Monday, February 7, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Rammed Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqUW--bB9No
If that link doesn't work then just Youtube "Skills Transfer Project."
This video is about one of the projects the David Rattray Foundation is involved in. The building featured in this video is actually at one of Chad's schools and has just been completed. It is an incredible idea and I have become very close with the guy who is coordinating the building effort (seen in the video as Michael). You will also get to see and hear from Ben Henderson, whom I coordinate with quite a bit, as well as Tom Boardman, the chairman of the board.
If I haven't mentioned the Rattray Foundation before, allow me to take a step back. David Rattray was a renowned historian of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. He opened a lodge in the area on the old Rattray farm across the Umzinyathi river. He became involved with the local schools in the area during this time. Unfortunately he was murdered in 2007 and the David Rattray Foundation (and David Rattray Memorial Trust) was set up to continue the work David had begun in the local schools and communities. The foundation is now in the hands of Ben Henderson (CEO) and it was at his request that Peace Corps placed the four volunteers in the area. The DRF sponsors 15 schools in the area, both primary, secondary, and combined. The two schools where I now volunteer fall under this umbrella, as do the schools that Chad, Katie, and Anna work with.
Ben has been an invaluable resource in my work here and will continue to be throughout my service. I have also had the pleasure to become acquainted with Nicky Rattray, who currently oversees the lodge (Fugitives Drift Lodge) and has graciously opened it up to us before for a hot shower and finely cooked meal!
If that link doesn't work then just Youtube "Skills Transfer Project."
This video is about one of the projects the David Rattray Foundation is involved in. The building featured in this video is actually at one of Chad's schools and has just been completed. It is an incredible idea and I have become very close with the guy who is coordinating the building effort (seen in the video as Michael). You will also get to see and hear from Ben Henderson, whom I coordinate with quite a bit, as well as Tom Boardman, the chairman of the board.
If I haven't mentioned the Rattray Foundation before, allow me to take a step back. David Rattray was a renowned historian of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. He opened a lodge in the area on the old Rattray farm across the Umzinyathi river. He became involved with the local schools in the area during this time. Unfortunately he was murdered in 2007 and the David Rattray Foundation (and David Rattray Memorial Trust) was set up to continue the work David had begun in the local schools and communities. The foundation is now in the hands of Ben Henderson (CEO) and it was at his request that Peace Corps placed the four volunteers in the area. The DRF sponsors 15 schools in the area, both primary, secondary, and combined. The two schools where I now volunteer fall under this umbrella, as do the schools that Chad, Katie, and Anna work with.
Ben has been an invaluable resource in my work here and will continue to be throughout my service. I have also had the pleasure to become acquainted with Nicky Rattray, who currently oversees the lodge (Fugitives Drift Lodge) and has graciously opened it up to us before for a hot shower and finely cooked meal!
Back to School!
Hey everyone! Happy New Year! Seems the wheels are finally turning here at the schools. After a nice holiday hiking in Lesotho, see previous post, I have been back at site about 3 weeks now and getting things in place for the new school year. Unlike at home, January begins the new school year here. I am currently finishing some last minute fixes to the computer lab at my primary school. There are 22 computers, all donated about 5 or 6 years ago. I have cleared them of viruses (an arduous task to say the least) and refurbished a couple in preparation for a computer literacy class I will begin teaching soon. Im also going to be upgrading some of the hardware, pending a donation of RAM back home. Once everything is working I will start piloting this comp lit program for grades 4-7 here at the primary school. Basic stuff like how to use a mouse, typing skills, navigating windows XP, etc. Concurrently I will be teaching the teachers how to use them as well. Ideally after this term I will have trained another teacher sufficiently to take over my role in teaching comp lit. i am also trying to reinfore the sports program they have here at the primary school. Right now, every Thursday is Sports Day. Typically the boys will play soccer in the afternoon and the girls netball (similar to basketball, without the dribbling). In theory this should happen every Thursday but that does not seem to be the case so I will be working with the staff to make it a more regular part of the week.
Across the street at Ntalantala, the secondary school, things are rolling as well. The biggest news so far is the electricity being turned on finally. It's certainly an improvement but on a more selfish note it detracts from the otherwise dark landscape at night. Otherwise great news! I have been in close contact with the David Rattray Foundation in order to procure computers for a lab at Ntalantala as well. The biggest obstacle until recently was electricity, now I am doing whatever I can to fast track the preparations of the actual room for the computers (install new plugs, bars on the windows, razor wire in the ceiling). This will be a little different from the lab at the primary school. The idea here is to create a complete resource center for the school. The computers will at first be the primary resource, outfitted with current encyclopedia software. Then as more donations come in the center will be outfitted with print resources.
Other than school things are going very well. I have bounced back from dysentary and a variety of other maladies and am in great spirits. Things on the homestead couldn't be better. The forecasted rainy season is proving more mild than anticipated (so far) and the temperature remains comfortable (actually wearing long johns at night much more than you would think). The latest upgarde to my rondavel is a brand new shower! Inspired by another PCV, I hung a shower curtain around my bathing bucket and ran a 5-liter boxed wine bag up on a string. A nice improvement from my previous bathing routine to say the least. Even better, now I use a fraction of the water I used to. Well that is about all from here. I will be off to Durban next week to join the Consular General in celebrating the Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary.
Also I would very much like this to be an interactive blog, so please don't hesitate to comment with questions or thoughts! I would love to hear them
Go Steelers!
Across the street at Ntalantala, the secondary school, things are rolling as well. The biggest news so far is the electricity being turned on finally. It's certainly an improvement but on a more selfish note it detracts from the otherwise dark landscape at night. Otherwise great news! I have been in close contact with the David Rattray Foundation in order to procure computers for a lab at Ntalantala as well. The biggest obstacle until recently was electricity, now I am doing whatever I can to fast track the preparations of the actual room for the computers (install new plugs, bars on the windows, razor wire in the ceiling). This will be a little different from the lab at the primary school. The idea here is to create a complete resource center for the school. The computers will at first be the primary resource, outfitted with current encyclopedia software. Then as more donations come in the center will be outfitted with print resources.
Other than school things are going very well. I have bounced back from dysentary and a variety of other maladies and am in great spirits. Things on the homestead couldn't be better. The forecasted rainy season is proving more mild than anticipated (so far) and the temperature remains comfortable (actually wearing long johns at night much more than you would think). The latest upgarde to my rondavel is a brand new shower! Inspired by another PCV, I hung a shower curtain around my bathing bucket and ran a 5-liter boxed wine bag up on a string. A nice improvement from my previous bathing routine to say the least. Even better, now I use a fraction of the water I used to. Well that is about all from here. I will be off to Durban next week to join the Consular General in celebrating the Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary.
Also I would very much like this to be an interactive blog, so please don't hesitate to comment with questions or thoughts! I would love to hear them
Go Steelers!
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