Juggernaut

Some days it’s only faith that keeps the plates spinning here in Kosele. It’s not usually a crisis that precipitates this response. There’s just so much going on some days that the threads are hard to hang on to. Today has been one of those days. One of the main tasks has been our selection process for new students in our Technical School (Form 1). The start to the secondary school year was delayed by a teachers’ strike last year creating something of a rush as we and other schools round the country start enrolling students. Our process involved two exam papers and a check on pupils’ home circumstances. Our Technical School aims to cater for students from needy backgrounds who would otherwise be unable to attend secondary school. We had a good response to our flyers advertising places for this year and did not finish processing the exam results until well after the end of our normal school day. It’s been a long day for our team of teachers and they have really pushed the boat out to arrive at a final selection of students who will be offered a place.

During the rest of the day a series of meetings, budget planning and a printer breakdown added to my sense of the day gathering pace at an unreasonable rate. The enormity of what we are committed to sometimes feels a bit daunting, especially when the pattern of the day’s activities exposes the knock on effects of each decision. It’s really important to hang on to what you believe on in this situation.

Just when I thought most of the day’s issues had been laid to rest I heard a large white Toyota pickup pull in through our gates. The UNICEF logo on the side meant it could be only be one person – the DCO (District Children’s Officer). I haven’t seen the DCO for a while so had no idea why he was calling. When I spotted a young lad sitting in the cab of the pickup clutching what looked like a bundle of rags in his hand it became clear. The DCO had rescued a runaway and wanted us to offer him a safe bed for the night. We have been asked to provide this kind of short term care before and were, fortunately able to find him a place. His case was typical of many lads his age. He had fallen out with the relatives who were caring for him (having no parents) and decided to walk to see another relative some distance away. He was picked up by the police in a town called Homa Bay some distance from our place. He has spent the last month in a children’s home in Homa Bay and I’m hoping, for his sake, that the DCO will live up to his promise and come back in the morning to return him to his family. I know children run away from home in the UK but I’m still amazed how tough life is for orphans out here.

I've started a leadership training programme with three of our young people during this visit and am very encouraged by their response. It’s based on a book called “The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day” by a guy called John Maxwell. After a long day trying to keep the various pieces in place it’s really nice to be able to spend an hour investing in these youngsters. It’s fairly easy to write a mission statement about what you are about but you can’t beat the hands on experiences that bring it to life.

Tomorrow we’ll be meeting the students we've offered places to and their parents. I’m sure our team will rise to the challenge and make sure it is a good meeting. I’m hoping there aren't too many surprises between now and then.

Famous last words. As I was posting the blog I'm sure we had a short earth tremor. Ah well. Tomorrow is another day.