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.