Kenya - Maasai

  My friend Sammy Njenga’s wedding celebration finally brought me to Kenya.   During the 6 years I have known Sammy he has never failed to remind me just how much I would enjoy adding Kenya to my travel circuit.  I wish I had taken his advice years earlier as the place is bursting with natural beauty although in my opinion the country's biggest hidden treasure is it's people.

  Enthusiastic to finally have the chance to showcase his homeland, Sammy organized the most decadent of itineraries.  A traditional Kenyan wedding celebration in Nairobi followed by Safari in Maasai Mara and then complete relaxation in Mombasa bathing in the Indian Ocean. 

  It was during the trip to Maasai Mara that I stumbled across the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Project.  Virgin Atlantic worked with Sarova Hotels, Water For All and 10 frequent flyer volunteers from Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club to renovate the Senekani School.  The project focused on revamping the boys & girls dormitories and adding shower facilities. This upgrade qualified the school with ‘boarding school status’ and therefore allowed the school to qualify for government funding.   The school founded in 1989 provides education to over 650 Maasai children in the Sekanani Township.  This was just 2Kms away from where we were staying at Sarova Mara Game Camp.

  The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group located in both Kenya and northern Tanzania. They speak Maa, a member of the Nilo-Saharan language family that is related to Dinka and Nuer. Maasai is taught in schools to some extent, though the languages of instruction are Swahili and English. There is a Maasai dictionary, a Maasai translation of the Bible, and a few other publications, but generally the language is primarily a spoken language.

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JAM English Flashcards: Fruit & Vegetables

A Student Essay

One of the most rewarding privileges of being  a teacher is having the opportunity to read student essays.  The laborious task of in class written assignments and homework gives the students an opportunity to contemplate a variety of ideas and experiences.  The end result gives the teacher a glimpse into the students’ dreams, aspirations, fears and life stories.   

The following essay was selected among over 60 written assignments I reviewed during my English teaching stint at Mali Institute in Sanaa, Yemen.    I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I have always dreamed of visiting my village because my parents and relatives have always told me that it is charming, beautiful and worth-seeing.  They told me that It would exceed my expectations. So, I decided to visit the village. I  finally visited it last month with my dad and family.

When we arrived, I was surprised because it was much better than I had expected.  It really is a unique place with its river, springs, green mountains and hills.  I quickly realized that the village is worthy of being the most famous of all.  I was really excited when I saw the houses on the top of the mountains among the clouds.

The people are very generous and kindhearted. While we were chewing Qat, they were telling me folk stories and jokes.  They are also open-hearted, modest and distinguished by their simplicity and informality.  Because of their sweet demeanor I have felt that there were no boundaries between us.  Of course there were no amenities such as; supermarkets, gyms, clubs etc..., but there were many things which are not available in Sana’a such as tranquility and quietness.

Although I was saddened by the poverty and illiteracy in the village, I have enjoyed my time there.  It was a unique experience in my life and through my journey I found out that living in the countryside is better than living in a city.  

This essay was written by Salah Towfeek Altwaiti, one of my Level 6B English students.  He was among three Air Traffic Controllers from Sana’a International Airport which were registered in my class.  He is married with children and he dreams of one day traveling the world to learn about other cultures.   In his essay he describes his visit to the Ibb Province.  

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Education = Peace

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School At A Time.

A teacher friend recommended that I read Three Cups of Tea and I couldn’t put it down. It tells the story of Greg Mortenson who manages to successfully establish schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

His aim is to balance the extremists madrassas by providing an alternative - free, unbiased education for both girls and boys. The first village he helped was so poor they could not afford the $1-a-day salary to hire a teacher. I hadn’t realised that this was one of the main techniques that the Taliban employ – by financing schools and providing free education to the poor they are able to recruit students easily as there is / was no other alternative.

I know that education can sometimes be taken for granted particularly by those who have had unlimited access to it. I can’t imagine my life without the schools I went to, the things I’ve learnt and the experiences I’ve taken away with me – they have contributed to make me the person I am today. In the same way, I would hope that the girls and boys who go to one of the schools funded by Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute (CAI) will make evident how important education is as a part of the peace process.

If you haven’t read this book - read it and be inspired!

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