Computer Lab and Cars

We are so excited for the children to come back to school tomorrow! We finished preparing the computer lab. We have instruction sheets up and have decorated it with all kinds of posters, including NASA ones that we know the children will love because have learned about NASA from previous volunteers. I found one of the directors Stephen today working on his writing in the computer lab. He had me help him learn PowerPoint and more about Microsoft Word. He told me how he was going to practice at least two hours a day to improve his typing. Even after dinner, he was still practicing away. His smile when he figures out another thing about the computer is infectious. Stephen feels it is his job to learn the computer in order to be able to teach and be an example for the children. I would love to bring “Type to Learn” programs here, even talk to the company about donating them. It would be a great way to work on Highway Academy’s and Stephen’s typing skills. I was able to talk to Stephen and Teresa awhile today about the computer lab and what they believe they want to do for children’s education. I filmed their responses as part of a project I will be working on for a class next semester about children’s education through technology. Because they are so modest and sometimes soft spoken, I explained how loud they had to talk by telling them to talk at my and Alex’s level. All of a sudden they were 10 times louder! I guess that says something about Alex and me…

Stephen Typing Away

Teresa and Stephen, aka the Saints of Wema

Stephen and Teresa have impressive goals for Wema. I hope one that we can help them with soon is getting a functioning van or bus. They bought a bus in 2008 from a bus company. Even though it was used, the bus was supposed to function well. However, the company had taken out the good engine and, even when Wema tried to fix it, the bus broke down soon after. The van, which was bought in 2009, also had a bad engine that did not allow it to work. With a van or a bus, it would be much easier to take children to the hospital when they are really sick and get children from their homes that are far away to bring to school. For a van, it would be about $14,000 and, for a bus, it would be about $59,000. The broken van and bus sit sunken into the ground at the front of Wema, and it feels like they mock me by their uselessness.

Sunset with Katie and Daniel

Stephen showing us the well

It is such an experience learning to live a life not completely reliant on technology. We checked out the well this morning with Stephen. He showed us how it worked. The well still needs work with its piping and electricity. We also hope that the company who provided the well will provide a back-up generator, as we know electricity is fickle here from our two blackouts already. I also did my laundry by hand today. Never again will I complain about doing laundry with the laundry machines and dryers at school! Wema also reminds you why living simply is usually the best way to live. The beautiful sunset tonight reminded me of this.

Tebow stance hits Africa