is magazine 8.1 - Autumn/Spring 2005 - International Schools ...

Frankfurt International School. Ambrose Kelly (CAS
Coordinator – Frankfurt) is the organiser and driving force. He is
an inspiration to all who work with and beside him in the
Kalahari. (On Australia Day 2005 Ambrose was awarded an
Order Of Australia Medal for his work in Africa and other community
projects around the world.)
During these visits I made bricks to build a Primary School,
extra classrooms, and three Pre Schools. I have helped paint and
renovate two primary schools. On recent visits I have become
involved in teaching English and mathematics in secondary
schools.
My first experience of teaching happened when I went into a
year 3/4 classroom to collect a bag of cement. A young student
was writing mathematical equations on the chalkboard. When
asked where the teacher was, I was told he was next door. After
further questioning, it was revealed that this teacher was responsible
for two classes of 60 students each – the year 3/4 and the
year 5/6s. I delivered the bag of cement to Ambrose and told him
I had “a better offer”.
I taught addition, subtraction, math games, and an English lesson.
My lessons attracted much attention from the local teachers
who desperately wanted help with understanding their new
Outcomes Based Curriculum. I believe I am a better teacher than
painter or brick maker, so on subsequent trips to the Kalahari, I
have planned and taught English and mathematics based on the
South African Curriculum 2005.
The women gave me a Tswana name, Pelonomi meaning
‘comes from a nice hut’. I like this name. My home is by the
beach, but I love the peace, quiet, colours and sunsets of the
desert. I like working with these people to make their lives a little
better.
I don’t mind the women hassling me to keep up with shovelling
the brick mix into the moulds, or the men laughing at me
when I can’t push the wheelbarrow full of sand without it tipping
over. The children laugh when I try to throw shovel fulls of sand
up onto the donkey cart and totally miss. I laugh too. The women
laugh when I can’t even lift a bucket of water past my waist, let
alone carry it on my head as they expect.
I don’t mind getting wet, because it is so hot. I hate paint splattering
on my face and in my hair when I try to paint a ceiling. I
get annoyed when more paint goes on the glass than on the window
frames. I love seeing the joy on the faces of the students
when they learn a new concept. I love driving the 100 km on
sandy unmade roads to go shopping to buy the paint, and other
necessities. I love learning about their lives and families, and visiting
their homes. These people have a wonderful sense of survival,
and they have amazing strength, and skills.
My oldest son Sam is very strong. He too has worked alongside
these people, having travelled to the Kalahari five times.
Sam’s strength, knowledge, skills, and patience have kept us safe,
our cars going, the generator and water pump operational. My
second son Nick was part of the Kalahari experience in 1997 as
a year 11 student.
The love of children is universal. The women of the Kalahari
and I share this love of children, as well as the joy of nurturing
and learning. Our lives are very different on a day-by-day basis,
but we share the same stars at night-time, although theirs shine
brighter undimmed by artificial light.
I hope I continue to have contact with the people of the
Kalahari, and I hope that in some way I have helped to make
their lives a little better. By returning each year, Frankfurt
International School gives these people hope. Hope is an incredibly
powerful force that has the ability to transform individuals as
well as communities. Kaeleboga. Thank you, for sharing your lives
with me.
Robyn Reardon is Acting Assistant Principal of Seaford Primary
School, Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia. She has been part of the
Kalahari Experience on five occasions and in 1999 was given a grant
to mentor a talented primary teacher from the Kalahari Desert to
work for three months in her primary school.
is Autumn 2005
Spring
View from the Kalahari
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