Ive been to couple of naming ceremonies and this is the Jola way of celebrating. Check it out!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Friday, 17 April 2009
The Only Toubab in the Village.
Before the easter break, Ive been mainly helping at the primary school so my time at the nursery has been reduced. The previous volunteer has come back to help me over the holidays with some ideas for the nursery.
Gambians are very laid back and dont have the strongest of work ethics! The teachers dont do teaching plans so they often go over the same things time and again. Corporal punishment is a huge problem in the nursery and the teachers havent had formal training so weve been working on a few ideas that might help them.
So far all the kids have been doing the same work. The brighter children tend to get quite restless at times and some less able chidren are afraid to try things in case they get things wrong. They do sometimes get beaten for getting wrong answers which is horrible. The variation of ability is huge, especially in the second class so I wanted the teachers to be able to set different work. Weve also come up with a strict rewards and sanction strategy that the teachers will use and this should help to cut out beating in time. We met with the teachers and they like our ideas but arent sure that they will work. They have the attitude that children who arent as clever as some are bad children because they get things wrong and dont want to learn. They are also afraid that the children will run riot if they arent beaten. Old habits die hard and it will be difficult for me to stamp out beating all together but I will be consistent with the procedures we have put in place.
I can understand why things slow down, especially in the afternoons because it is so hot. It is frustrating at times when I need to get somewhere but overall it has helped me to relax a lot more and to not worry about time so much. They are very impressed by the way volunteers work and how we want to get things done!
Gambians are great company and will always talk to me so Im rarely lonely. They have some humorous and interesting ways of saying somethings in English. My room in the jammeh compound is called my house and they all say stubborn for bad child instead of saying naughty. They are also very superstitious. They believe that some people are devils and I cant play my drum in the house for fear of breaking a protection from this. I cant say that Im a believer myself but its fascinating to hear about their ideas and beliefs. Its mental! Cosmos my djembe teacher has the best sayings and he once told me that smoking cannabis made him very clever! He talks a lot of rubbish and Iv had to help bail him out when he was arrested for an incident with a neighbour. But he can teach djembe. I go to his house to drum in the evenings. The local girls also come to dance while several of us drum away. Im improving steadily and thoroughly enjoy it.
Im also picking up a bit more local lingo and have kitted out my house a bit more. I had no furniture when I arrived and found it very difficult without electric light in the evenings so Iv had table made for me and a motor battery and bulb put in. its a huge help. Im continuing to help fatou, one of girls in the family, with maths and using the internet and looking to add more students to the AP class. Theres is also a local football team that Iv helped support and iv bought jerseys for them.
Its been great having help from another volunteer but she has had go back to the UK for a teaching placement. Iv found that it is so much more difficult to try and implement things when you are on your own but I will continue to keep working with the teachers and try new things.
Gambians are very laid back and dont have the strongest of work ethics! The teachers dont do teaching plans so they often go over the same things time and again. Corporal punishment is a huge problem in the nursery and the teachers havent had formal training so weve been working on a few ideas that might help them.
So far all the kids have been doing the same work. The brighter children tend to get quite restless at times and some less able chidren are afraid to try things in case they get things wrong. They do sometimes get beaten for getting wrong answers which is horrible. The variation of ability is huge, especially in the second class so I wanted the teachers to be able to set different work. Weve also come up with a strict rewards and sanction strategy that the teachers will use and this should help to cut out beating in time. We met with the teachers and they like our ideas but arent sure that they will work. They have the attitude that children who arent as clever as some are bad children because they get things wrong and dont want to learn. They are also afraid that the children will run riot if they arent beaten. Old habits die hard and it will be difficult for me to stamp out beating all together but I will be consistent with the procedures we have put in place.
I can understand why things slow down, especially in the afternoons because it is so hot. It is frustrating at times when I need to get somewhere but overall it has helped me to relax a lot more and to not worry about time so much. They are very impressed by the way volunteers work and how we want to get things done!
Gambians are great company and will always talk to me so Im rarely lonely. They have some humorous and interesting ways of saying somethings in English. My room in the jammeh compound is called my house and they all say stubborn for bad child instead of saying naughty. They are also very superstitious. They believe that some people are devils and I cant play my drum in the house for fear of breaking a protection from this. I cant say that Im a believer myself but its fascinating to hear about their ideas and beliefs. Its mental! Cosmos my djembe teacher has the best sayings and he once told me that smoking cannabis made him very clever! He talks a lot of rubbish and Iv had to help bail him out when he was arrested for an incident with a neighbour. But he can teach djembe. I go to his house to drum in the evenings. The local girls also come to dance while several of us drum away. Im improving steadily and thoroughly enjoy it.
Im also picking up a bit more local lingo and have kitted out my house a bit more. I had no furniture when I arrived and found it very difficult without electric light in the evenings so Iv had table made for me and a motor battery and bulb put in. its a huge help. Im continuing to help fatou, one of girls in the family, with maths and using the internet and looking to add more students to the AP class. Theres is also a local football team that Iv helped support and iv bought jerseys for them.
Its been great having help from another volunteer but she has had go back to the UK for a teaching placement. Iv found that it is so much more difficult to try and implement things when you are on your own but I will continue to keep working with the teachers and try new things.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
AP class
Sorry its been so long since Ive updated the blog. I think the last internet cafe I used had tonnes of viruses so the page now looks a bit odd!
Things have changed quite a bit from when I last posted. Im still teaching at the nursery for part of the week but Im now working with an advanced (AP) class in grade 6 at the primary school. Most of the kids are 14 or 15 which is a bit strange! I started teaching them English but Ive changed to teaching Maths which im more comfortable with. Itś still difficult for the kids to understand me, even in grade 6, but its slowly getting easier. I also run a games session for the AP class on Fridays which they love. Ive brought a play parachute with me and used it on the first session which got ripped. They keep requesting for it to be brought out again so ill have to keep getting it stitched up!
The school council want a garden built so they can plant vegetables and sell them to buy resources for the nursery kids. MondoChallenge have no funds at the moment so Im going to try and help start it in the Easter holidays. There is another volunteer coming to help me at the nursery school in April so we will be able to work together on some new ideas.
Im still happy in Makumbaya and my host family are great to me. Theyve got me in touch with a friend of theirs called Cosmos who teaches djembe and other african drumming. Im learning with him and also making my own drums! Hes is a good teacher but I have to be smart with him. Hes trying to get me to buy a lot of drums so Ill have to watch and keep a good record of what I pay him!
There have been several problems though in the village with people being accused of witchcraft and there has been a dispute with another village about a patch of land. Quite a few people were arrested. My host was also arrested for a separate incident where he was falsely accused of insulting the president. Hes been released though now and the case has been resolved. I can see Africa is very unpredictable but Im in no danger, as long as I dont discuss Gambian politics!
Things have changed quite a bit from when I last posted. Im still teaching at the nursery for part of the week but Im now working with an advanced (AP) class in grade 6 at the primary school. Most of the kids are 14 or 15 which is a bit strange! I started teaching them English but Ive changed to teaching Maths which im more comfortable with. Itś still difficult for the kids to understand me, even in grade 6, but its slowly getting easier. I also run a games session for the AP class on Fridays which they love. Ive brought a play parachute with me and used it on the first session which got ripped. They keep requesting for it to be brought out again so ill have to keep getting it stitched up!
The school council want a garden built so they can plant vegetables and sell them to buy resources for the nursery kids. MondoChallenge have no funds at the moment so Im going to try and help start it in the Easter holidays. There is another volunteer coming to help me at the nursery school in April so we will be able to work together on some new ideas.
Im still happy in Makumbaya and my host family are great to me. Theyve got me in touch with a friend of theirs called Cosmos who teaches djembe and other african drumming. Im learning with him and also making my own drums! Hes is a good teacher but I have to be smart with him. Hes trying to get me to buy a lot of drums so Ill have to watch and keep a good record of what I pay him!
There have been several problems though in the village with people being accused of witchcraft and there has been a dispute with another village about a patch of land. Quite a few people were arrested. My host was also arrested for a separate incident where he was falsely accused of insulting the president. Hes been released though now and the case has been resolved. I can see Africa is very unpredictable but Im in no danger, as long as I dont discuss Gambian politics!
Sunday, 22 February 2009
AKA Adama Jammeh
I had my official welcoming as part of the family yesterday. They killed and prepared a chicken so we could celebrate. They mainly eat fish with rice. It usually really nice but quite peppery so I can never eat all of what they give me (they give me LOADS!) I'm not eating from the communal bowl or with my hands yet which the rest of the family do! The family have also named me Adama Jammeh after a close relative.
My Mandinka has been steadily improving (I've pretty much got the basic greetings now) and I'm trying bits of Fula and Jola. I should be getting some Mandinka lessons soon which will help. Teaching at the nursery school is impossible if you don't know the lingo. I ran a class unaided once and it went completely belly up. My hand gestures and signals got mistranslated (putting my hand to my ear to get them to listen, they shouted out ears and chanted 'Heads shoulders knees and toes'!)I'll be working there two days a week from now on, with assisting the teachers. My initial aim is to get them to utilise more resources (they have a cupboard full of things that are never used). This will hopefully make the lessons a bit more interesting for the kids and teachers as well as reducing the amount of corporal punishment that is used. Seeing the kids getting beaten was a real shock, even though I knew it was used before I came here. I'll be trying to adapt how lessons are taught but this will take time. I will be working the other days in the advanced class at the primary school where the kids have sponsors. This was started by the last volunteer who is still looking for more sponsors. I'll be observing the grade five class to see if anymore students can be added. There's certainly plenty to get my teeth into!
Outside of teaching I've mainly been chatting to locals (well trying and failing miserably!) and drinking lots of attaya. I went to a naming ceremony (Muslim equivalent of a chrisening) last weekend with the head of the family. It ran all day with lots of food and chatting. I had to give a gift (cash, which they asked for many times) but I got to see some Wolof drumming and dancing which was really full on and great to watch. I'll be getting some Jola drum lessons soon from the lead drummer. AWESOME!!!
I hope to load some photos up soon when there's more time.
My Mandinka has been steadily improving (I've pretty much got the basic greetings now) and I'm trying bits of Fula and Jola. I should be getting some Mandinka lessons soon which will help. Teaching at the nursery school is impossible if you don't know the lingo. I ran a class unaided once and it went completely belly up. My hand gestures and signals got mistranslated (putting my hand to my ear to get them to listen, they shouted out ears and chanted 'Heads shoulders knees and toes'!)I'll be working there two days a week from now on, with assisting the teachers. My initial aim is to get them to utilise more resources (they have a cupboard full of things that are never used). This will hopefully make the lessons a bit more interesting for the kids and teachers as well as reducing the amount of corporal punishment that is used. Seeing the kids getting beaten was a real shock, even though I knew it was used before I came here. I'll be trying to adapt how lessons are taught but this will take time. I will be working the other days in the advanced class at the primary school where the kids have sponsors. This was started by the last volunteer who is still looking for more sponsors. I'll be observing the grade five class to see if anymore students can be added. There's certainly plenty to get my teeth into!
Outside of teaching I've mainly been chatting to locals (well trying and failing miserably!) and drinking lots of attaya. I went to a naming ceremony (Muslim equivalent of a chrisening) last weekend with the head of the family. It ran all day with lots of food and chatting. I had to give a gift (cash, which they asked for many times) but I got to see some Wolof drumming and dancing which was really full on and great to watch. I'll be getting some Jola drum lessons soon from the lead drummer. AWESOME!!!
I hope to load some photos up soon when there's more time.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Getting to Grips
Well, I've been in The Gambia for a week and a half now. It's a good job that I've come with an open mind because it's worlds apart from the UK and the western world. To get around they use yellow taxis and the Gelly Gellys, which are bonkers! They wait around until full up (which can take hours, especially in secluded villages like Makumbaya) and all their motors are ancient and battered. I quite like them though, they're just part of the Gambian charm! The roads are free for all, with animals roaming the streets and horns going crazy. It's all pretty friendly and slow paced. Everything happens in GMT (Gambia maybe time!) so nothing is on time. There are a few main tarmac roads but most roads are just dirt or sand tracks. It can be quite hot during the day but it's very pleasant. It's actually 'very cold' for Gambians so I'm expecting tougher conditions as time goes on!!
Despite the major culture differences, my first impressions are great. The people are extremely friendly and will always greet you when you pass in the street. They have also been very helpful with settling me in. Some people especially very young kids, give me curious looks. You stand out so much as a white westerner. The kids all shout 'Tou-bab', which means white person but is just friendly and not meant to be offensive. My hosts (Jammeh family) are so friendly and welcoming, like all the other Gambians I've met so far. They are of the Jola tribe, which is one of many in The Gambia. I'm going to have to learn both Jola and Mandinka languages, which is already looking very tough. I think I come across as a bit rude at times because Gambians always want to talk. They drink Attaya all the time, which is a strong green tea with loads of sugar and is REALLY SWEET!!! It's good stuff!
The things that I thought would bother me haven't. Even the insects, bucket baths and medievel toilet! The thing that is hardest is getting used to the lack of light in the evening. It gets dark very quickly in The Gambia and it can be pitch black by 8 o'clock. The cockrals are also starting to get on my nerves when they go off at 2 in the morning!
The teaching is very tough though. I've been put in the nursery school instead of lower basic and so none of the children speak good English. Because of the language barrier, it is very hard to put down new ideas and I've ended up resorting to teaching what the kids know (NOT what I had in mind!!) Their lessons are extremly boring and there is a lot of reading out and repeating what the teacher writes on the board. I hope to be able to work with the teachers and give them ideas that they can use, rather than teach myself. It is going to take time but hopefully it will be worth while.
Despite the major culture differences, my first impressions are great. The people are extremely friendly and will always greet you when you pass in the street. They have also been very helpful with settling me in. Some people especially very young kids, give me curious looks. You stand out so much as a white westerner. The kids all shout 'Tou-bab', which means white person but is just friendly and not meant to be offensive. My hosts (Jammeh family) are so friendly and welcoming, like all the other Gambians I've met so far. They are of the Jola tribe, which is one of many in The Gambia. I'm going to have to learn both Jola and Mandinka languages, which is already looking very tough. I think I come across as a bit rude at times because Gambians always want to talk. They drink Attaya all the time, which is a strong green tea with loads of sugar and is REALLY SWEET!!! It's good stuff!
The things that I thought would bother me haven't. Even the insects, bucket baths and medievel toilet! The thing that is hardest is getting used to the lack of light in the evening. It gets dark very quickly in The Gambia and it can be pitch black by 8 o'clock. The cockrals are also starting to get on my nerves when they go off at 2 in the morning!
The teaching is very tough though. I've been put in the nursery school instead of lower basic and so none of the children speak good English. Because of the language barrier, it is very hard to put down new ideas and I've ended up resorting to teaching what the kids know (NOT what I had in mind!!) Their lessons are extremly boring and there is a lot of reading out and repeating what the teacher writes on the board. I hope to be able to work with the teachers and give them ideas that they can use, rather than teach myself. It is going to take time but hopefully it will be worth while.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
What, Who, and Why
After preparing and fundraising for the past 6 months, I’ll be finally off to the Gambia in 10 days. It’s been hard work at times but definitely well worth the effort. When I decided to work for Mondo Challenge in July last year, I’d just finished studying for my Maths degree at Sheffield Uni and had no money whatsoever. Luckily, I have had some very kind donations from various groups of people which have been vital in making my project possible. I would like thank the Knutsford Catenians, Knutsford Rotary, Knutsford Lions, Philip Barker Charity, Piper Hill High School, St. Nicholas High School, and all of my family and friends who have helped and sponsored me. I would also like to thank the Cinnamon Club for putting on a brilliant night earlier last month and for helping me to raise the rest of the necessary funds for my project.
Many people have asked me what it is that I’m actually going to be doing in the Gambia, who are Mondo Challenge, why did I choose The Gambia and why did I even consider going to work in Africa in the first place?! So before I travel out, here’s a little bit on what I'm going to be up to:
What I'm going to be doing
I will be working in the region of Makumbaya in The Gambia, West Africa as a voluntary teacher at Makumbaya Lower Basic School. The school has well over 600 students aged between 7 and 12, but only 15 teachers, 2 of who are unqualified and 2 who are trainees. Therefore, the children have to be split into morning and afternoon classes to cope with the numbers. The school has running water from a well on site, but has no electricity, no plumbing and very few teaching resources. My main task will be teaching the children English, which is The Gambia’s official language but not the first spoken by its people. I will also be teaching Maths, sports and arts and crafts among other things to make school life more fun!
Who is Mondo Challenge?
Mondo Challenge is a small non-government funded organisation that started in 2001. Their vision is ‘People first, money second’, aiming to improve the lives of people in developing countries through the work of its volunteers, whilst maintaining sustainability so that communities can support themselves. Since it began, Mondo has had a direct impact on well over 6000 people in the 9 countries it supports, many of who are at the poorest level. The fact that they pride themselves on supporting their volunteers was so important to me, especially as I have never done anything like this before!
Why The Gambia?
Working in a place which is safe and politically stable was, of course, my top priority when deciding to work as a volunteer. The Gambia, one of the safest but also one of the poorest countries in Africa, is dominated by the Gambian river. It is completely surrounded by Senegal except for its small Atlantic coast and is also a former British colony. The Gambia is often referred to as The Smiling coast of Africa due to the friendliness of the people; (this has often been the first thing mentioned by ex-volunteers or by people who have visited The Gambia previously). It has vast wildlife (particularly birds) despite its small size, with many great wildlife parks that I hope to visit. Music and Drumming is also a huge part of the culture which I’m really looking forward to experiencing (drumming mainly being because I used to be a keen drummer!) As well as rekindling old habits, I also hope to become an integral part of the community that I will be living in, by learning Mandinka (one of the local languages) and living life the true Gambian way! Being able to help a community in need while experiencing a great new culture and way of life made me decide to work in The Gambia.
Why even consider going at all?
Having had the privilege of a full education in a country where there is constant peace and stability, I feel that I need to give something back. (Sorry, couldn’t think of a better way of putting it!) I know that I will never have to live through the war and poverty that some people face in certain parts of the world and I feel passionately that people should have the right to a good education. I feel that the best way I can try to make a difference is through teaching, and even though I’ve had no formal teacher training, I have always enjoyed working with people. I've done some voluntary teaching while at Uni and after in a couple of schools, and my plan to train as a secondary maths teacher when I return to Britain in five months time.
Having not been to Africa before as well as not having had formal teacher training, I’m not without my concerns. To be honest, I’m bricking it. Not knowing what will happen when I arrive, being poisoned by nasty insects, catching malaria or any other diseases that mosquitoes might carry, catching rabies, becoming seriously ill from drinking dodgy water, being alone, offending the locals in a way that gets me killed, among other things, all worry me. I am though, very excited about meeting and working with new people, including other volunteers. I hope to learn a lot about African life and gain a better understanding of it, as well as learning from the teaching experience. It isn’t going to go smoothly all the time, I’m expecting the unexpected. I hope though to have a positive impact in some way and help the school to progress.
I will be updating this blog throughout my time in the Gambia and hope to keep everyone back home informed. I hope to write again soon.
>
Many people have asked me what it is that I’m actually going to be doing in the Gambia, who are Mondo Challenge, why did I choose The Gambia and why did I even consider going to work in Africa in the first place?! So before I travel out, here’s a little bit on what I'm going to be up to:
What I'm going to be doing
I will be working in the region of Makumbaya in The Gambia, West Africa as a voluntary teacher at Makumbaya Lower Basic School. The school has well over 600 students aged between 7 and 12, but only 15 teachers, 2 of who are unqualified and 2 who are trainees. Therefore, the children have to be split into morning and afternoon classes to cope with the numbers. The school has running water from a well on site, but has no electricity, no plumbing and very few teaching resources. My main task will be teaching the children English, which is The Gambia’s official language but not the first spoken by its people. I will also be teaching Maths, sports and arts and crafts among other things to make school life more fun!
Who is Mondo Challenge?
Mondo Challenge is a small non-government funded organisation that started in 2001. Their vision is ‘People first, money second’, aiming to improve the lives of people in developing countries through the work of its volunteers, whilst maintaining sustainability so that communities can support themselves. Since it began, Mondo has had a direct impact on well over 6000 people in the 9 countries it supports, many of who are at the poorest level. The fact that they pride themselves on supporting their volunteers was so important to me, especially as I have never done anything like this before!
Why The Gambia?
Working in a place which is safe and politically stable was, of course, my top priority when deciding to work as a volunteer. The Gambia, one of the safest but also one of the poorest countries in Africa, is dominated by the Gambian river. It is completely surrounded by Senegal except for its small Atlantic coast and is also a former British colony. The Gambia is often referred to as The Smiling coast of Africa due to the friendliness of the people; (this has often been the first thing mentioned by ex-volunteers or by people who have visited The Gambia previously). It has vast wildlife (particularly birds) despite its small size, with many great wildlife parks that I hope to visit. Music and Drumming is also a huge part of the culture which I’m really looking forward to experiencing (drumming mainly being because I used to be a keen drummer!) As well as rekindling old habits, I also hope to become an integral part of the community that I will be living in, by learning Mandinka (one of the local languages) and living life the true Gambian way! Being able to help a community in need while experiencing a great new culture and way of life made me decide to work in The Gambia.
Why even consider going at all?
Having had the privilege of a full education in a country where there is constant peace and stability, I feel that I need to give something back. (Sorry, couldn’t think of a better way of putting it!) I know that I will never have to live through the war and poverty that some people face in certain parts of the world and I feel passionately that people should have the right to a good education. I feel that the best way I can try to make a difference is through teaching, and even though I’ve had no formal teacher training, I have always enjoyed working with people. I've done some voluntary teaching while at Uni and after in a couple of schools, and my plan to train as a secondary maths teacher when I return to Britain in five months time.
Having not been to Africa before as well as not having had formal teacher training, I’m not without my concerns. To be honest, I’m bricking it. Not knowing what will happen when I arrive, being poisoned by nasty insects, catching malaria or any other diseases that mosquitoes might carry, catching rabies, becoming seriously ill from drinking dodgy water, being alone, offending the locals in a way that gets me killed, among other things, all worry me. I am though, very excited about meeting and working with new people, including other volunteers. I hope to learn a lot about African life and gain a better understanding of it, as well as learning from the teaching experience. It isn’t going to go smoothly all the time, I’m expecting the unexpected. I hope though to have a positive impact in some way and help the school to progress.
I will be updating this blog throughout my time in the Gambia and hope to keep everyone back home informed. I hope to write again soon.
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