Painstakingly,
Jen stenciled in the letters by pencil in the morning, expecting that we would
tackle it at some later date. Before long, Happy and Clement had already gotten
out the paint, and everyone was picking up a brush. Some of the recent
additions to our team even joined in, like our National Service Volunteer Emmanual
Hagyrahirah and Nikki Webb, a Pediatric
Resident from the states here for three weeks to provide training to clinics in
the district. Some had detailed skills,
others needed a little practice, but fortunately there were a lot of letters,
and thanks to everyone pitching in, we finished mid-afternoon.
While we’ve
been at the forefront of a big push in local schools to get student’s hands
washed, the need to keep our own students hands clean, somehow got lost in the
mix. Which is why the Health Team
recently unveiled the new Veronica bucket (a bucket with a small tap at the
bottom for running water), especially for our Early Childhood Literacy students
and young library patrons. Education staff
keeps an eye out making sure student’s hands are getting clean, while Health
Team puts the bucket out for use. Much like the gentle camaraderie of our
painting mission, Health and Education are working together to keep the water
flowing.
Just recently, we had our annual ECL vs Library football match. The students who regularly patron the library
after school are selected by Lawrence to form a team that squares off against
the ECL students. It’s a popular match,
and even those kids not normally going to the library come out to
support their friends.
The pitch
itself leaves much to be desired unfortunately.
The spaces infront of the library is rutted and eroded from the heavy
rains that have tapered off recently, but come roaring back every few
days. It’s quite a challenge, and I can’t
imagine playing on that field (somewhat like how I have difficulty envisioning playing
on the rock strewn official field), but to the kids it’s no sweat, the ball just bounces a lot. Girls Library won their match with a touch of
finesse, while the boys team played to a boisterous and sweaty draw of
1-1.
The day was
a scorcher too, and kids were getting thirsty real fast. Noticing this, young Attah asked Jen for a
bucket of water. Together they got a
bucket of water, and Attah spontaneously organized a rehydration unit. She organized lines, and with just one cup,
she quenched dozens of kid’s thirst. I
stood impressed watching this, and even more impressed when she sent a kid to
the back of the line for trying to cut, and then withheld the cup when there
was too much pushing and shoving.
It was neat to see her lending a hand...
