I’m just gonna state the obvious. There has been a long silence pause here. You know us we’ve just been sitting around drinking fruit juice and working on our tans. No, that’s not at all what we’ve been doing. But its sounds nice. I’ve had some rather exciting days going around to all the schools that Medair has been working with and officially handing over the rain water harvesting tanks to their care.
Most of the Head Masters have organized a group of school teachers, school development committee members, and a local environmental health techs to attend the handover and sign documents. They often request to have their picture taken to document event. Its a super fun part of my job to meet with the school’s officials and hear how these tanks have enabled their school to grow and meet the needs of both teachers and students. Most schools I spend about an hour walking around the tanks and signing handover forms with the schools. Its been a really great experiences. But did you notice that I said most schools… yes not all schools. In fact one school decided to put together an all school assembly.
I had no idea about this assembly until I drove into the school and saw that about two hundred students gathered around a tree waiting for me to arrive. As my driver pulled into the school he turned to me and said “You didn’t tell me this was going to be a function, I would have dressed up.” Before I could respond there was a group of teachers at my door waiting to lead me to my seat at the table in front of the assembly.
Sitting at the head table
The assembly was opened in a prayer by one of the members of the community, then the speeches began. The School’s Head Master, the school’s deputy, the Ward Councilor, the local environmental health tech, two members of the school’s development committee, and myself. Yes, that’s right, the Head Master turned to me and asked me to give a speech. I had a moment of panic but its not often that I have a hard time finding something to say. Actually it was super fun being able to speak directly to the students and tell them how important they are and how important it is that they have clean water to drink.
School's Head Girl reciting a poem on the importance of clean water
Several students recited poems they wrote about how important it is to have clean and safe water. Then came the dancing and then my favorite part of the whole event. The school choir. I have a very soft place in my heart for school choirs mostly cause I was in choir in school and love choirs. Seriously, if the words to the songs were in English and I knew them I would have joined them in singing. It was magical.
Dancing
The assembly finished with the Head Master leading the school in their new school motto. It went a little something like this:
Head Master: Sarah Med-Air
Students: Sarah Med-Air
Head Master: Denda (this is the name of the school)
Students: Denda
Head Master: Long live the partnership
Students: Long live the partnership
Head Master leading the school in their new motto.
I was then led out of the assembly back to my car by the same group of teachers who led me in. As we drove away all the students waved and yelled goodbye. Lets just say it was the highlight of my year.
The Beginning And The End 