Mnarani Aid NEWS

This school was Mnarani Primary, providing the education for over 1600 students. During my time there, I mainly taught class 3, class 5 and class 7 - which meant a real range of ages from 5 years old up to 16 years. I taught English, Science, Christian Religious Education, Physical Education and Creative Arts. On my second day I was allocated my classes and literally thrown in at the deep end which was challenging, exciting, and the best thing that could have happened as I just had to go in the classroom and 'do it'!

Very quickly, Mali, a volunteer from America with whom I formed a great friendship, and I adjusted to the rhythms of school life. From then morning assembly where the whole school sang the Kenyan National Anthem, to morning tea with the teachers, to breaktime, we really were made to feel part of the school. We were welcomed with open arms, even being invited to several of the teachers' homes for lunch or the compulsory cup of tea.

In 2003, the promise of the Kenyan government to make primary education free for all students finally came into fruition. This is obviously a fantastic step forward but comes with its downsides in that classes are severely under-resourced and teachers are put under a huge amount of pressure with class sizes averaging at about 80 pupils. Through our 2 months at the school, I feel that Mali and I helped to relieve some of this situation. Our presence both helped the teachers, in allowing them more time to plan lessons and to arrange exams, and the children who were excited and eager to be taught by the wazungu ('the whites')!

As well as their normal syllabus, we taught the younger children "I'm a little Teapot", and played football, baked cakes and conducted science experiments with the older students. We gave them opportunities and experiences that the teachers at the school, understandably, just do not have time for.

And in return? What did I get from my time there? I can honestly say that the months in Mnarani and working at the Primary School were amongst the best of my life. The images of lessons outside underneath the huge, old Baobab trees and of children reaching their hands high in the air, desperate to be picked to answer a question, will forever stay in my mind. In anybody reading this has even considered working and helping out in Kenya, I urge you to visit Mnarani Primary for an experience that you will love and one that will, without a doubt, help these young children more that you can imagine.