The lost is found

Purity, our library volunteer, reading during the August holiday.

 

This August has been a month of discovery and beginnings. It is one of the three school holiday months so I see much more of the children I support. This August was non-stop action. In June we learned the project I lead was awarded a grant to start a library and to provide some of the children with career counseling - both of which kicked off this month, in addition to our annual "Adventures Unlimited" workshop for the younger orphans. Due to bus fare being out of reach of most of the students, we set up libraries in two locations. We were also provided with a recycled computer for the students to learn computer skills. And in the midst of all the preparations, I continue to learn about life and language and the challenges these children face. It's been a bit overwhelming.

Often the challenges seem so big. Perseverance has new meaning for me now, and not from my own personal trials, but the ones I see before these children. Educational systems, lacking infrastructure and little probability of employment after school. That's the big picture. The daily picture has more to do with getting soap, kerosene for a lamp to study at night, and enough to eat. I wonder if I'm like a person at the sidelines of a marathon, handing out a glass of water to keep the runner going until the finish line. I've been asking myself the question about how to better serve the children. 

In the midst of all these activities, there has been a number of moments that have reminded me to have hope. Here's a few of  them:

• Watching the two young men who are training to be teachers, as they tutored our students who are behind in their classes.
• Seeing the enthusiasm as one of them offered to mentor a struggling teenager.
• Listening to the children read aloud.
• Seeing new interest in reading.
• The commitment of 4 Community Based Health Care Project counselors to listening to the struggles of the children and encouraging them.
• Finding the lost! Three children who had been "lost" to us showed up this month at various activities we had.
• Three of our high school students brought their grades up from D average to C average this past term.

Two of our "lost boys" who appeared again this past month.  Gotta love those smiles.

I had the honor of visiting this family - a great-grandmother of 88 yrs who's doing what she can to raise this little 4-yr-old!

The local Catholic primary school had an impressive festival with singing & dancing.

One of those moments ... I was looking for a new perspective & saw little shoots growing out of an ancient Baobob tree that had been cut back - and we thought left for dead.  Yay for new signs of life!

Katana, far right, listening to the concerns of some of our Form 2 (Sophomore) boys.

The Mombasa trio have become a quartet!  Welcome back Coralis!