Kisimiri Primary School sits at the apex of two tracks that lead to it and then on up to the village and one track goes on the short way to the relatively new Kisimiri Secondary School.
The track we chose depended where we had been previously: from Ngarenanyuki the track past [our] the water trough is a bit rugged but then continues up past Uwhiro eventually reaching the school. Or taking the ford which is now behind the Olkung'wado village office and on up to the Kisimiri village office where there was a sharp turn and a steepish dry creek crossing to reach the school.
Both these routes are dusty, sana!
When we first visited the school, some classes were still being held in the wattle and daub building, but there were also some newer classrooms of modern construction and some older but built on the same construction principles.
From what I understand, the grandson of one of those displaced settler farmers has started this group that has carried out some very good works at Kisimiri. They have been involved of a long time - since 1996.
There is a website Friends of Kisimiri and there is an opportunity to donate for the ongoing work.
All of this is a very good thing - they are delivering appropriate assistance and obviously they are proud of their Swiss heritage.
As it turned out, I never met these people but I saw what they have achieved.
Very often we found it appropriate to first involve village leadership with the environmental project so they felt comfortable with us moving around the village.
The man in the pink jacket is the Village Executive Officer, Mtengaji, and the man with the cap talking to him is the Ward Councillor.
I found that carrying trees in a bowl was far easier on the trees than carrying them individually, damaging the foliage.
The whole school turned out to the environmental seminar that is always targeted to the older students. The smaller kids sat and listened as well. There is never enough shade and some kids are exposed to the sun for the entire seminar. Where possible we used classrooms or interrupted proceedings to follow the shade around any trees that were there.
Some of the older girls perform a Risala thanking us for the environmental programme. The kids enjoy cultural aspects of their education and singing plays a major role.
Although the area is very dry - the once reliable short rains have failed in recent years - but luckily Friends of Kisimiri had established a water point in the courtyard of the school and a flowing pipe in the creek bed where the track crosses. Therefore we expected trees would receive adequate water.
Planting on a cooler, foggy day. The teachers were quite ambitious about the area to be planted and the second year's planting was also ambitious but initial results were very good.
There were trees already established - behind the wattle and daub classrooms there were mpilipili, pepper trees which grow well in the area.
Loti walks around on an inspection of the trees after the first growing year and results were good.
It is always very difficult to assess which kids had looked after their trees the best. Of course every kid wanted to win a prize and most usually we said we would select the best ten. We left it up to the teacher though because it was they who knew which kids worked the best. Even that is not entirely fair but it was the best we could do.
The trees established well, which is due to the care they were given.
Behind id that iconic hill again!
The building is an eco-toilet built by The Friends of Kisimiri people. It is a very good toilet [especially compared to some I have seen].
The other good thing is that it was being used and cared for appropriately.
It is always difficult to select the kids who had cared for their trees the best. The standard here was very high. Never the less, we awarded prizes with the help of the teachers.
As usual the teachers too wanted to be photographed. In the previous photo, The man on the back row, third from the left was the head teacher. We had a good relationship with him and I'm sure Friends of Kisimiri did too.
As with other schools, teachers are moved around at the behest of the regional inspector person. There was also a round where 'under-qualified' teachers were moved around.
While we were away 2000 - 2002 the Kisimiri Secondary School sprung up!
We did not have every much involvement with the school other than carry out an environmental programme and supplied trees.
The teachers were dedicated and seemed to me to doing a good job.
They had wanted help by way of a volunteer teacher through the Agency, but that was not pursued due to certain changes in policy.
There is a website Friends of Kisimiri and there is an opportunity to donate for the ongoing work.
All of this is a very good thing - they are delivering appropriate assistance and obviously they are proud of their Swiss heritage.
As it turned out, I never met these people but I saw what they have achieved.
The man in the pink jacket is the Village Executive Officer, Mtengaji, and the man with the cap talking to him is the Ward Councillor.
I found that carrying trees in a bowl was far easier on the trees than carrying them individually, damaging the foliage.
Although the area is very dry - the once reliable short rains have failed in recent years - but luckily Friends of Kisimiri had established a water point in the courtyard of the school and a flowing pipe in the creek bed where the track crosses. Therefore we expected trees would receive adequate water.
There were trees already established - behind the wattle and daub classrooms there were mpilipili, pepper trees which grow well in the area.
It is always very difficult to assess which kids had looked after their trees the best. Of course every kid wanted to win a prize and most usually we said we would select the best ten. We left it up to the teacher though because it was they who knew which kids worked the best. Even that is not entirely fair but it was the best we could do.
The trees established well, which is due to the care they were given.Behind id that iconic hill again!
The building is an eco-toilet built by The Friends of Kisimiri people. It is a very good toilet [especially compared to some I have seen].
The other good thing is that it was being used and cared for appropriately.
As with other schools, teachers are moved around at the behest of the regional inspector person. There was also a round where 'under-qualified' teachers were moved around.
We did not have every much involvement with the school other than carry out an environmental programme and supplied trees.
The teachers were dedicated and seemed to me to doing a good job.
They had wanted help by way of a volunteer teacher through the Agency, but that was not pursued due to certain changes in policy.
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