Back to Mili

Quick update... All's good back in the village.  One classroom is full of desks already thanks to the money I donated, and more are being made.  Everything moves so slowly, its a bit frustrating, but I'm hopeful that more will happen over the next few weeks.   We heard that the secondary school was going to open in January, then February, and now they say March.  But this is Africa, everything is pole pole...

Its weird being back without our old pals. The house seemed strange with Jo instead of Kirstie and Sarah.  They will never be forgotten though, we hear the kids say their names quite often.  The new people have arrived and are starting to get used to the drop hole toilets, cockroaches and cabbage, beans and rice for dinner! We're in Tanga this weekend stocking up on supplies of Marmite, chocolate, Pringles and Laughing cow cheese!  One poor new volunteer managed to catch Malaria as soon as she arrived in the country, but she seems to be on the mend.  I am all better now at last, hurrah!

All's good back in the village.

Not much has changed while I've been away except the kids have all grown and become more confident and cheeky.  It is a new school year so I am now taking standard 4 (most aged 11-15) and standard 6 (about 13-16). Its a bit of a challenge as they are way behind where they should be in the English syllabus, but they're pretty good kids.  Their favourite lessons are those which involve me running round like an idiot pretending to be a lion/ a dog/ an angry person/ a scared dog being chased by a lion.. etc.  It seems to grab their attention! They love the soft toys mum sent over too, even the ones in their late teens.

I am hoping to do some staff training next week (behaviour management, to try and get rid of the cane) and am starting recorder lessons after I found some in Lushoto for 50p each. BArgain!

Unfortunately I only have another 4 weeks at the school until my visa expires, and I have to leave Tanzania.  I'm really not going to be able to do much in that time which is incredibly frustrating.  So I've decided to return here for another 3-4 weeks in the summer holidays (August) and bring with me a whole load of resources and things they need.

With that in mind, if anyone fancies a different kind of summer holiday, or feels like being part of the project for a few weeks, I'm sure you would be welcome.  You wouldn't necessarily have to teach. There's loads to be done such as building toilets (there are no staff toilets at the school and not enough for all the children), building classrooms, making desks, art club or sports for the kids, playing with the younger kids, singing songs, personal tuition for the kids who are between primary and secondary school...

If you fancy it, let me know or go to www.villageafrica.org.uk or www.thepodsite.co.uk .