Sara is the project manager of the ‘Living with Lions’ project, based at Serian Camp. It is an organisation that carries out science – based conservation in Kenya, monitoring predator populations and working with local communities and schools to promote co-existence of people and wildlife.
Since working and living in Serian I’ve been asking myself many times is all of what I see true or ‘make believe’.
Having breakfast while watching giraffe, a three course meal on the African plains watching the sun go down, enjoying a hot outdoor bubble bath, taking a cup of tea with fighting hippos in the background, falling asleep with the sound of roaring lions…
When arriving that morning at the school I asked myself the same question… is all of this real?
Two wooden buildings where the rain can seep through, another building in concrete but still under construction and one big tree that provide shade for about 50 kids for kindergarten class…. No playground, no colourful posters on the wall, hardly any teaching material, kids sitting on the floor or sharing a bench with 3 other kids and holding on to their only pencil afraid of losing it.
From working in tourism for many years, I can tell you honestly I have no teaching background. When walking into the first classroom I was probably as nervous, shy, anxious and curious as the 35 pair of brown eyes that were looking at me.
As it was our first visit to the school, we had short introductions in every class. Some colouring was done (letters of alphabet which can be used later as a teaching in the lower grades).
Soon it was lunchtime and the children orderly waited for their turn to receive a nutritious lunch prepared and served by one of the local village woman. Ololomei Primary School is part of the School Feeding Program by providing food to the school. They hope that more children will attend school… even when they have to walk more than 5 km each way to get to school.
To break the ice in the afternoon, to make some serious fun and to put a big smile on their
(and our) faces we ended up singing the good, old classic… ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’.
(and our) faces we ended up singing the good, old classic… ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’.
In the long term we hope to involve Serian staff more in the project, maybe organise a “career day’ or invite some of the kids on a real game drive.
The fundi’s (workmen) from the workshop already received our order for goalposts, blackboards, abacuses and much more.
The coming weeks we will return regularly to make more teaching aids with the kids and we’ll decorate the walls of the new concrete classrooms.
When you live and work at Serian Camp you have lots of experiences. Some of them fade away at the end of the day, others a picture to remember the event, some are burnt in my memory… but some experiences will be captured in my heart forever!
I’ll never forget my first school day in the Masai Mara!
For more information on the Lion project, you can check the website or follow the Preditor Project blog.
Kristel Ottoy
February 2011
PS... Appologies for the lack of pictues (slow internet but they are on Facebook) and for the delay of this blog! Roisin
