Blogs from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Africa - page 5

April 2, 2007 Masiye Camp- Narrative Therapy Workshop. This was a training day. Salvation Army Masiye (Ma-see-a) Camp was putting on a workshop this week taught by a couple of ladies from Netherlands and Australia. This workshop aimed at teaching the skill of moving aside the negative character defining story of a child’s life to find out and make room for the second, positive story for the child to redefine their path in life. This was a four day course but Dakotah and I could only stay for the first day. The content of the course was fantastic. Even in the first day it provided some practical options for reaching into a child’s life to pull out some good things and some good people that they can refer to. This was also a good opportunity to ... read more

KG VI School for disabled children, home visit, and Mahlabzulu March 29, 07 Pastor Temba had some running around to do this morning so we got to the school a bit late. Dakotah and I split up this morning. She went over to the senior art class to teach them to add beads to their hemp art and I adventured back to the kindergarten (grade zero) class for their reading time. The teachers took the opportunity to go and view the articles for the fete tomorrow so left me in charge of the class. There was a student studying Montessori teaching who joined the class to observe as well. Crazy Kindergaten, I guess it must be the same all over the world. After the story I got all the children except one into their desks and ... read more

KG VI School for disabled children, home visit, and Mahlabzulu March 29, 07 Pastor Temba had some running around to do this morning so we got to the school a bit late. Dakotah and I split up this morning. She went over to the senior art class to teach them to add beads to their hemp art and I adventured back to the kindergarten (grade zero) class for their reading time. The teachers took the opportunity to go and view the articles for the fete tomorrow so left me in charge of the class. There was a student studying Montessori teaching who joined the class to observe as well. Crazy Kindergaten, I guess it must be the same all over the world. After the story I got all the children except one into their desks and ... read more

Jenni’s house March 22 We got to teach kids! Well actually we read to them but it still makes a difference. It was kinda like a one to one reading thing but instead of taking one kid out the class during class we actually read to all the children then read with them one by one. We have been teaching (well, reading) for a little class of twelve. The class is a special Ed class, that’s why we need to help them read. I never thought of myself as a teacher. Not that I really am one. Jenni’s house March 23 Been there done that! As soon as I got here I made a goal, to catch a lizard. It seems kinda foolish but it’s a challenge. The older lizards are slower but they’re smart, and ... read more

We saw White Rhinos Mar 24 We headed out this morning to Motopos National Park just outside of Bulawayo. This park is known for its balancing rocks and Bushman paintings. There is also a game reserve in part of the park where the White Rhinoceros resides. According to our guide, Lovemore, this is the only park in the world that you may walk with the Rhinos. They are an endangered species and were almost wiped out as the Rhino horn was believed to be an aphrodisiac. So, our guide, Lovemore, picks us up from the house at about 10am and we head out. We arrive at the gate and he gets out to do the registering. Lovemore gets back into the truck and it won’t start. I had read about these misshaps on tours and they ... read more