Form 4 At Sud Is ON!

Over the last couple weeks, we've been really busy getting our Form 4s set up for success in learning! A week ago, I went to town with the Headmaster and a secondary teacher to collect all the books necessary for Form 4 subjects. 114 books in total, and I managed to get 30% off the standard price.... my bargaining skills continue to save money, meaning donor dollars can go much further. Gotta love business in Kenya!

UP: Here, a Form 3 student who was around during the

midterm holiday helps me unpack and sort Form 4 texts...

I know he is thinking that next year, these will be his!

For video of Form 4 student Joseph & I discussing the new books, click HERE!

 When talking with the Form 4s a couple weeks ago, they were worried about their classroom being way too hot to concentrate--- while this wasn't part of the project plan, I had to agree that studying in a classroom that's over 100 degrees in the afternoon sun was difficult! So, we reconstructed an old office and the former Grade 1 classroom into a similar sized new classroom that has a 1.5 ft wire mesh border running around the top, letting breeze flow & the sun shine in! We also re-cemented the badly beaten floor so their desks could sit still.... The total project cost was about $300, and they're very grateful to be able to focus better, and for longer!

For video of the Headmaster and I joining in the construction work, click HERE!

 UP: Reconstructing the new Form 4 classroom to make it cooler,

 brighter and better for learning!

Down: Form 4's working hard in their new classroom--

now the envy of the entire student body...

 This past week was busy with board meetings, staff meetings, visiting other schools for reference, and checking- then triple checking- material prices for the lab with engineers, logisticians and people "in the know". All have given us the go-ahead for the quotation so the foundation of the Lab will be laid TOMORROW! I am beyond excited to see the lab in progress and will be shooting videos to update you throughout the coming week!

For a new video of biology teacher Ndegwa & I at a laboratory equipment distributor, calculating and bargaining (this time for over 50% off!) the cost of outfitting Suds' lab, click HERE!

 UP: Students & I demonstrate where the new science lab will be located! YAY

Please come back later this week for more video updates as the lab begins from the ground up! I hope you'll all be proud of the work we're doing with your donor dollars.... I know the students are certainly proud of their school and its progress over the last year. Til then.... Thank you!

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The Beginning of a Lab...!

Hello from sunny Kenya! It's been just over a week since I've been here and the lab project is off to a good but cautious start. Meetings with the students, headmaster, contractor and science lab technicians have gone well and things are moving along. We hope to have the container at Sud by the weekend, but must still make some of the preliminary arrangements before taking the leap! We're working on reconstructing a classroom for the Form 4 students with more space and windows, making it easier for them to concentrate in the very hot hours of the afternoon. We will also be going through a local high school's lab tomorrow to see what kind of inventory they have and what we need for our own science lab. I'm also working on registering them for their exams, which have to be written and prepared for at an exam centre. The bargaining has begun! Books will be purchased in the next couple days and the recruiting of a qualified teacher will begin later this week! The students are anxious but patient... for now! They've been studying other subjects with the help of volunteer teachers, 2 of the Form 4 boys from last year.

Some of the Form 4 boys were asking me today who is going to build the lab for them. I

was meeting with the contractor at school and they were excited to see we're making plans!

All in all, it's been a busy week! Getting settled and setting out to start this hefty project have been fun and I'm so very looking forward to Sud finally having its own Form 4 class. Staff and students agree it's the best way forward for Sud and will give the school a sense of pride and its students a gleam of hope. Thanks to all of you who've been instrumental in donating & raising funds for the project. I assure you that as soon as a shovel hits the ground, I'll be back here with a video update!

Until then, I'm back to my meetings and bargaining.... Ciao!

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