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Published: August 8th 2010
Adult Literacy
Adult learners also receive paper, pens, pencils, shoes and clothing. These ladies also received purses!Hi Folks, Jenna, Nick and Carson returned to Seattle last Saturday, July 31st after more than 30 hours of travel. During their last few days in Underberg and Himeville, they accomplished a great deal and took supplies to several more schools. Carson mentions that she was particularly impressed with a Catholic school they visited on the Wednesday of their last week. She said that the nuns were "really cool" and showed them around the property. There was a beautiful church (see photo) and the building they were holding classes in while their regular school rooms were being painted reminded her of something you'd see in Italy... yellow brick and white washed window sills... she thought it was very pretty. She also said that the students there were very quiet and respectful. Wednesday after school was the big Dancing Pencils visit. For those of you who don't know, Dancing Pencils is an after-school program that children attend voluntarily. They work on creative writing, do drama and get homework help. The children who attend this program have better school attendance, and improved literacy skills and test scores. Generation Joy contributes to the very real success of this program by providing incentives for the
Friends
I love this photo. One of my favorites this year! students who choose to attend and participate in Dancing Pencils. Bicycles are a huge part of this incentive program. They are used for vital transportation as well as recreation, and the children who receive bikes treasure them. Carson said that the students with 100% attendance also received incentive bags which included stuffed animals, pencils and sharpeners (sharpeners are called machines) and playing cards. The Dancing Pencils students also received t-shirts and shoes. Carson said that the whole neighborhood lines up outside the fence and watches the children receive their rewards for attendance and participation. Your first instinct is to want to give something to everyone, as the needs are so great, but an incentive program only works if it is limited to the children who participate. The hope is that when the other neighborhood children see what the Dancing Pencils students receive, they will want to participate too.
Thursday was the last full day of delivering school supplies. Carson mentions that they visited another creche, or pre-school. She says the children are so cute and it is such a joy to give a small child his or her very first stuffed animal. A few of them burst into tears
Creche Students
Pre-school learners with their new stuffed animals (soft toys). because they are so overwhelmed by so many strange new faces, but most of them are just very quiet and wide-eyed! On the last night of the trip the travel team, with Pierre, Jaci and their family, goes to the top of a large hill overlooking Himeville and Underberg to participate in a tradition called "Talking Stick". The group sits or stands in a loose circle and passes a carved stick from one person to the next. When you have the stick, you can speak without being judged or interrupted. This is an opportunity to express your feelings about the experiences you've had during your trip. You can talk about what you've learned, how you feel about the people you've met, even how the experience has changed your life. From previous experience, I can tell you that participating in this tradition is very emotional and meaningful.
That's all for now. I believe you can look forward to a final post and more photos from Curtis, when he completes his travels next week. Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement, and for your interest in the travels of Generation Joy! ~ Linda
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shannon
non-member comment
Thanks
It is great to keep in touch with what has been happening. I miss not being there this year. great photo's!!