Celebrating Reading at Kairi Library

[Photo caption: inABLE Founder Irene Mbari-Kirika congratulates all the students who participated in the December Reading Contest]

Over 150 children took part in a reading drive organized by ORS librarian, Naomi Macharia. Participating students borrowed books and wrote short essay summarizing what they learned. The top readers in three age groups were announced at a fun celebration event sponsored by inABLE on December 21st.

On the day of the reading-drive celebration, Naomi arrived at the library at 8am. She was greeted by 40 students eagerly awaiting the 9 am event. inABLE founder Irene Mbari-Kirika along with Executive Committee members Kirika Mugo and Chris Macharia traveled from the USA to personally recognize all the students who participated in the December Reading Contest. There were also many supporters in the crowd, including library committee, teachers and inABLE Kenya team representatives.

Appropriately, inABLE’s librarian Naomi Macharia gave the welcome speech. She explained that this reading drive exceeded expectations. On the very first reading-drive day 105 students arrived, when she thought maybe 40 might. And the high attendance numbers were steady for the entire 30 days. She recalled: "I had to come up with creative ways to motivate the students to keep them excited throughout the entire reading contest".

The librarian asked students about what they read, assisted them in selecting books, and also read to young kindergarten and first grade students. She was always amazed to find students waited patiently until she opened the Kairi ORS library each day.

During the reading celebration event, students performed poetry, songs and dance. Every student also received a small participation gift. In addition, the top 10 students were rewarded with additional gifts to support their education. Everyone enjoyed refreshments, balloons and stickers. The Reading Drive celebration was a huge success, with calls for an annual event. To make this happen, everyone cheered…“Read, Read, Read!

To say the least, the USA inABLE team were overjoyed by the response to this motivational reading program and departed Kairi village thinking – "how we can further develop the Our Reading Spaces program".

inABLE Celebrates 2011 Achievements

As we start this New Year, we are full of confidence and gratefulness for all of the accomplishments we attained - together - in 2011. Because there are so many individual actions and contributions that power inABLE, we want to countdown some of the amazing achievements over the last year.

A Dream Come True - Years of planning, praying, and outreach finally paid off. Bidco Ltd’s shipping container gift united students and the Kairi community in one central Our Reading Spaces Program library.

Kenya National Library Recognizes ORS Kairi Library - Impressed with the new library and large book inventory to be catalogued, the visiting (KNLS) Head Librarian offered to send two of her KNLS staff members to assist Librarian Naomi in the process.

Internet Helps Blind Students Become Good Writers- Given time and access our blind or visually impaired students can fully utilize the vast educational tools available on the internet, just like their sighted peers.

Blind Students Excel - All of the Class 7 students - who happen to be totally blind - were exceptionally good in Excel data tabulation.

Teaching the Teachers -inABLE helped Thika High School for the Blind teachers acquire new computer skills.

Library of Congress Kenya Shares Computer Donation - Students welcome computer donation and recognition delivered by Library of Congress Field Director Pamela Howard Reguindin.

First Class of Computer Savvy inABLE Students Graduate - inABLE extends our sincere gratitude and utmost respect to our first class of graduates. We are immensely proud of all of you (Mwololo, Brown, Kiongo, Ndinda, Michere) and hold you all dearly in our hearts.

Students Impress International Guest

Photo: Marcus Berggren and Thika School for the Blind student John Brown]

One September 20th, the Thika School for the Blind received Marcus Berggren, a visitor from Sweden on a mission to see different projects that assist the less fortunate people in East African Countries. Our guest was impressed to see our computer lab, since he is also a visually impaired.

After learning about the computer program, Marcus then toured classes to meet the students and socialize. It was a very enjoyable moment when the students chatted with him in Swahili. Marcus also studies Swahili so that he can better communicate with the citizens of Swahili speaking countries.

Finally, Marcus was introduced to student John Brown, who brought him to the library and explained what takes place in there. When asked by our guest if John had ever faced challenges because his skin was very fair (John has albinism), he recalled an experience when some people shouted “eih eih ! ona mzungu” which translates to "look at that white boy". Quite wise and compassionate for his age, John quickly clarified that those people had never seen an albino and so to them any albino is a mzungu (white person). John understood that it was a learning moment.

The confidence and abilities that all the students demonstrated to our international guest made a lasting impression.

Teaching the Teachers by Peter Okeyo

inABLE had the opportunity to open it’s gates to Thika High School for the Blind Teachers to come and acquire the basic computer skills. The classes were conducted in two sessions, morning session and mid morning session. Because there were three visually impaired learners, it was decided to offer two sessions rather than just one (understandably, visually impaired learners may require more time). The same curriculum was taught at each session, so that any learner could attend both sessions.

With two computer labs at Thika School for the Blind, the sighted teachers were instructed in the main computer lab, while the visually impaired teachers could learn at their own pace in computer lab two.

The “teach the teacher” learning day was a success with everyone learning new computer skills.

Visiting Day Delight

Observing the smiles and joy of amazed parents as they watch their children use computers with confidence and enthusiasm is one of my favorite activities during visitor days. While these parents anticipated learning improvements they never dared to dream their child would be computer literate.

On one particular visiting day a class three student brought his guest to the computer lab to show her how he could navigate through the keyboard and open a program (math flash). It was clear that his parent was totally impressed with what her child had accomplished. After praising inABLE for this learning opportunity, she said “nobody could have ever thought that a blind person could use computer.” She was then concerned about what would happen when her child went to high school. She feared that these computer skills would be lost if children didn’t continue advancing.

Fortunately, inABLE is working hard to install computer labs to the Thika High School for the Blind and also in Kibos Kisumu. Thanks to the many generous donors, sponsors, and supporters who support inABLE’s mission to open computer labs for the blind at all of the blind primary and secondary schools in Africa.

by Carolyn Ngondi

Computer Lab donations are being accepted at http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/computer-labs-for-the-blind/?rf=ggWidget