Ruffled Feathers

It has to be said sometime....

There were a few factors to the last round of the Primary Schools Assistance Project that need to be understood.
The first was that Mo & Jo, who were the drivers of the project had or were about to end their contract as Field Reps with the Agency. So from their point of view they wanted all issues resolved as near as possible before they departed.
The incoming Field Rep was Mama Rubani with her husband Baba Rubani - these two had certainly different ideas about development from what I had experienced and particularly they wanted nothing to do with the Primary Schools project and in fact were prepared to simply hand over money ' more or less to get rid of it'! They wanted no responsibility as to the effective expenditure and when I questioned Baba Rubani about this his attitude was they should be given the money - one bit of the cherry - and it is up to them how they utilize it.

The Rubani's tenure was cut short fatally, and the replacement was Mama Mbembe, who had performed badly for DME causing embarrassment for me. Her appointment was somewhat outside what would be acceptable in the 'real' world but she was totally against the Primary Schools project and also anti DME. [See The Female of the Species]

Jo [rightly] trusted DME and was to hand over the Primary Schools Assistance Programme funds directly over to them and they were to nominate the schools to be assisted.
There is a certain amount of kudos generated by being in a position to assist financially and we all like the glow. Various leaders of DME therefore nominated the schools they wanted assistance to reach - either their home school of one they were closely associated with.

Once the nominations were in, Loti and I went around the various schools to collect a list of their requirements. This would be for us to discuss the type of assistance eligible and they needed to have their requirements to me or collected by me on a certain day. The people who put the school's name forward was to be responsible to ensure the information came to me.

The reports came in but there was none from Ulonga which was sponsored by the DME treasurer. I made my report and although Jo wanted it urgently, I delayed a few days to Ulonga to come back to me. They did not (actually they failed my inspection on a couple of accounts too).
I gave a copy of my report to DME for their information and they announced what was to be given to each school to the people who had sponsored them.

A few days later, I was called into the field office to discuss the project with Jo, and she asked me about Ulonga. She agreed that if they were not able to come furnish their requirements on time, the funds should go to another school. I told her that I would go back to the DME but she said that time was short and asked it I had any opinion.
Just the day before I had been at Shishtoni so I estimated in cash value what they needed and Jo agreed to fund it. However, there was still money left in kitty, so again she asked me to nominate another. I nominated Valeska.

Shishtoni and Valeska being funded before Ulonga ruffled the feathers of the DME Treasurer! And he wanted answers! The General Secretary (Mr. Kaaya) and I had a very good relationship - right from the start we just hit if off! He called a meeting to discuss the matter and once explained the Treasurer calmed though continued to not to forget and caused irritation.

The funding this time was considerable because previously, the only building work allowed was for new school toilets but for DME other building projects were allowed because there was a Fundi School within the organization which had the ability to carry out the work 'as training'.

Well now, I was touring around all the schools carrying out project work and it was not long until the' old cynic button' self activated in my brain. Many building projects were started and not completed. At both Akeri and Olkung'wado the toilets were built but no doors fitted [in fact at Olkung'wado, I lent my screwdriver so they could fit the doors themselves!].
I kept harassing the principal of the fundi school to finish the projects and he made promises that he did not intend to keep. But the schools were complaining to me.

We called at Kwatulele to carry out an environmental seminar and found that a new ceiling was being fitted to a classroom by the fundi school. They were using old, second-hand materials!
As it happened we met the fundi school principal on the road, so I told him that it was not acceptable to be using second-hand materials in the school. His reply was aggressive and I realized that I had better inform Mr Kaaya.

He was not happy about what I had to tell him and I guess he did not need ' trouble in the camp'. It did turn out that the principal was creaming some of the funds, and some Pastors more or less supported him. The Hon Bishop knew what was appropriate and sent him to an outlying parish.

This was the last of the Assistance to Primary Schools Programme and it ended effectively and well. I was happy with the outcome. I had to remain watchful of the ex-principal though.

Shishtoni

It is possible to reach Ngarenanyuki by turning off the main Moshi-Nairobi road at Malula [even though the sign says 'King'ori] and follow up the road through King'ori, Leguruki, Nkoasenga and on to Olkung'wado. The road is generally better than that through the Arusha National Park, but for us it was a considerably longer journey to go that way.

We worked with the schools and villages along this road and while perhaps there was greater need for environmental work at each end of the road, the middle part needed a focus on preserving the vegetation that there and of course enhancing it through planting programmes. There is always a need for timber and we promoted the ideal of planting five trees before you cut one [down].

There are always more routes to take than just the to get to any destination and that is so with the village of Shishtoni. We usually turned off the road some distance from Leguruki, taking a narrow and sometimes wet track which led to the village.

We were welcomed the first time by Mch Nassari for a orientation of the village. DME encouraged the Pastors to take advantage of our project and Mch Nassari was one of the first to take up the offer. His church was vibrant and he welcomed us by feeding us first - this is what happened many times because it was traditional that our long journey to reach there was recognized with the belief that we would require nourishment.

Mch Nassari showed us around the church grounds where he thought there was potential to plant many trees he then escorted us to Shishtoni Primary School. They too were expecting us because there was tea and roasted peanuts ready for us.
The Head Teacher was a woman who had the welfare of her charges at heart and we grew to love her. She was very interested in an environmental project for the school. She was grateful for the desks, text books, teachers' tables & chairs and other teaching aids.
The organization at Shishtoni Primary School was always very good and each time we called there, they had a prepared programme written out for us, including times. And the programme was kept to!

Shishitoni became a model school for us because the environmental project worked very well and we were able 'to show it off' to visiting friends or dignitaries. We could depend on the pupils to put on a cultural display - often without notice. And the kids liked to sing and dance for us.
We held a Harambee, which is a 'pulling together' where there is a feast and speeches and everyone makes a pledge to contribute something for a cause. The cause being the completion of more classrooms. The Harambee was a success and the Hon Baba Askofu came to offer his support.

The Deputy Head Teacher/environmental teacher brought the school environmental committee to our house in his Landrover at our invitation - actually I ferried some as well. This was successful and they all took plants home with them.
We helped the school set up a tree nursery and those trees were taken home by the students to plant around their homes.

A typical trick played on us at the school was when the Head Teacher told us that we had to be given a small gift, but not a goat as is traditional but instead, some bananas to cook at home. Outside we went and there was our gift - one very alive goat. - I was speechless! Actually in the end we gave the goat [named Shishtoni] to Amani as a wedding gift.










At our first Seminar Mch Nassari, Mwl Mafee, Joshia and Mags listen intently.













Loti and I explain things with the use of the flip chart










I inspect household plantings belonging to a young Shishtoni couple










A delivery of trees for planting around the Shishtoni Church - on the steps of the church










The Shishtoni environment committee sup on soda on a visit to our house and tree nursery










Tree deliveries to Shishtoni school - most were planted behind the school to provide shelter.










Senior pupils' choir sing for our guests. It was obvious that the teaching staff took an interest in cultural art.










The use of dry banana leaves and drums had the kids 'in the zone' - they loved to perform.










The dancing and singing continues.













The Deputy Head Teacher's daughter prepares sour milk for us in a calabash










Mags strums the ukulele as the students sing 'Tunapenda'










Prizewinners for best tree grown at three months old. Head Teacher third from left.













Head Teacher and her deputy stand beside a papaya tree. We grew some special ones for for an orchard at the school. Also some special coffee trees to raise school funds.













The Hon Bishop DME addresses the Harambee.










Keki [whole, cooked goat] is prepared for the traditional ceremony of sharing it.










A classroom made into a banquet hall! Always felt at home at Shishtoni.













Mch Nassari presents Keki to Mch Majola who is his boss - OiC District [of DME].










With Hon Bishop and school teachers after the Harambee.













This old guy joined in as the kids danced, then later gave a demonstration for us all - he was very good! He had nothing to give for the Harambee [he said] so he would entertain us - fair enough.









Now here's a good thing! We planted a special memorial tree at Shishtoni and some special friends of ours did the same. Their son and daughter also came later and here inspect their parents' tree. There is also a tree growing planted by these young people.










All schools were required to make a sign to show location and the Shishtoni sign included a copy of our logo. I thought it a nice touch from them!