MY EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERN AT SADILI OVAL SPORTS ACADEMY

Lorein Odhiambo taking children through Hand washing.

Being in one of the best organizations and having an awesome experience in one’s area of study is usually a dream of every student. To begin with, personally I had always wished that a time would come when I would actually put that which was taught in class into action. I bet the most interesting experience any student would come by is that which is out of class, anyway.

Honestly, it was not a walk in the park to join Sadili Oval Sports Academy.  I had to follow the right procedure and also present the relevant documents. It took a lot, but I must admit it was worth it. Actually, I am sure I’m one of the luckiest interns ever, since that very week when I was to begin my attachment, there was an ongoing capacity building training session and I was so privileged to have got a chance to attend it. It was a great time that brought with it several challenges on my side till I felt like I had a lot to learn during my attachment and set me to thorough work. I learnt so many things that I was very zealous to begin working instantly. Well, you won’t just understand what I mean if you haven’t experienced an individually-challenging training session that can actually propel you to work.

So the long awaited moment to begin working finally materialized. I was taken through the orientation process in the following week, just after the capacity building training had ended. The orientation processes was an intense one, but trust me, I got more eager to begin the work. So Tuesday came, 5th February 2019, and we were to have a field work activity that was to take place in Kibera at Undugu Basic Education Unit. Well, I must admit that it was not easy on my side being the first time in Kibera. But then, the morale and teamwork seen in the other staff members re energized me. If anything, this is just one team anyone who comes by would like to work with entirely. They are not just colleagues, but are friendlier till you can see the brotherhood in all that they do and hence a better flow of work.

To all students out there, this is actually the best place for you to come and have greater experiences, both in the office and in the field area. Personally, I feel like I gain so much and I’m so ready just to get out and exploit the experiences gained, and I’m looking forward to even greater experiences during my three-month stay here.

 

Lorein participating in giving rewards.

Safe spaces!

Safes paces are free of prejudice; they promote inclusion, communication, participation for all. They are intentionally created to give room to all especially those that would be left out. They are avenues where all disenfranchised beings will feel welcomed.

Safe spaces are assumed to be very easy to create. That with guidance from our culture, constitution, policies, rules and religion to mention a few, we are able to create safe spaces for all to live and let others live. These are among the many encounters that we have at our community court, and the community

Mary arrives in the morning at the court with a swollen eye. It is so red and she seems to be in pain. The coach enquirers about the eye and she says `` Mum beat me because I went to the shop and bought something different.” ``Is that the only reason the coach insists?’’  ``Yes she says ‘’ the coach trying to comfort Mary says `` Mum need to be reported.” ``Mary agrees nodding her head and says `` I don’t know why she beats me so bad?’’

On different occasion walking through the community we find a parent seriously canning some children. The coach confronts the parent to stop the act. She tells them that what they are doing is not helpful to the child. Others join in the discussion wondering who we are. One says `` our children are very naughty, my own is worse. How will we mould them if we do not Cain / beat? Yes, another added, tell us? They do not listen or follow our instructions.” We look at each other, and coach said ``okay enough of the beating the children have heard you.’’ After a short discussion one parent agrees to think about it.  Another says `` in my house I beat the properly. They know. ’’

I once participated in a training that involved head teachers and coaches. As they were being trained for a holiday camp that was to take place soon for the children, it was clear that some the head teachers wanted to make their schools safer for their pupils. The teachers said `` they know we cannot touch them and if we did we will be punished.’’ That they had put in place strict rules to ensure this. Having interacted with the children in this school, they were outspoken and confident but lacked respect even for their teachers.

Creation of safe spaces is intended for all. The responsibility of the individual in creation of safe spaces as consumer and initiator should be clearly understood for us to achieve the intended end goal `safe spaces’. Safe spaces should be everywhere, in the school wash rooms, at the dining table, in a community play ground , our roads,  in the market place at the, at the bus stop. The individual should be responsible for it knowing that we all are challenged in different ways.

Does it not surprise you how children who do not know each other meet and play together? That is how beautiful a safe space is. It is filled with peace, contentment, understanding, smiles and many other good things.

Everyone is vulnerable in a setting strange to them. Therefore strive to create safe spaces for they will help include you and all children.

SQUATTING AND JUMPING FINDS A NEW MEANING AT THE WASH COMMITTEE TRAINING.

Last weekend was a beautiful and successful one as  pupils from Ngei primary, St Stephen, Nazarene and St Catherine had so much fun participating at the WASH committee training for the ambassadors and the influential pupils from their respective schools.

Pupils during the training session.

Many of the children arrived in good time and before they knew it the activities began in the interest of time. Children were taken through warm up and orientation into the compound as preliminary activities before they all settled in the hall for the overview of the WASH themes namely Hand Washing, Using the toilet, Food hygiene, Water safety, Environmental hygiene and menstrual hygiene.  With each participating child having been given a note book and a pen, their enthusiasm was lightened up as they took notes during the facilitation.

Another session followed immediately after facilitation, it was the opportunity to learn how to be peer educators in training other children WASH messages using sports, play and fun activities. It was at this time that in deed children were able to make lots of fun and enjoy the game. One of the games demonstrating the use of toilet was fun and fun according the feedback from them. The game had several cones labeled with both the correct and wrong use of toilets. Children were then instructed to queue up in groups and to run to the stations of the cones, read the label and then jump over if the label indicated a wrong type of toilet or squat if the label had the correct type.

Squatting indicated using that toilet since it was the correct type. The fun of it emanated from the squatting as this is what actually happens while using the toilets but the children felt some embarrassment doing so and furthermore some children ended up squatting at the wrong type of toilet use as others jumped over the correct types of toilet use.Children then gathered into groups to develop WASH resources which they carried to school and it was amazing to see huge creativity from the children with some others making a drawing to demonstrate ovulation and the menstrual cycle in reference to menstrual hygiene that they had just learnt. Presentation of badges to WASH ambassadors, giving out of WASH materials and serving of lunch followed before the children departed to their homes. Many children were for this day well spent in learning and fun.

Warm up session .

Presentation by Felix Kipkoech who was one of the facilitators.

The pupils working in groups.

St Catherine pupils showcasing their presentation.

Ngei WASH ambassadors after receiving badges

Pupils receiving materials to help promote WASH in schools.  

STARA RESCUE CENTER AND SCHOOL

Stara Rescue Center and school

And finally we settled on our last school which is Stara Rescue Center the school is located in Darajani area Makini ward. In a short Interview with Mr. Fred Onserio who is the school Head teacher we got to learn more about the school, the head teacher informed us that the school was started in 2000 as a Pre-school and later expanded into a Primary school with the first class doing their K.C.P.E exams in 2008.The school has 14 teachers and 2 social workers who ensure that all the children’s needs education wise and psychological wise are met.

The school gives 1^st priority to Total orphans, children from single parents, HIV positive children and abandoned and neglected children to be part of the school. Providing to them quality education from qualified teachers and also meals which some of them are unable to get from their homes. The school also empowers young girls on different areas and the girls are really doing well. The school offers scholarship to children who perform well as they provide their School fees and basic needs when they join high school thus this gives the children the motivation to work hard in school.

Learning block in the school

Education is not the only focus of this school but also Sports, Drama and Music are usually incorporated which the children also enjoy and have excelled in it hence tapping and promoting talent amongst the children and helping them to sustain themselves and survive in Kibera. However the school also faces a few challenges which include water shortage, enough text books and desks for all the children as the numbers keep increasing, children missing school and not getting enough meals for children as they are provided for tea break and lunch.

Despite all this the school still aims at improving Kibera with their mission being to effectively respond to communities needs through caring for the disadvantaged.

Pupils of Stara participating in a session

STRIVING FOR CHANGE IN KIBERA SLUM.

The large Kibera Slum

Traversing Kibera slum is always a hustle that only those with the desire, zeal and a big heart to see change happen find motivation in.

Baseline studies for year three of the Court of Dreams Project on WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) integrated with Tennis comes in with distinct pathways and navigation to locate the sites. Undugu Basic Education Unit, St.Vincent De Paul and Stara Rescue Center are widely located to the West and far East of the slum all of this schools deal with out of school children who need to be back in the system.

The walk through the slum, thin pathways that seem ending into inhabitants household becomes a common phenomenon in getting into the sites on a daily basis. Every walk gives lots of encouragement for the next day’s walk with discoveries of new roots shorter to the site on subsequent walks, with lots of learning from the different challenges faced and different people you get to interact with.

Felix Kipkoech taking children through a session

As the project tools are cultured to realize great output, registered sites for year three are of more in need on numeracy and literacy engagement to enhance the change intended at the end of the project. This means Monitoring and Evaluation will be anchored on the desire of achieved literacy and numeracy to teach the safe WASH practices hence tracking desired change. With the aim of targeting out of school children getting back to school.

                      

WHAT IT CALLS TO BE AN ACCONTANT

Dorcas taking staff members through a presentation.

"For the 3 months I have been in Sadili, the lessons I have learnt, the places I have visited, the people I have interacted with, the exposure I have experienced and the amount of personal confidence I have gained could only be achieved in years if not a decade elsewhere. If you want to equip your child with basic as well as advanced knowledge in WASH among other life skills, Sadili is where your child should be.

Having worked with a dedicated team who never wait to be pushed to do what they are supposed to do, who are passionate about the work they do and result oriented, I must say the experience is simply amazing. As far as my role of an accountant is concerned, I have pulled together every bit of my experience to ensure I am able to present records of the donor funds records and that the figures reflect the true measure of our organization’s performance.
I look forward to more exposure to our different activities and come back with a more exciting story. I can’t wait to see Sadili scale the heights of excellence and Success that can only be geared by every stake holder pulling together their very efforts to attaining the organization’s objectives” says Dorcas Mwanu the Programs Accountant.

ALL FLOWERS BLOSSOM HERE.

Becky together with other kids at Kibera tennis court.

Children from Kibera really enjoy coming to the court. They call it `Ng'ambo’ This is their play space away from the packed densely populated Gatwekera, full of waste products disposed everywhere.

Becky is one of the children who came to the court. She comes along with her older brothers, who enjoy playing here. Becky was a very shy girl when she started coming to the court with the brothers. She used to sit at the far end corner of the field shyly waiting for the brother to finish playing. She quietly played alone and looked away whenever anyone tried to draw her attention, or looked at her. She would not responded to any     friendly gestures and used to cry whenever anyone provoked her.

As days went by, she slowly changed her waiting position and began sitting close to the playground. She also gradually began to smile at others and responded to questions asked to her, she also agreed to participate in playing with the rest though for a short time, and was easily irritated by other.

Becky participating in the tennis sessions.

However this has changed as nowadays she joins all the rest of the children in playing. She smiles and laughs loudly and engages others very well. She never fails to show up during practice even when she is alone. “She has learnt how to play tennis and is one of my best under 6 tennis players. She is also currently able to defend herself and speak up for herself too. A bright and bubbly girl she is today, I love her smile and is proud of her as her coach” says Joy Akim who has seen her grow.

It is here that we see real flowers blossom and shine so bright to showcase their beauty and potential. Right in front of our eyes at the Kibera Tennis Court the safe play space for children.

“IF YOU ARE NOT COMING WE ARE GOING WERA”

This year we are privileged to work with schools that rehabilitate drop out children and street connected children. Undugu Basic Education unit is one of those interesting schools we are working with. In short description Undugu has both boys and girls who have been drawn from street connected activities and the school endeavors to rehabilitate them by offering basic literacy and numeracy skills as well vocational training to help them with self employment opportunities. Most of the children in this school are in the age of puberty and adolescence.

After conducting a session with the children as I was on my way to the office to appreciate the teachers for the time and support and also to notify them that we had finished and now leaving the school, three girls of adolescent age came after me running. Realizing that they wanted to talk to me, I stopped to give them a listening ear and this question immediately followed from one of them, “Teacher, are you guys coming back on Friday?” “No, we only come once in a week.” I retorted. “If you guys do not come then we are going wera” They answered, beginning with the first whom I wish to think is the most influential among them and then the other two joined in unison in such a way that one would think they had a rehearsal of it before approaching me.

“Wera” is a slang name for work and even though I have limited proficiency of this language commonly used in Kenyan urban areas with Nairobi being the most popular with it, I no doubt knew what these girls meant. I shared this with their teachers to hear their views about it but they never appeared bothered, all they said what that we will get to understand the nature of their children. Like plague this little conversation with these girls did not immediately vanish from my memory, I kept reflecting on why our absence will make them miss school on that particular day. I stretched the reflection further by meditating on the value our program offers to these young ones that our presence will make them come to school while our absence does the opposite. Immediately it came to my mind that one of the objectives we address in this particular program is to increase regular attendance of children in school. This conversation with the children alone showcases that children are eager to have our team in their school for activities. I am rest assured that Tuesday which is the day we visit the school children will want to attend school unless otherwise. Moving forward I will be keen to have discussions with the children and the teachers to know whether or not there is a difference in attendance on Tuesdays vis a vis other school days.

“If you are not coming, we are going wera.” This statement as was said by the children has become my mantra of reflection on how as an organization we can leverage on this opportunity to help children increase attendance in school.