Friday, January 15, 2010

Learning About More than Math

Catherine Mumba

Today Kate O'Reilly-Jones, one of two fantastic recent wesleyan alums who is spending several months working at the school, wrote me a very touching email that I'd like to share with all of you. As I wrote about recently, Angela Acheing's family lost their house and all of their belongings in a recent fire. Kate and Matt, our other wonderful wesleyan alum, went to purchase a few necessities for the family today (blankets, food, clothing, etc.) As Kate and Matt showed the teachers what they had found for Angela a touching moment occurred. Here is what Kate writes:

"When the teachers were looking at the clothes Matt and I got at Toi market for Angela, Catherine (another student) started pulling out things out of her backpack that she’d brought for Angela- she brought her at least two pieces of clothing and a cup and plate. I was just very impressed that and HIV+ orphan who lives in Kibera would give away her things to someone she thought needed them more."

This is indeed astonishing. Catherine is one of our most needy students. She is indeed HIV positive, lives with her grandmother as both of her parents died of AIDS, and has almost no possessions to her name. The fact that Catherine (and other students as well) have brought in their "extra" belongings to give to Angela (students have brought clothes, plates, cups, and even food to share) is so very meaningful. It makes it clear that our students are learning much more than math, science, and language at The Kibera School for Girls.... they are learning about leadership, kindness, and the power of passing on a good deed. Their education is teaching them to be contributors in their community and world.

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