Day 6

Today we began with another delicious breakfast before heading down to Class 3. Ruby and Katie led this class; they played a game revealing the students secret Valentine’s followed by an energetic game of hangman. We also took them outside to do dances. Next, we participated in Class 5’s P.E. class. We all thoroughly enjoyed this, especially joining in on the class warmups. Their warmup included military style marches and call to attention. We further developed our friendships with the children through a competitive game of basketball.

Following this, Izzy O’R., Izzy O’D. and Rachael led Class 6. We made Valentine’s Day cards with acrostic poems written inside, as these students had strong English. They then enjoyed decorating the front of their cards. We enjoyed teaching this class and making new friends as this was our first time with them, and we are closer in age to these students.

At lunch, we taught the children Duck, Duck, Goose. Everyone enjoyed this game and the circle ended up including most of the children there. After lunch, Emily and Georgie led class 4, they also made Valentine’s Day cards. After this class, we had our lunch and rested for a bit before jewellery-making.

Meanwhile Emma, Isabelle and Mr. Hudson visited the Mary Rice Centre. They worked with the children in assisting them with their English and computer skills in the morning. In the afternoon we mediated, danced and painted with the children. It’s safe to say we all thoroughly enjoyed the day. All the girls throughout the week have loved working with the students and teachers in the centre. We hope to carry their enthusiasm and joyful spirit for learning back to Ireland. We will all miss it.

Our hour of jewellery-making was very enjoyable. The girls and boy that we make jewellery with are our age or slightly younger, and we have great conversations together about our families, friends, and ambitions. They are very inspiring to all of us. They are also very patient with us!

Following our jewellery-making, Brother Franco took us on a walk around the local street community. The area around St George’s is densely populated and 40% of the school’s children comes from backgrounds like this. We were given permission by the families living in poverty to visit their homes. We had the experience of meeting the generations behind the wonderful children we have grown to know over our stay. Many of these homes house two or three generations under a single ‘roof’. We were expertly guided by the students living in the community, Brother Franco and Brother Billiam. It was a humbling experience that gave only a sliver of an insight into the hardships of poverty and the consequences of no social welfare state. We returned with admiration for the children who come from these backgrounds and the enthusiasm and poise they bring to school every single day. Today gave us a lot to reflect on and be grateful for.