Today was my first day teaching at Damside Preparatory School in Kibera slum. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa, and the second largest in the world. The school is made up of iron sheets (….) painted bright pink. There are classrooms for Kindergarten through 8th grade. 230 students are educated at the school, in an area smaller than most Western schools’ cafeterias.
I was assigned to teach 3 morning classes: English 3, Maths 3, and Science 4. In Kenya, grades are referred to as classes instead, so these classes were the equivalent of third and fourth grade. Students all sat at long wooden benches attached to desktops. Students used pencils and books for each subject, most of which were made up of sheets of paper glued together, with a sheet of newspaper as a cover. Students do not have textbooks or workbooks aside from these empty “journals,” and so I was the only one with a book of exercises. Everything had to be communicated to students either verbally, or written on a chalkboard. I had a lot of fun, but it was much more difficult than working in a classroom in the US. Classrooms are very tiny, and it is impossible to move around and make sure that all students are working. The respect level from students is also much lower, because you not only don’t speak their language, but mzungus (Swahili for English speakers) do not typically use the corporal punishment acceptable in Kenyan schools. However, all of the students love volunteers, and most are excited to interact with and learn from them. Students have morning classes from 8 – 1. They then break for lunch for an hour, fed to them at the school, typically consisting of ugali, a water and cornmeal mix, and ….., kale. Afternoon classes resume from 2 -4, ending the school day. Today, I only taught morning classes in order to get my bearings, but for the rest of my time here I will be putting in full teaching days.
