Wednesday 9 February 2011

Wednesday 9th Feb

Today has been absolutely incredible. On the drive to school, we stopped to watch some people weaving. People in Sierra Leone work really hard and are very skilled. At the side of the road, we met 6 school children who needed school supplies. These children were delighted when we presented them with notebooks and stationery. Sadly afterwards, one boy (wearing the red top next to me) threatened to stab me with his knife, unless I gave him paper (I refused and we quickly left)!




When I arrived at school, some teachers were wearing tradition African dress and looked beautiful. In the morning I was able to observe a student teacher. I then taught a lesson about contamination of food, followed by singing songs which I thoroughly enjoyed. We then played with balloons which I had brought.



Today was my last day in school. We had a staff meeting to discuss our global partnership. We have agreed to work on a project together, about the rights and responsibilities of children. The pace of life here is much slower. The teachers here were shocked at how many hours teachers in England will work for. The teachers at Bassa town work hard to provide an education for their children, with limited resources. I have noticed that staff and children are always smiling at Bassa town.





The staff made a massive effort to throw me a leaving celebration. I was dressed in traditional African dress, I was given beautiful gifts & letters and the children sang lovely songs for me. There was even an official photographer there! This was a fantastic end to my experience in school.





After school, we all met in Waterloo. We had a chance to talk with and sing to local children.




The group then visited a community project set up to help people with disabilities. The majority of these people were injured during the war and have experienced immense suffering. However, the people in Sierra Leone do not dwell on negative experiences, they are keen to improve their lives. Within the community, there are many work projects. There is a sewing station, a blacksmiths, a bell makers and a school. The school children sang for us and acted out plays, about child abuse and AIDS, which are serious issues that children here face. Walking through this village was extremely inspiring.








I then went to the Bread of Life school sports day, the partner school for St John’s. Mr Price, the head teacher from St John’s was made the star guest and got to present awards to the children. Whilst racing, the children ran bare foot or in socks to make it fair.





Everyone is extremely welcoming in Sierra Leone. I have met some beautiful children. The children are really curious about me. They enjoy touching my skin and stroking my hair as it softer than their own. Some younger children are scared when they first see us because of our skin colour. Sierra Leone is full of such fascinating people. Everywhere you look there are interesting and exiting things happening, this country is so full of life.




21 comments:

  1. Hi Claire, what an experience, loved reading your diary of events, photos are fab too... particularly the big smiling faces and the one with you right in the middle of all the kids in your traditional african dress....Enjoy the rest of your stay.. I'm sure its very rewarding and above all worth while !!
    Safe journey home see ya soon
    Joanne R

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  2. Aw.... this blog has made me really happy ... and sad.....
    What beautiful happy people. we can all learn a lesson from them.Health and happiness are more important than material wealth.
    Enjoy the rest of your stay in Waterloo, Sierra Leone.
    love all the clan. x
    ps. i love the african printed fabrics.your dress is gorgeous. x

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  3. Class 3/4 Hayes have enjoyed reading about your exciting experiences. Glad you have enjoyed it. We hope you are well. Have a safe journey home. We look forward to seeing your photos as we can't see them in school.

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  4. Martin - ICT Technician10 February 2011 at 06:19

    Hi, pictures are now viewable from school network.

    Kind Regards

    Martin.

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  5. aww Claire blog is fabulous. Wonderful pictures. The children are too cute, what great smiles! Glad to see you are enjoying yourself.The Sierra Leone people seem to be very strong in the face of adversity and as above they teach us to be more appreciative of the simpler things in life and what is really important....people not products. I also really love the traditional dress, great colours, suits you! Looking forward to hearing more about it when you get home. Enjoy the rest of your stay :)

    lots of love and lollipops, AB xxx

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  6. hello miss Houghten how are u


    from david

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  7. hello miss Houghten how are u


    from david

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  8. The dress looks lovley on you tell us more when you get back xx

    From Emma (journilist club)

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  9. hi i am a pupil from the jourinilst club in rimrose hope school. you look like your having a good time there. the little children there look really cute!


    india.

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  10. Hi this is Rebecca from jornalist club.I think that your new african look was fabulous.How are you today?are all chidren ok?
    we will look forword to seeing you again.

    your truly
    Rebecca and the rest of jornalist clubxxxxxxxxx

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  11. Hiyyeerr miss Houghten, hope you have had a lovly time we all miss you load love from Kayleigh Gorman xx

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  12. hi what do you think of the school? and are they happy that they have school?

    from keiran in jornalist

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  13. Hi this Rebecca from jornalist club,hope you are enjoying yourself.See you have a visitor outside your hotel!(its a mokeny)Rimrose really miss you!
    your truly Rimrose hopexxxxxxxx

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  14. bye miss houghton

    love david

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  15. If you double click pics they enlarge.
    I love the one where the wee girl is looking at your hand.
    The next one where you are crouching down talking to her is so poignant... she has a back pack on with the word "LUCKY" on it.!!!!!
    Have fantastic time. love mum x

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  16. Lol that 10th photo looks like you're making your own version of where's wally!

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  17. Everybody sounds incredible, really amazing people. Truly inspiring and happy stories. It was an enlightening read. Many Thanks for posting the blog x

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  18. They sing songs and put on plays about AIDS and child abuse? That's very sad.

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  19. It’s awful what the children in Sierra Leone have to face and deal with. During my stay, I discovered that Sierra Leone is a country where female genital mutilation is routinely carried out, using broken glass, on young girls in primary school. It’s absolutely horrific. However, the teachers in this school were really inspirational. They were teaching the children to spread the message about prominent issues and how to concur them. On top of this, the teachers are all volunteers! Truly inspirational people.

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  20. Thank you for all of your lovely messages journalist club. Sadly I was not allowed to bring a monkey home to keep as a school pet. The children here who can afford to attend school are the really lucky ones. They really appreciate their education and are happy to come to school x

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  21. P.S Everyone at Bassa town loved the book about Rimrose Hope, that Journalist club worked very hard on.

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