

 This group of kids walked up the hill to retrieve the talk board which is the only resource available to the class.  There are 40 kids present there is a possibility of 80.  They squeeze together on wooden logs that serve like benches.  This mud dung hut that they gather around probably is not bigger than most of your bathrooms.

The teacher is a young Masai Man.  He is willing but repeats over and over again how they are in need of training.

 My head is spinning as I sit among these young faces.  Core learning can occur.  I know it can.  I know that building blocks of education are so vital for them and the spiritual growth that can occur by being taught stories from the Bible.  The curriculum that I put together and wrote is swirling around in my head as to the adjustments I would have to make for it to be taken to the Bush.  My friends there is nothing but the soil around us to use.  It is a challenge for me to keep being creative because I know it can be done.  It is my desire for the learning to be culturally relevant.  The additional challenge is because of the lack of resources most teachers do not teach in a way for meaning to be grasped it is by memorization.  Memory is important but it is not the only way to teach.  A training has been set to gather with these teachers.  The difficulty is teaching them first then teaching them how to teach.  The important part is that they are willing.  Please keep praying as I develop curriculum and working on the training session.  It will be important to teach a few key things for them to work on while I am at language school.  Then, I can follow up and grow from there when I return.

 Yes, a goat found things so interesting that he to came to class and then drank my Chai!

We worked on counting while I was there.



This young girl has a string of plant and pop tops as a counting tool.  We are creative with what we have!

 

This image keeps me up at night, gives me reason to work, and casts hope for the future!  These children have nothing but a heart to learn.  There minds are full and empty all at the same time. God is moving and I am grateful to be a part.  Please pray that God will continue to give me wisdom about how to lay a foundation for learning~

ABC's, 123's, Health, etc. but most importantly stories from the Scriptures!

My kids are waiting!