Tracey is returning to Africa to volunteer

Introducing my new school Below is a post from my blog introducing where I am volunteering that I thought might be of interest for you guys too ... Happy reading .... Since I used one post on here to give you an introduction to my new home and the Mgulani Compound, I thought I would use this post to give you an introduction to Matumaini School (where I am volunteering.) Matumaini Primary School for the disabled was established by The Salvation Army in the 1960fs to address the need for good quality education and care for children with disabilities in Tanzania. The school enrols over 200 children from all over the country. Matumaini provides a safe boarding environment where the children are loved, appreciated, educated, given the medical treatment they require (including prosthetics and physiotherapy), and are able to enjoy the life of a child. The students come to Matumaini with a variety of disabilities including poliomyelitis, amputees, congenital deformities, club foot, albinism, spinal bifida, paraplegia and hemiplegia to name a few Matumaini is interested in seeing all children receive a good education that will help them develop into productive citizens of Tanzania, whether they are rich or poor; able bodied or disabled. One reason that Matumaini always has a full number of students and even has a waiting list is because we are one of the few schools in Tanzania to offer primary school education to children with disabilities from all walks of life. Matumaini is also concerned about the health and well-being of its students, so not only do we employ a nurse but we also have a physiotherapist and an orthopaedic specialist onsite who make the various appliances and prosthetics required by the children. Each child is given a health plan when they enter the school which outlines what steps will be taken over the seven years in order for them to best function in society when they leave. This can be as simple as a sun safety plan for the albino children, to corrective surgery for other students. Matumaini is also committed to the gwhole of lifeh approach and so recognises that what these children often lack is love, a sense of worth, and opportunities to enjoy normal childhood activities. For these reasons we offer many after school activities including computers, batik, beading, Scouts, musical activities, dancing, and a variety of sporting options. (can you tell I've been producing a brochure on the school? LOL ) So now the more day to day detailed side ... The School day is broken up into 2 sections, the first going from 7-30am till 2 pm is for school lessons and then from 2-4pm we run an after school programme. This is an area that I will be heavily involved in , especially introducing craft activities and games, this will also be an area I'll be using a lot of the money donated. The donated pencils and exercise books will be used for school work, so thank you very much once again to all those who have donated, it is all very much appreciated and accepted with much gratitude by everyone over here. Below is the school day timetable (after being confused by the times for a few days, I had it explained today that the Tanzanian day starts at 6am (where their clock starts for the day) so what they call midnight over here is 6am! , confused? Cos I sure am lol ... So when people give you times you have to double check if they are Tanzanian or English times! 11-30 - 12-30 (5.30 - 6.30 am ) wake up the students 12-30 - 1-40 ( 6.30 - 7.40 am) Wash children 1-40 - 1.55 ( 7.40 - 7.55 am). Prayers 2-4. ( 8 - 10 am) School lessons 4-4-40 ( 10 -10.40 am). Chai time (morning break) 4-40 - 7-20 ( 10.40am - 1.20 pm). Lessons 7-20 -8 ( 1.20 - 2 pm. Lunch time (std 1-2) 8 - 8-30 ( 2 - 2.30 pm) Lunch time (std 3-7) 9 - 12-00 (3 - 6 pm). Individual assignment ,play, after school prog 12 - 1 (6 - 7 pm). Dinner The school,caters from Std 1 to 7, there is one class for each Std. There is an average of 30 children per class The national Tanzanian teaching curriculum is followed with the following subjects covered ... Maths,History, Geography, English, Civics, IT, Swahili and physical education. At the moment I am just slotting in were needed and observing where I best can use my skills and talents to further help out. In between helping teach/care I am still doing admin work for the school ( and other Mazungu's (White people, expats) around the compound as well, including to continue to work on the fire evacuation plan and the brochure for the school, both of which I am slowly getting more information to be to complete them, got to love Africa time ... Not fast that's for sure! Coming from New Zealand and always thinking I had a pretty easy and common name, I am now realising that actually it is not the most easiest name in the world to say ... At present I am being known by many different names mainly Joyce or Joycie, Tray, Trace, Mazungu (White person) or Rafiki (friend) . Even they adults are struggling, and some times when I'm called Tracey I forget to respond lol.