Weekly Report

Some of the boys playing cricket after lunch at Raksha

Since it's been about a week I figured everyone was ready for an update.  I've been staying busy going to Raksha 3 days a week now to help out.  Tuesday and Thursday mornings Kat and I have been helping with the younger early intervention class.  We just started going on Wednesday so I'll wait to update about that.  Most of these students cannot speak but still communicate (we're slowly picking up on it) and we show them flash cards with pictures and words and help them raise their hand when their name is called.  I know it doesn't sound like we do a lot, but this class needs a lot of attention so it's usually 1 teacher or assistant (including Kat and I) to 1 or 2 kids.   Kat and I are usually with the same kids so it gets easier to help and they get used to us.

We are starting to learn their personalities and it truly is rewarding to see them do something new or speak the slightest word.  One of the little boys, Ijo (pronounced 'e jew' -real name is Emanuel) has an issue with his muscles tensing up - I'm not sure on the name of the condition - but yesterday he was lying on a mat waiting for his mother to come get him for lunch.  The parents take them to the toilet and feed them so at the same time they are learning how to care for their children.  Anyway, I was sitting down by him, smiling and saying hi.  Occasionally, he would grin.  Nina, the teacher, told me to pick him up.  At first, I was hesitant because he cries easily and doesn't move around a lot, but she insisted....and he was perfectly fine sitting on my lap!  I got him to relax his legs and actually sit for a few minutes which is difficult for him to do.  He was mumbling a few words which I couldn't understand but he smiled big (that's his 'yes') when Nina asked if he liked me!  How sweet is that?

They play cricket everyday

I haven't taken any pictures of the younger kids because one of the teachers needs to ask the parents first but I have taken a few of the older boys playing cricket.  Notice in the very top picture the boy - or young man, I have no idea his age - is standing upright, posing for the camera.  He always waves to Kat and I and says hello each time he sees us.  As soon as he saw me and Chris - Kat's British friend and also a UOP employee visiting for the week - with our cameras, he was ready.  He stood in that same position for so long that he almost got hit by a ball...and by almost I mean the ball barely missed his face. What a silly guy!  Then, he came right up by us and wanted me to take his picture again.  Chris asked if I wanted to get in it so I said "sure" only to have this guy laugh and push me away! haha.  He just loved having his picture taken!  We help the older students on Tues/Thurs afternoons with their vocations.  Right now they are making shopping bags our of newspaper.  It's a pretty neat trade that makes the school a lot of money.


There are many more stories I could tell about our time at the school, but maybe I'll just focus on one or two a week otherwise, I'd probably write a book every day.  It is so rewarding seeing these kids do the smallest thing yet achieve so much at the same time.  I really do enjoy going there to help out and I'm looking forward to getting to know more of the children as well.  Eventually we will take pictures of our little buddies so we can show them off because they are adorable! :)