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| A big welcome from the students |
Mount Calvary Open School: Hehe cultural dance, presentations & lunch
Outbound to Iringa, May 23, 2024
By: Nancy S
We woke up bright and early for a terrific Thursday. It started with a two hour bus ride to see the countryside on our way to our destination. We passed fields of corn, beans, sunflowers, and other crops. Part of the road was paved which led to a smooth ride. A good portion was unpaved which was extremely bumpy. Some in our group agreed we were getting a free massage as we rode along those very bumpy portions.
As we arrived at Mt. Calvary Open School in Mtitu Village, we were greeted by students standing at the entrance and along the road (see above).
The aim of starting this school is to help kids who were denied the chance to attend secondary education through formal arrangements, with no age restrictions. Students live at the school which is a safe place for them to reside. They are eager to learn and are thankful for this school.
Friendship Force Sacramento gave them money for two scholarships (but the funds were used to buy desks, which they desperately needed), pencils, and other school supplies. The Friendship Force Seattle couple traveling with our group and others in our group gave generous donations for buying books, which is one of their main needs.
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| Our donations were used to by textbooks |
As we got off the mini bus we were treated by some adults who danced for us. One played a wooden drum, and one had a plastic bucket. Several of the dancers had bells wrapped around their ankles which added to the music along with some whistles and their singing. We next walked up a hill to the school. After a few more dances, we toured the school.
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| Nancy S talking with students |
We saw boys and girls sleeping areas with no beds, only mattresses. We looked in the first classroom and sat at students’ desks in the second classroom.
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| A classroom & sleeping area |
The students did a dance for us with unusual instruments. Several students had metal pots that they held between their feet and hopped up and down for the beat. One student had a wooden drum.
Another had a rounded clay pot. On top of it they put a three-legged stool that made a unique sound when the two of them were rubbed together.
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| Students dancing to music from pots and stools |
Next, we had presentations from the government, the school, and Friendship Force. Students then had the opportunity to ask us questions. We were impressed by the quality of their inquiries.
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| Presentation by Tito Kilale, founder of school and President of FF Iringa (note desks -- they had 4, now each student has a desk to sit at, funded with our scholarship donation -- These kids have so little, donations help a lot) |
We had another delicious meal prepared by Elizabeth, who also did the welcome dinner. It was then time to return to Iringa, with partly smooth and partly rough roads.
Once back at my hosts’ home, we had a glass of Mango juice before heading to the Iringa market. My host, Glory, and I roamed around for a while and then purchased some oranges and avocado. In the evening Glory gave me a demo lesson on how to make chapati which is like pancakes. After she made a few, she let me roll one. We had them for dinner with fried veggies and papaya for dessert. I then gave Glory a deck of cards showing parts of Sacramento and taught her how to play Kings in the Corner.
Another delightful day with fantastic new friends was had by all.
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