Making a box

This is for people who didn't want the herring and didn't pay anything for the lunch. It is a pick-nick when you can pay for some herring, but are expected to bring any other thing you want to eat. The Swedish society has been working really hard and this is an encouragement to give some money for work. Every shilling goes to development project in Kenya, and the board works hard - for free!

Herring for the Swedish Community

On Sunday the Swedish Society is going to have their yearly spring lunch. This is when we all meet at Paradise Lost having a picknick - but you can buy herring and schnapps from the Society. This is of course to raise more money for the projects as well as meeting and enjoying each others company.
I promised my mom to help out to fix the herring and help out with whatever needs to be done on the event. Lots of Swedes who's been traveling to Sweden has brought the herring, and now we need to "pickle" them. I've never done anything like this (In Sweden we by it in a jar, readymade) and I don't even like herring all that much. It was still an interesting experience and it is always nice to reconnect with the Swedish community (but I have to say I prefer the pizza we got for our efforts!) I stuck around to about 8 PM, then in my opinion, I had earned the right to go to a party...

This is how the herring looked last year (good, huh??)

Invitation

Grading on Sunday

Quite nervous I have to say. On Sunday I'm grading. Max has told me that I need to practice poomse - or tae-guk 1 and 2. Two different combinations of movement! I'm glad my father brought a DVD from the US so I can practice in front of the TV. I also need to master the basic kicks, blocks and punches - but I think I know all of them pretty well. The problem is the tae-guks! I'm suspecting that they are going to allow me to skip a belt, otherwise I only need to know one tae-guk. Maybe I'll be second yellow on sunday??

Meeting in my house

Reverend George came by to get some of the money from the Christmas drive. We had planned to buy and renovate two more rooms, but he got the opportunity to buy three new rooms on the other side of school. We all realized  that this was a good idea. As soon as we can get all rooms in that area, we can fence them in, so the kids get a real campus. I'm starting to understand that when working with projects like this, you have to be very flexible. As long as I think I can convince the people who are giving money to this project that this is a good thing - I will be OK. This might be a challenge in my next report to the donors, but I hope they trust us to do the right thing!

A friend that has been helping out a lot with fundraising also asked if a lady coming to Kenya from Sweden, could bring her family for a visit. She has two kids in high school that wanted to see a school in the slums, and she also wanted to do a field trip for her job. The lady is working with Sida in Sweden, focusing on corruption. Maybe George can teach her a little bit about that in reference to the Mathare slums? It's going to be interesting and nice to meet with them and I hope that the visit can be made when I'm not in school.

I also have some other good news, but I'm not allowed to share them right now! As soon as I'm allowed to, I will post some exciting news on this blog.

Physics in Excellent school

Today we had a lovely meeting with all the kids in school. Marie joined us and after showing her around and talking about the planning with Reverend George we went to visit the eight grade who had a class in physics. The teacher, Dixon got so impressed when I told him that Marie is an engineer who have done extensive studies in physics. He was showing how you can use a pulley, when Marie took over and told them about her recent project in India, building a factory with the use of a pulley. The kids were very inspired and interested, and we were having a lot of fun. Marie got Dixon's e-mail adress  so they could keep in touch. He wanted her to come back to teach.

Having fun i physics class

To meet the kids is always good. They are so positive and happy, and even sang for us! Take a look at the little guy in the middle with the green shirt- a very happy person.

I also had a lot to talk to George about.

Marie was very impressed by the school.

Selling my project

We're have a guest from Germany (but she is Swedish!). It is Marie, my mothers cousin who is very interested in environmental and development projects. She's an engineer so she really has the ability to work with both. She's been working with the development of solar panels and also has a project working with educated youths from the slums in Brasil. I told her about my project with the school and she was very excited and interested in it. I'm going to try to find the time to bring her to Excellent school before she leaves and I'm sure she is going to be willing to sponsor us!

A nice and interesting conversation about development projects

Me, selling my project hard....

Another application

Time to apply for funds from the Swedish Society. I haven't heard anything from Diplomatic Spouse Association, so I guess that application was denied. I really hope that The Swedish board will consider the application I'm sending now because it's quite discouraging to be denied. Moreover, as always the money is badly needed. I'm applying for desks, chairs and tables and chairs for the teachers because it seems to be easier to get the funds if you don't ask for too much money and for things the boards can "visualize". I tried to be very clear about the budget and timeplan. I think that the more precise you can be the better. I have also invited them to join me on a visit to the school, so they can see first hand where the money is going. Last year they gave us money for blackboards and lecture chairs and it's very clear that the school uses them a lot. I hope I get the opportunity to show them how much good their money is doing at some point. This is also the reason I help out on all the events the Swedish association is performing to raise money. I hope they make a lot - ant that they will give them to "my" school!

I made a folder to make it look nicer and more professional. I just hope they will accept my application! I will know for sure end of May (sorry I wrote it in Swedish - but I suspect I'll score "extra points" for that.......) 

SPRINGBREAK

Last day of school today! Next week I'll be spending in school.... for an SAT prep course. All week. Doesn't feel terrific, but probably very useful.

Sponsoring Grace through high school

Grace is a very clever girl from Excellent school. She scored really high on her national exam. Unfortunately, she only managed to raise 15.000 kes for her school fee, supplies and uniform to her first school year. She was admitted to a good school in Kisumu, but could not go. When my mother and I had a meeting with reverend George and told him we found a sponsor for another girl, Nancy, he told us the the story of Grace. My mom could not resist and gave her the rest of the money for the school fee. Now my family is sponsoring Grace and of course we will see her through all of High School. Mom gave Reverend George a camera to take photos on their trip to Kisumu. I know there is an endless need and not so god to only sponsor one kid, but this really makes me feel happy!

Nancy, Grace and George

Carrying the luggage to the bus. They even bring mattresses!

Grace signing in!