Amazing Kids

10/4/10: Our first day teaching the kids! I am so impressed with these young people. We worked with the 86 students in the senior 6 class—those who have to pass the government test in November or be denied entrance to a university which means virtually no options for work. We always start with high energy singing & dancing that they lead. They then began by telling us their concerns about the test. They have no materials to learn from (only a few maps for geography, not enough text books, no internet, only one ancient television & computer, & very, very few books in the library). They talked about how hard it was to learn about things they had no experience with at all, having never been out of Rwanda or just across its borders. They talked about how they freeze up on tests because of the pressure they feel to succeed & their belief that they do not know anything. They also freeze due to the fact that the test proctors are either police or military & it brings back fears from what they experienced in the genocide. They leaned forward in their seats & intensely listened to everything offered. They are hungry to learn. They laugh at awkward attempts at new skills & help one another & keep trying. Some students are triggered by exercises that quiet the mind & allow emotions. They ask what to do to help themselves, not to be “fixed.” There are so many needs it is mind-boggling. I include pictures of their entire library.

We experienced our first African rain today. It lasted about 45 minutes of such hard driving rain on the metal roof that it was impossible to hear the person next to you, let alone teach. It came down in sheets, & the temperature cooled about 10 degrees, but still pleasant. Afterward the red dust became red clay & stuck to everything, but I didn’t have to cover my nose & look like a Muslim on the ride home because the dust was settled. We are back, having a delicious dinner, planning for tomorrow with the 50 student leaders we are going to train in energy psychology & peer counseling. I think sleep will come easily tonight.