a lot of great things going on

The beautiful little Suzan Gayle


Hello again! I know it’s been a few days since I posted anything. The good news is that it’s because there have been so many good things going on. I’ll try to catch you up to date.

We have a new head teacher for the school! As of yesterday, a wonderful man named Emmanuel officially accepted the position. He will spend the next few days moving and will start to work next Tuesday. “Head teacher” actually means school principal/administrator here. He will also be helping to develop individual studies and focuses for the children, and overseeing their work, so he will be their teacher as well. He will likely be hiring some tutors to further help the children in the near future as well.

Because the children have such varying educational backgrounds, as they get closer to high school we are focusing more on meeting their individual needs and less on a traditional classroom setting. Emmanuel is a very creative person and we are excited by the possibilities that this non-traditional environment will offer to all these beautiful children.

We are also using this opportunity to do a little remodeling and face-lifting to the school. Here are some of the projects we’re working on:

• Repainting all the walls
• Recovering the screens that serve as moveable walls during the school day
• Building 2 more classroom tables and chairs for them (a footnote on this one: while there are still plenty of young and small children, it’s one of the really great blessings to me that a good number of the children have grown up so much since they originally came that their knees are now higher than the tables they used to sit at and so it’s time for “regular height” tables)
• Building “cubbies” so that each student has a place to store his or her work and personal belongings

Hopefully in another week or so I’ll have pictures for you of the children with their new teacher, as well as the progress on the school!

In the meantime, here are just a few more great moments that I haven’t yet had a chance to post. Enjoy! (More are coming very soon, I promise.)
These flags are a tribute and memorial to the children who have died at Aidchild. There are nine total. They are replaced from time to time to keep them bright and beautiful. The children assist in changing them out. Pictured here are Kato #2, who shimmied up the pole to retrieve a broken line, along with Rose (left) and Rogers.

A "double-wide"swing was recently installed to accomodate the posteriors of us adults, who don't fit so easily onto the smaller swings. The children were delighted, and Mariam (left) and Diana decided it was just perfect for them!