Tuesday would be our last day in Africa. We started with chapel in the morning (see video above -- what a way to start a day), and then we broke off as teams to do training of three different groups. Betty and I went to the skills center to teach the eldest of the three groups (16-18 year olds).
The classroom was a set of concrete tables positioned outside on the corner of a building under a roof. The kids straggled in and waited for class to start. Several of them were playing a version of tic-tac-toe. They had used a piece of charcoal to mark the playing board, and they used rocks as game pieces. I challenged one to a game, and he beat me handily.
The kids settled in after much cajoling from the MITS teacher, Mary. Betty and I launched into our training. We had everyone introduce themselves, and then we talked about conflict. We talked about the types of conflict and had them give examples of each.
They were shy and quiet at first. Betty, in her patient way, eventually got them to open up and start talking. Once they got involved and interested, the training started to become impactful. All along I was just thinking how difficult it must be for them. A few years ago they were 100% independent, living off the streets, surviving, and suspicious of all adults. Now here they are sitting still in a classroom summoning the discipline to get something out of listening to two people from a world away that can't possibly relate to their lives.
But they did. They remained engaged. I admire these kids very much.
The classroom was a set of concrete tables positioned outside on the corner of a building under a roof. The kids straggled in and waited for class to start. Several of them were playing a version of tic-tac-toe. They had used a piece of charcoal to mark the playing board, and they used rocks as game pieces. I challenged one to a game, and he beat me handily.
The kids settled in after much cajoling from the MITS teacher, Mary. Betty and I launched into our training. We had everyone introduce themselves, and then we talked about conflict. We talked about the types of conflict and had them give examples of each.
They were shy and quiet at first. Betty, in her patient way, eventually got them to open up and start talking. Once they got involved and interested, the training started to become impactful. All along I was just thinking how difficult it must be for them. A few years ago they were 100% independent, living off the streets, surviving, and suspicious of all adults. Now here they are sitting still in a classroom summoning the discipline to get something out of listening to two people from a world away that can't possibly relate to their lives.
But they did. They remained engaged. I admire these kids very much.
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