Teaching was definitely a challenge, especially with lack of supplies including only having one textbook for each class but I feel I gave it my best and hopefully the studLuke at Kenya Teaching Projectents got something out of it. They are very willing to learn which makes all the difference. 
Program Volunteer Kenya
Project: Volunteer to Teach English in Kenya
They seem to really enjoy learning about another country as most knew very little about it. In the form 3 class I also taught them ‘O Canada’ the Canadian national anthem and they taught me the Kenyan national anthem and that was a lot of fun. Its moments like those that make me very happy that I decided to come here.
This was my first day of teaching in Kibera. Though we got lost a few times, me and Macharia made it to the school and taught our classes. My classes went rather well, though I knew it was hard for the students to understand me and follow what I was saying at times, they seemed to make an efforts much as possible. Teaching was definitely a challenge, especially with lack of supplies including only having one textbook for each class but I feel I gave it my best and hopefully the students got something out of it. They are very willing to learn which makes all the difference. 
I will miss them and hope I have impacted their lives only a little bit as much as they have mine. They are a great group very sharp and funny, and with a passion for life and school despite the hard upbringings so far.
Sunday Macharia and I made our way to Nairobi National Park, one of the main places I wanted to go during my visit here. It was great experience. We took the safari walk, seeing many local animals in a real environment setting (for the most part) instead of a cage like many Western zoos. The set up of the park is very impressive; the boardwalks are a great design that makes you feel like you’re in more than just a typical wildlife park/zoo. The visit to the park was definitely a highlight of my trip. I was able to get many pictures which I will be able to share with friends and family back home. Teaching has made me feel good and trip to Nairobi National Park was something I was very much looking forward to.
As I continue becoming more and more comfortable in that role. I taught each class some English, and also we had some fun as I taught them a bit more about Canada. They had many more questions about Canada which I tried to answer as best as possible. They seem to really enjoy learning about another country as most knew very little about it. In the form 3 class I also taught them ‘O Canada’ the Canadian national anthem and they taught me the Kenyan national anthem and that was a lot of fun. Its moments like those that make me very happy that I decided to come here.
It felt good to say goodbye to the kids by having some fun with them asking questions and taking lots of pictures. I will miss them and hope I have impacted their lives only a little bit as much as they have mine. They are a great group very sharp and funny, and with a passion for life and school despite their hard upbringings so far. I hope in some way I have inspired them to reach as far as they can in life, despite the difficulties they’ve faced and will continue to they all have a lot of potential so I hope to someday hear they have made use of it. If I am able to make it back in a years time or so , I am looking to forward to seeing how they’ve grown and matured and hope to see them have that great sense of life still.
My personal evaluation of the students of Siloam Secondary are that despite dealing with extra ordinary circumstances from a very early age, for the most part the kids have a willingness to learn and be taught, perhaps more than some kids from a traditional family or family unit, because they know a proper education is key to them ever reaching beyond Kibera. Of course they face more of an uphill battle than most but I see that with the proper motivation and guidance they can achieve success in modest standards. What these kids need is a better worldly outlook and a real, honest view of how the world works. I hope volunteers from other places allow them to gain more worldly insight and show them that they are not fated to a place like Kibera for their entire lives. Reality does show that for a lot of them, they may not escape such a fate, but I truly believe that if they work hard, and want it bad enough than they will be able to enjoy a long and satisfying life.
Luke Macdonald
