Children's training

• Lucas trained children in w+s last week
• training materials were provided by Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST), a partner in the fight against extreme poverty
• the children were excited and engaged, it was great!

Everyday this week I had the joy of attending Lucas's w+s training for children. The training was to teach the children basic water and sanitation practices to keep them healthy and free from disease. Our 48 w+s representatives did the bulk of the work on their own time, holding training sessions for children in the groups they represent. The purpose of Lucas's trainings were to check how much they learned, field any questions, and fill in the gaps. Kiswahili was the language of choice for the training so I relied on the pictures and hand gestures to figure out what was going on. From my simple form of observation, and debriefing with Lucas, I found out that not only had the children been trained, but they knew their stuff. Great news for the w+s program!

We decided to hold the children's training in five locations, Taragwiti, Sirori Simba, Nymetaburo, Gukipimo, and Nyangiti, to make the training more accessible for our audience, the children. We also planned the training for the month of vacation students get after their exams early on in April, so we know they don't have anything more important to do than learn about water and poo. And I mean really, who doesn't want to learn about poo, right?

The training covered a multitude of topics from the water cycle to how to filter water with a panga, or large cloth. We are lucky to have some great posters from the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) that are a tremendously useful visual aid. I couldn't imagine doing it without them. Click here to see a sample of some of the sheets we used. Ours were made in kiswhaili so the people could read in their native tongue.

Most of the w+s representatives attended the meetings with the children and were excellent in assisting Lucas with the teaching. The posters are only the size of a sheet of paper so they would go up and down the aisles with the posters so everyone could see. On the second day, Lucas had the great idea to let the w+s representatives teach part of the material. They are, after all, trained in how to train so it was pretty easy for them to get up and go to it. Some of them were excellent teachers too! When we expand Nuru to include many more people, they may be great as trainers, even outside of w+s.

As you'll see in the pictures, the children were excited to be there and be learning. Mind you, this was during their vacation so it was really exciting to that they had such positive attitudes. I think a large part of it is Lucas's skill not only with teaching but also with interacting with children. I don't think we could have found a better person to head up Nuru's w+s program in Kuria, Kenya.

fifteen new pictures