Maranyundo School

 

Friday- January 9

The First Day: Listening to the Children

After a day of resting after the flights to Rwanda, Joni and I were ready to begin our agenda in Rwanda. Today, Sister Laetitia had arranged for us to meet with Sister Juvenal in Kigali. She would take us to the Benebikira Primary School in Kigali to tour the Nursey classrooms and meet with the Early Childhood teachers wo teach the children who are 3,4 and 5 ears old at the school. As many of you know, for Joni and I, early childhood and pre-school education are a fascinating time for teaching and learning.

It is always wonderful to meet with Sister Juvenal. Sister accompanied us to the school just as the teachers and students were enjoying their lunch break and children were playing outside. As we arrived, several Primary School (elementary age) children walked with us to the Early Childhood spaces. They were excited to see their visitors.

Joni always likes to talk with children. She asked them the questions that adults often ask as invitations to get to know about what is happening in student’s lives. What do you like to learn at school? What do you like to do on the playground? Do you have a favorite story? By the time Joni and her followers arrived at the. classrooms, they were in animated conversation. One student was adamant that she wanted to be a “pilot so I can fly.”

Then Joni said, “I have asked you many questions. Now you can ask me some questions.” Students wanted to know, “When did you decide to become a teacher? How old were you? Why do you want to teach children?” “Where do you live?” “Is it far from Rwanda?” And then that question that we often encounter when we are talking with young people. “Is there racism in the United States of America?

Joni and I feel it is an honor to have the opportunity to listen to young people in this nation that continues to grow and believe so strongly in the promise of education for all its students. The questions that these Rwandan students have about who we are, where we are from, and what our home is like can teach us a lot about how we are perceived in this global context. So we are reminded to listen careful as we begin our time here in Rwanda. We will listen carefully.

After visiting the children and teachers in this Kigali Primary School, we feel like we have really arrived in Rwanda.

Linda V Beardsley