All You Need Is Education

          Teacher Lillian explained to me that a child’s mind is like a blank piece of paper: you can write anything and it will stay, because they have not learned a lot yet. That is why they learn and remember information so easily. Education is vital here in order to get a sustainable job one would need a good education. However, there is a flaw in their system. In order to get into secondary school, past Class 8, you have to pass the exams at the end of Class 7. While this may seem reasonable, in government schools they teach in Swahili all the way until Class 7, then the exams to get into Class 8 are all in English so it is very hard to pass. The kids at LOAMO all learn in English so that part of the exam will be a little easier in that way, but the material of the exam is still extremely challenging.  Yet with the odds stacked against them these kids still try their hardest every day.

          Last night I was asked the question what has impacted your heart the most on this trip. I think it is the fact that these kinds have to be on their “A” game all of the time, no matter if they’re 4 years old and in kindergarten or if their 13 years old and in Class 7. They always have to try their hardest, slacking is not an option. This really destroys me on the inside because at home we take our education for granted and slack off and complain, and here are these kids who deserve so much more than they are given and yet they come to school every day laughing and smiling, and are elated to be sitting in a class room. These children who come to school laughing and smiling have spectacular stories, of what they have been through and conquered. Glory is in Class 5 her house is made out of cement with electricity and water from a tap, for drinking. While they may seem pretty well of her father got laid off of his job as a security guard as he did not have a certificate of education. Suzie, the mother, is also unemployed. She worked at LOAMO for 16 years; since she worked at the school she was able to send two of her four children all the way through LOAMO. Unfortunately, two years ago she discovered she had a disease in her spinal cord preventing her from being able to bend over. The doctor told her if she wanted to recover she would have to leave her job. Since she has LOAMO Glory and Suzie’s youngest child will have to finish their education through public school. While telling us this something snapped in Suzie and the tears started to roll down her cheeks. All she wants for her kids is for them to get a good education so they can go and live a good life with a good job.

          I also go the chance to visit Teacher Lillian. When Teacher Lillian talks, it’s like her words start to fill the room and transport you to another world. It is as I you are standing right next to her experiencing her life and feeling her feelings. Teacher Lillian lost her dad when she was 17 to AIDS then five years later when she was 22 she lost her mother to AIDS as well. Not only was losing her parents hard, but she was left as the guardian of five younger sisters, the youngest being 5 years old. Most of them got sponsors to pay for their school fees, but Lillian had to provide the money for them to eat. I could not fathom trying to provide for five people by yourself, anger rose inside of me as she explained how none of their relatives would take them is as they were all girls. My respect grew for Teacher Lillian as she explained all the set-backs and hard times she experienced, and how she always persevered and was resilient.

         Seeing the work ethic of these kids is astounding to me it has and will be my motivation to work harder. Any struggle or road block I will encounter is incomparable to what these students will do just to sit in a class room for the day. There are time in the school year when I take my classes for granted and start to let up a little and slack off, making excuses for myself, but this year when I start to do this I will remind myself of how Glory and Teacher Lillian and all of the others persevere and fight through it all just to get an education.