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| Rec time. |
School
After missing a Saturday class due to the Easter holiday, we got back into full gear with class on Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday was a dramatic day! Heavy rains made it hard for most of the students to get to class on-time, and then the power went out (for the first time in almost a week) just before our start time. Eventually everyone made it (the first time we had all 20), and we had a spirited discussion of a Jomo Kenyatta short story, "The Gentlemen of the Jungle." The story for Saturday was from Zimbabwe, "Why Don't You Carve Other Animals" by Yvonne Vera.
Saturday class runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the students have been impressively focused and productive. They are motivated to learn, to engage each other, and to improve their English. They also really like the clean, open, uncrowded spaces of the college campus; it is, unfortunately, a contrast from their regular schools. (The picture to the left is the courtyard of one of these schools, with 1,400 K-8 students.)
Other ILAE News
Last Monday, May 6th, was a big day for the school. There was a fundraising event at the city's oldest hotel, the
Taitu (built for Menelik II's wife Empress Taitu in 1888 E.C.) that, despite heavy rain and subsequent snarled traffic, drew a large, supportive crowd. Also, an on-line magazine for Ethiopian diasporans,
Tadias, came out with an article featuring one of ILAE's founders. It's exciting to see so much enthusiasm for the school and to hear that this program is helping to fill the gap between potential and opportunity for the students it is serving.
Saturday class runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the students have been impressively focused and productive. They are motivated to learn, to engage each other, and to improve their English. They also really like the clean, open, uncrowded spaces of the college campus; it is, unfortunately, a contrast from their regular schools. (The picture to the left is the courtyard of one of these schools, with 1,400 K-8 students.) 
Hi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog via the NWS Facebook page. I was one of your students almost 20 years ago (wow!). I just had to comment--what an amazing experience! Thank you for the photos and insights. The students are lucky to have you there, and I hope they enjoy learning all about the Enlightenment. :) I look forward to reading more about the school and your time there.
Take care,
Elsa Feiring Loftis
(from 10th grade, the "Reckless Fest of Learning")