I've got a lot to catch up on. Four of the boys did their grade III trade exams - Kennedy, Stephen, David and Jared. Its quite expensive to do the exams - 2,500 K.sh booking fee, + 900 'centre' fee for each student, plus they have to provide a photo of themselves. That's 3,400 each, which is about £24 per student. They would never in their wildest dreams be able to find that sort of money themselves, so the workshop/HATW/sponsors pay.
The exam is one hour of theory - questions like 'Name two ways of drying timber' and 'List safety rules when using a chisel'. Not difficult, but for some of the boys who have had hardly any schooling, and whose English is extremely poor, quite a problem. Then there is seven hours of practical .... making various joints in wood, measuring, planning, etc.
This is a 'mock' practical test Paul gave the boys; it involves carefully measuring, planing and then making a simple mortise and tenon joint, and finally the complicated joint in the centre.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I went to the Nakumatt arcade to get some more money from the ATM to pay Alois for my final few days. I noticed Santa has come to visit, and has left santa hats with the check out staff !
The poor check out men were so hot in the woolly hats ! AND, they have hit Kisumu in a big way - the piki-piki drivers are also wearing them, in lieu of a hard hat !
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HATW is 21 years old next year, and we are planning celebrations; we are going to have a big exhibition showing the work we do in each country, and we have been asked to bring back a flag from wherever we are working. But do you think I could find a Kenyan flag for sale anywhere ? No ! So I asked Paul if he could find me one somewhere, and he did ! But it cost over £10.
The colours represent the black people of Kenya, the red is their blood shed in the independence fight, and the green is the green landscape; with a Maasai shield and spears over all.
Lots more to come .....
No comments:
Post a Comment