Pre-school

The kids are back from summer vacation and many are real happy about it.

A few were not and ended up in the crying room.  About a dozen of them were here when I visited this morning.  It'll take a few days before they get used to the idea but the patience of the teachers will win out in the end.

Rain

It's been raining off and on since last evening.  This means that the pathways the kids take to come to school are all muddy and slippery, some streams are swollen and few children have rain gear.  As a result, only about 50% of the children showed up at pre-school this morning.

Pre-school trauma

Was walking by the pre-school on my way to the carpenters' shop when a shrill scream drew my attention. I investigated.  The source of the scream was a three year old boy who is none to happy about being here and away from his mother. Whatever we pay those two teachers in that newbies class, it isn't enough!  

School lunch program

One of the pre-school classes waiting on lunch.  For many of these children, this will be their principal or only meal today.

That's our Dave (middle) with two friends patiently waiting for plates and spoons

Soon to be first graders watching and waiting

Pre-school

School started today which is really good news as the children were going stir crazy (and so were we). Here are a few photos of the new pre-school with some of the children. It is amazingly quiet now that they are all corralled in the schools.

Pre-school

Our crew poured the roof on the pre-school today.  The cement was mixed on the ground with sand and water; it was then shoveled into buckets which were hand carried or passed up to the roof.  The guys on the roof made sure that the cement was evenly poured. It took all day and these guys were tired at the end of it.  I was sweating just standing there looking at them work.  Congrats to you for such an accomplishment.

Pre-school and soccer

We had a little competition this morning testing our goalies.  Various boys kicked the ball and the best to stop them won a prize.  In the background is half the pre-school ready to receive a poured roof which we will do Monday.

Moving right along...

When I left for the states four weeks ago we had just started digging the foundation of the pre-school. This is what it looks like now.  We do not have the money to finish the school but we hope to have at least four classrooms done by the start of the school year.

Pre-school

Even though I am away at this time, things are moving at Espwa. Above is a photo of the foundation work being done under the supervision of Berthony Piard. Most of the work is being done by our older teens so we save money and the boys are learning and participating in our mission. Thanks to Peter Faford for the photo.

Pre-school

Early yesterday morning I toured the school and disrupted several classes. Here (top) is one of the pre-school classes. One can tell it is early by the light coming in and by the neatness of the classroom. You oughtta see it around noon time.

Here's little John completely distracted by our presence.