Wednesday, August 22, 2012

A Typical School Day for Karim Children!


School bags are ready ~ school shoes are polished each and every night ~ boots ready in case it rains and they have to walk!  Let the School Day begin!


First thing ~ each child, even the 4 year olds, makes their own bed.....perfectly!


Then they wash up and brush their teeth...and brush...and brush until they are told it is time to stop brushing their teeth and get their school uniforms on!


After they are dressed and have their school bags on their backs, they sit and have breakfast which usually consists of either chai and homemade donuts or chai and bread.


By 5:45 am,  they are ready and wait outside for the school bus, with a smile! The bus arrives by 6am if it doesn't break down or get stuck!


A big hug from Mama Linda before they are off to school!


Oh great ~ the bus is stuck!   Rehema receives the phone call from the bus driver that he is stuck, once again, or broke down and we start rounding up the boots and the raincoats for the walk.


Once they have their boots on, they are off walking through the mud to the stuck or broken down bus.  I might add, they are still smiling and Remember it's still 6am!!


Sometimes it is still raining and still dark when they go to school. With their rain coats and their heavy muddy boots on, they keep on smiling! What troopers! I complained more than the kids cause my boots were so heavy from mud I couldn't walk.



Sotwa Wilson School ....... almost there!


The front gate and entrance of Sotwa Wilson School.


 Yes, this is one of our two School buses that picks up 18 children and 5 adults at one time....when its working! Needs a few repairs I think! Better yet, lets buy a new one. Hopefully, my next trip in November, we will purchasing a new bus!  Yeeeaah!!


In Baby Class, better known to us as Kindergarden, the children sometimes have to stand as they learn or they will fall asleep at their desks because of the long days!


Oneismo finished his first year of school and did amazing! When he came to us last year at the age of 4, he could not speak Swahili or English. He now reads, writes & speaks both languages! This little guy loves school and will be very successful one day!

The children all gather around the 'one' water fountain at recess!


Recess time and a time to hang out with Mama Linda!




Godfrey enjoying recess!  This is their playground ~ unfinished classrooms that were being added to the school but Mr Shange ran out of money! Hopefully soon we will have the money to finish this for him as well as build a playground for the children.


A library was just started at Sotwa Wilson School but more books are needed!



Auntie Heather greets the children when they get home at 6pm.  After a long 12 hour day at school  they are still smiling, singing & dancing and so excited to tell us all about their fun day at school while we help them with their homework!



Godfry doing his homework! After the children get home from a long day and change, they do their homework before any play time. Sometimes, they get home so late there is no time to play! They do homework, have supper, get their school clothes ready and go to bed!




Saumu is ready for bed, with a big smile, even though she knows that 5am will come soon and she will have another long day a head of her.



These children, of Karim Orphanage, are all so very beautiful and intelligent. They know how very important it is to put on that red and blue uniform each and every morning. They all work so hard at school and all have great marks. They know that going to School and getting an Education is their freedom from poverty. That is why they do it every morning at 5am with a big smile! They are so very proud to walk down that road in a uniform and I am so very proud of all them! I can't wait to go to each and everyone's Graduation.