African Cement Work

Our first day at St. Catherine's School & Girls Boarding School was a welcomed sight, especially after being at Athi Village for two days. St. Catherine's was build and opened about five years ago, however the Girls Boarding School has only been open for two years. The school sits on six acres in the hills over looking Lake Navsiaha. It is owned and operated by AILC and is currently home for ten boarding girls ages 15-17 years old. These girls live in a dorm type complex, a very sparse dorm at that. They go to school with bible studies starting at 5:00am six days a week. Their day ends at 8:00pm again with bible study. The parents must pay for school and boarding, with the exception of two girls who are sponsored by AILC. These two girls are sponsored because of their extreme intelligence, their determination to succeed, and their desire to help their fellow country man. I was so impressed with these girls attitude towards their elders, the enthusiasm they have for learning, and the lofty goals they have for themselves and their families.

There are eight large cement buildings at St. Catherine's, where school aged children from three to eighteen attended school daily. Though there are no boys who board, there are ten very bright, very energetic, very good looking young men who have the privilege of attending school at St. Catherine's. There are also children in several different levels of their educations learning as much as they can. It is different than school in the US, as these children must pass the test in order to move up. In many classes you see an eight year old in with the four year olds. All the students have a great respect for their teachers and stand as the teacher enters the classroom. The students never speak off, and when called up on they stand in respect before giving speaking. WOW!!! No one would ever see that in the US. In the US you would see a student flipping a teacher off, before they would stand! The students in Africa have a love for learning and I am convinced that all teenagers need to spend a month in Africa. Possibly they would come back with a new out look on life, their self entitlement, and more respect for others.

My first day at St. Catherine's was spent doing construction, yes construction as I wanted to experience it all. So with that in mind I headed for my first lesson about "African Cement Work." First, off I was looking for the cement mixer, not one. Second, where is the scaffolding, it's an old fifty gallon barrel. Third, where is the hose so we can mix the cement? Grab two five gallon buckets and trolley the water from a deep rain water well. All I could think as the process was being explained to me was Oh, Hell would Steve get a kick out of this!! With my first lessons learned it was okay let's dig in. First the dirt and sand must be haul from a pit five miles away. Then it is four wheel barrows of dirt/sand to one bag cement. It is mixed on the dirt floor of the building, being built. A well is made in the center of the pile and water is added in so specific ratio. Now the fun begins you take your trowel and with a quick flick of the wrist you throw it on the wall. Michael the job foreman, said I was a natural, oh my please don't tell anyone. After the entire wall is covered with this so called cement then you scrap it back off using a large African level. This process is repeated FOUR times! The last coat is then troweled using a long wooden trowel. The wall ends up being semi smooth and actually sets up pretty good. I really wanted to write my name down in the corner, but Michael said absolutely NOT! My day doing construction was long, back breaking, and interesting to say the least. I was amazed at the lack of tools, the lack of technology, but impressed with the skills they have, and to use what they have in order make it all work.

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2/7/09
From Mom: Well, it's Saturday and I've gone about 10 days. Today we all got our first look at St. Catherine's School, the school AILC built and supports. Each child must pay to attend, wear a uniform, and go 6 days a week. I have decided that American children have everything and value nothing. However, the children here in Africa have nothing and value everything! Today I and 2 others helped a mason finish a wall in a new classroom. Oh boy, it was almost like going back 50-75 years--they are so far behind the USA. The kids are so cute and not as poor. I will try to call tomorrow. Love you.