entertaining angels

2009-04-17T13:55:00.001-04:00

Please check out my new project!

www.yardforyohannes.blogspot.com

English Class Celebration

2008-06-05T15:35:00.005-04:00

I can't believe the twenty weeks I have spent with these students is over. We had a great celebration and the students were really excited to receive their certificate. The only problem was the heat, but we persevered through the party and were able to share a wonderful time with our students.

I love my adult classes

2008-05-29T18:39:00.001-04:00

I'm really going to miss my students. Each class has become its "own family." My level 3 class is really fun. It took me awhile to adjust to the class because I had been so used to teaching an advanced class. They are really fun and sweet. My advanced class at Gugu is always a joy every week. They are so willing to learn and we have amazing conversations. Each student has such a unique personality. My class in Hielasher is extremely serious when it comes to academics but they can have a lot of fun too.

Level 3
Moussa- Algeria
Omar- Algeria
Adda- Algeria
Michael- Sudan
Merhawi- Eritrea
Peter- Sudan
Ochan- Sudan
Hussein- Ethiopia

Advanced
Sunday- Sudan
Kejiel- Sudan
Khalil- Sudan
Shukri- Sudan
Kiza- Burundi
Nagi- Sudan
Amirr- Sudan
Daniel- Eritrea
Jimmy- Sudan
Ahmed- Sudan
ElTaher- Sudan

Hielasher
Jalo- Sudan
Mustafa- Sudan
Magdi- Sudan
Mubarak- Sudan

I have great news about the program as well. I found someone to take over my position as coordinator of the adult school. This summer they will be offering English classes with the help of STAR, a group from the American University that focuses on refugees. There will also be a hip hop class for those who are interested. The most exciting part is that this fall they will be started a full "secondary school" in which students can work towards their U.S. High school diploma (GED) or the equivalent in an Arabic track. If everything goes as planned, this will be an amazing opportunity for the students, many of which did not finish high school. It's more than I could have asked for.

Also, I just wanted to give you an idea of what my class does sometimes. We did an assignment with idioms and I asked them to write skits using at least 3 idioms. While it's not perfect, they really enjoyed working on this assignment together. Here's an example (copy without corrections):

Sunday: Hi Mr. Kejiel. How are you?
Kejiel: Yea I'm ok and what about you?
Sunday: little a bite i am not ok
Kejiel: What happen to you?
Sunday: Wow my cell phone was taken by gang people previous week.
Kejiel: no, I'm sorry my dear. it is ok. don't have a cow. God is great he will give you another phone. I promise
Sunday: Thank friend.

Kejiel: I think my wife is going to give birth on 25 next month acording to Doctor. I don't know what to do exactly. no money, no food no even good house. no clothes for a child when he/she is born.
Sunday: don't count your chickens before they hatch. if i were you I would have to look for another job or go to church and aske priest for praying. you should have to run everywhere. get comfortable job. you will see the changes. don't mind.
Kejiel: You are very encourageable person. Thank you for you good advice. I will do so.

Sunday: I have problem with my girlfriend. She is an American girl. I love her for queit long time. She is prety with brown eyes golden hair and every things.
Kejiel: don't run a tight ship go and beg her or talk to her in a good ways and good manner.

I'm blessed to spend my days with them...

2008-05-27T03:42:00.009-04:00

Expect the Unexpected...

2008-05-20T03:45:00.003-04:00

So sometimes things take you by suprise and really make you think... I'm not talking about the big things, but those small ones that come out of no where. You learn to appreciate them for what it's worth. Here are two things (one good/ one bad) that were said to me this week:

- I received a phone call the other day from one of my students. He had to leave the class because he works at a resort in Sinai during the summer. He called me because he wanted to talk about the book I gave them in class to read. It's called "The Cage" and it's about a teenage girl named Riva who is sent to a concentration camp. When he called me, he had so much emotion regarding the events in the book. He wanted to know why Hitler would do such a thing to innocent people. He wanted to know why people do such things in the world. I wish I had an answer to those questions. He asked me why I chose such a sad book. My only response- "So people would begin asking what you are asking." I want my students to see that genocide is not just something new and it's not just something "African." Also, I want to be able to make comparisons to Darfur and the Holocaust as we read documents from the United Nations about human rights. In a country where the Holocaust is not allowed to be taught, it's important to reach out and share the truth. Injustice happens all around the world and it shouldn't be ignored because it happened to a group that you hate. There is a legitimate belief here that the Holocaust never happened or that it is Jewish propoganda. It's an uphill battle, but this phone call showed me that we are making progress.

- The other conversation that I had this week didn't give me the same hope. When you get into a taxi in Cairo, you have to expect the unexpected. You never know if the driver speaks English, and if he does, what kind of conversation he is going to try to start. When I told the driver where to go, he commented that I live in Hadayek and asked me if I like it there.

My response: "I do most of the time. Do you like it?"
Taxi driver: "No. There's too many black men on the street."

This hit me hard. Those "black men" are my friends, my students, my kids' parents. They are the reason I came to Cairo. I could have responded to the comment angrily, but I let it go. If only he knew what I did everyday. I wasn't as shocked by the racism in the comment because I have witnessed that on so many occassions here, but I realized how you really have to be careful about what you say to who you say- you never know who they are, what they do, or where they come from. As small as this moment was, it was a life lesson.

As I finish up my stay here in Cairo, I want to be able to remember moments like this. I want to remember those times where I became a better person. This post is more of a personal reflection for me and I don't think I could express how they made me feel here. I hope you take something away from them as well.

Only a month left...

2008-05-14T03:40:00.002-04:00

It's amazing how quickly my time in Cairo has gone by. I bought my plane tickets so I will be flying home on June 12th. I had originally planned on going to law school this fall, but I am now heavily considering Drew's Masters in Teaching program. I have to make a decision soon. The one good thing about this decision is that it has helped me keep my mind off leaving. It will certainly be a bittersweet ending. Here's a small update as to what has been going on since my last post:

- The kids here at Gugu are now in their exam phase of the school year. The structure is set up as if they were in high school where they have their final exam for one subject, a few days off, and then another exam. I don't necessarily agree with this method- you can't expect a 6 year old to do well on a final exam which determines his final grade. To get around this method slightly, I broke down my final into parts: reading, writing, recognition, drawing, and classwork, each with their own respective point values. The words included sunny, rainy, apple, banana, watermelon, scissors, glue, run, dance, and some others totalling 15 words. The kids have done pretty well overall. Our last day of school here in on June 5th and our celebration is on June 7th.

- I finished my National Honor Society video for the presentation tonight. I'm not the most computer savvy, so I had a hard time converting to the correct format. I hope it goes well and they like it. When I get home and have some quality internet, I will try to post the video here so you can have a look at the kids as well.

- The Adult Education Program is going really well. My advanced class, as always, has been a lot of fun. We had a political discussion last night that included questions like, "If you became president of your country, what would be the first thing you would do," and "If you could choose between Obama, Clinton, and McCain who would you pick" (suprisingly, there was atleast one vote for each candidate. I'm working on typing resumes for the students in my class who gave me their information. We learned how to fill out application as well to add a practical component to the class. The last day of classes is June 5th for Maadi and June 7th for Hielasher.

- I found out that the Books for Africa shipment will nto be coming now. The church decided to back out at the last minute, leaving us without a signatory organization after the deadline. The books will still be coming to two universities here in Egypt, so at least someone will benefit from them. I'm pretty disappointed, but I know that things always work out for the best.

- My after school program has really grown, not necessarily in size, but in quality. The kids have become more cooperative, making it easier to work with them and teach them what I would like to. One week me made cars and learned transportation words, another week we did binoculars and did verbs, and another week we made pictures using only pre-cut shapes. I've incorporated a "contest" every week in which the best project earns a soccer ball, a jersey, or art supplies. The kids have been really excited about this and it gives me a way to start getting rid of some of the things in my flat before I leave.

I will keep you posted as the days rush by. Thanks for everything you have done!

2008-05-06T08:53:00.002-04:00

This is a video about our Adult Education Program.

Into our classroom...

2008-05-06T07:10:00.003-04:00

This is an introduction to Gugu that I use for my NHS video.

A Little Bit of Gugu for You!

2008-05-02T15:18:00.003-04:00

The Gugu Gallery is now up on Zazzle.com . Please take a look at these products and consider supporting our school! A percentage of each purchase will go directly to Gugu. All of the products are customizable so if you see something you like, feel free to make it your own!

My personal favorite is the Gugu calendar for next year. It says the product view is unavailable below, but it is available for order. Check it out!

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

A small request...

2008-04-28T15:32:00.001-04:00

I really tried to avoid posts like this, but please consider donating to Gugu to help with the costs for the remainder of the school year (teacher's salaries and rent mainly). We have a month and a half to go but there are some things that need to be paid in order to make the end of the year really successful. Please let me know if you are interested in donating asap.

It's Almost May!

2008-04-27T05:44:00.004-04:00

So it's time for a general update on what's been going on in Cairo. This weekend is Coptic Easter so I have some much needed days off from teaching. However, I can't believe next week will be May!

- Gugu School is starting to plan for their exams. The school year will officially end now on June 5th with the celebration on June 7th. That means only 6 more weeks! I can't believe how quickly time has gone by! The teachers are back (they were on strike for awhile because of no salary) and we are working on gaining sponsorship for the next academic year and it looks promising. We face some financial challenges for the end of the school year but I am hoping it will work out until the end.

- The shipment for Books for Africa is finalized. We were given a deadline last week but we now have an organization to sponsor the shipment and help with distribution. MCC, the largest international church here in Cairo, is willing to take over responsibility for everything and I will give them the money donated to support the customs fees and transportation. Unfortunately, I will not be here when the shipment comes, but it's great to know that the schools will get the books.

- I received my shirt order from zazzle.com. I had ordered something just to check the quality and ensure that the pictures will turn out. The shirts are great so I will have the zazzle site up soon so you can start ordering your Gugu products and we can start raising some money for the school.

- I have been asked to be the guest speaker at the National Honor Society induction for Pemberton Township High School. Of course, I will not be able to be there because I will still be in Cairo, but I am in the processing of making the video to present. I will post the video on my blog as well. It's been a good chance to process everything here and make myself something to have when I leave here.

As I start to make plans to come home, I'm still excited to see what is left for my time here in Cairo.

Bring a piece of Gugu home!

2008-04-23T05:52:00.003-04:00

These are some of the images that will be used on clothing and other items to raise money for our school. We had the kids draw anything they think of when they think "Gugu." I will keep you posted about the items we will be selling!

A trip to the zoo...

2008-04-21T12:04:00.003-04:00

This update is much later than I intended, but still worthy. Last Sunday we took the kids from my Sunday school program to the zoo. I rented a tour bus to take us from Hadayek el Maadi to Giza. I think the bus ride in itself was worth the trip. The kids were so excited at every small thing out of the window and it made me realize that they never leave our small community. They would tell us to look at the cows, the Nile, anything that was somewhat new. One girl told me that the buildings were like what she thought New York City would be like. They sang songs and played games all within our short 35 minute trip to somewhere just across the Nile.

I wasn’t sure if they would be as excited at the zoo as the bus ride was hard to top. Fortunately, they loved it. We had some problems at the very beginning. Some Egyptians told the kids not to enter the zoo because they would make it “dirty and dark.” However, the kids handled it really well and were an example to me. It is so sad to think that adults would say that to children and that this is not the first time to hear it.

However, that bad incident was quickly replaced by enthusiasm. The kids were so happy to see the different animals. It was ironic that the kids were looking forward to seeing lions, giraffes, crocodiles and other animals that are native to Sudan but they have never seen before. The giraffe had apparently died so it was hard to tell the kids that one. They tired quickly because they are not used to doing something active that requires so much walking in the heat. However, they were rejuvenated after watching a 3-D movie in a small theater. Overall, it was a great experience of all of the kids and me.

The Adult Education Program

2008-04-09T10:24:00.004-04:00

Teaching is a gift. I don't mean it is a talent. As much as it benefits students, it is a gift for the teacher. I feel so blessed to be able to be in the classroom with my adult students. Some of my favorite moments have taken place with my English classes.

Our adult education program began it's second 10 week term on April 1st. During the first term, we had approximately 40 students within the 4 classes. Now we have 110 students, 7 classes and 5 teachers. I had to divide the program into two sessions- 5:00- 7:00 and 7:00 -9:00. Each class has at least 15 students. The majority of the students are Sudanese, but we also have students from Egypt, Algeria, Burundi, and Iraq. It's remarkable how the school has grown in such a small time. I can only hope that it continues when I leave.

I started teaching "Level 3." This is not the first time I have taught to sessions, but I forgot how exhausting it can be sometimes. I think it's more exhausting because I teach the kids during the day and then come back to the school in evening. However, the most tiring thing is trying to teach English creatively to those who lost their creative abilities with their childhoods during the war. They haven't been in classrooms for years, making it difficult to teach those who haven't been taught since being in their home country.

However, I find it so eacy to teach my advanced class. I'm teaching something that is so familiar in American classrooms, but so far removed in classes in the Middle East: The Holocaust. Not only is this tragedy not taught, but if it is mentioned, it is to teach that it didn't happen. While I was out to dinner with an Egyptian who is a doctor, he asked me if the Holocaust really happened. He is one of the most educated people who I have met in Egypt, but he didn't know about the Holocaust.

I've had a few lessons and the students are really interested. We are reading the book, The Cage, and they have had great insights. On the front cover is a picture of the main character, a skinny girl with a shaved head and sorrow on her face. On of my students remarked, "She looks Sudanese, but only with white skin." This profound statement is exactly what I want to teach- the comparison between the Holocaust and what is currently happening in Sudan today. I will keep you updated as I work on this lesson. I hope that it will be eye-opening for everyone.

Other than the Holocaust, I will also be teaching modal verbs, algebra and anatomy.

Please pray for the school and all of its students.

Time goes by so quickly!

2008-04-02T13:24:00.002-04:00

This Saturday is the end of the third marking period here at Gugu. It’s hard to believe that we are now in the home stretch of the school year and that I’ve completed two terms with my students. Exams will be this week. Time is going by so quickly!

We’ve moved all of the classes to the morning session now (8am -12pm) because of a lack of teachers. This means that one of my classes is now in the lobby with an old chalkboard propped up on the wall. However, it seems to be working for now. I will be teaching science for the last term as well. Not really my specialty, but I’m sure I’ll pull something together.

The after school program is going well as we gain more and more students each time. I want to expand for the rest of the school year, especially since all of the children have nothing to do after 12pm. I am going to have the older girls come for a separate program on Tuesday. There are two reasons for this: the girls are too advanced for my current afterschool program and there is a great need to focus on the self-esteem of these young women. We are also looking to start an “after school movie” program once a week. If we get the funds to buy a DVD player, we will show children’s movies once a week for 1 L.E. for the students. This will raise some (not a lot of money) for the school, but it will also give the chance for the kids to have something to do.

Keep in mind that the school is really struggling. The administrator of Gugu said he will be surprised if we can even finish the fourth term because of finances. The teachers are still lacking a consistent salary and are threatening to not come back for the next term. There’s definitely no teacher union here! Also, the school has been having a hard time raising the money for rent. I think there has been some mismanaging of finances, but I don’t want to see the children suffer because of this. Please pray that we receive what we need to have the school function until June. We’ll tackle whether or not to open the school for the next academic year once we get through with this one! There is a parent, teacher, and staff meeting on Friday to discuss these problems.

Needs for the Remainder of the School Year:

- Teachers’ salaries- approximately $300 per month

- Rent of the building- approximately $400 per month

- Committed teachers

- A DVD Player ($40) for the new movie program

- Classroom supplies (markers, chalk, paper)

I’ll keep you updated as we work on these problems. I’m confident that things will work out as they should!

2008-03-26T11:13:00.002-04:00

Please check out the program update for Gugu on:

www.gugucenter.blogspot.com

It will give you a overview of what we are doing as an organization now.

2008-03-25T14:47:00.006-04:00

Cairo has an amazing ability to go from cold to 100 degrees in a matter of days. However, that means it is finally warm enough to start the sports program. We began renting the playground about 3 weeks ago and the kids are so excited! Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this program (including Kiddie Soccer for providing the equipment).

We have over 70 kids at the program. In order to combat the chaos of that many kids on one playground, we divided the group into 2 days based on age. I then hired some Sudanese coaches to run the program. I had one coach quit because he didn't want to coach girls. It was quite the task arguing for the girls to play with the boys- there's such a cultural barrier here sometimes. Some of the coaches take the training very seriously as well. It's really cute watching the kids try to do organized drills, especially those who run quickly to the ball, swing, and miss. The girls wear skirts and nice dresses- a wardrobe not compatible with a tile floor playground.

There hasn't been a day that goes by when the kids don't ask, "Teacha we play football today?" There are some changes that have to be made to improve the program, but all in all, it's great seeing the kids happy and enjoying some sun and exercise.

School Makeover

2008-03-06T13:31:00.008-05:00

In an effort to boost the morale of the school, we decided it was time to change things around. The school was starting to look like a dirty prison- small rooms, windows with bars, bare walls, old desks, dusty benches. It wasn't a happy environment (and most likely not a healthy one either). I thought if the school actually looked like a school, then things would get better. We are still using minimum resources, but the school is now much brighter.

After adult classes one night, the teachers decided to paint the drab classrooms. Little did we know how willing out students would be to help us do it. With the help of 10 students and 6 teachers, we were able to finish painting the school in 2 nights. Not only was it an exciting project, but we had a lot of fun doing it. We envision making each room themed- underwater, seasons, safari, and around the world. Hopefully, that will be done in the near future. We want the kids to be involved as well so they will be making some of the decorations. We will also decorate the one lobby with their hand prints on the wall.

The kids faces were priceless. They were so excited to see their new classrooms. While I did have one student tell me that he wanted the rooms yellow, not blue, it seemed that the rest were content with bright blue and green. They were even more excited when we took down the broken chalkboards and replaced them with brand new white boards. As a teacher, I feel the difference already. We have had some problems with the other teachers using permanent markers or keeping the lids off, but those problems seem to be almost over as they adjust to the new classroom feature.

I posted pictures for you to see the transition. And if anyone ever wants to come visit the school, you are always welcome here in Cairo!

Gugu blog

2008-02-26T11:14:00.001-05:00

I created a similar blog to this for the Gugu Learning Center. Please check it out if you have a chance:

Gugu Center Blog

2008-02-20T07:01:00.002-05:00

A Donor Update

I just wanted to take the chance to thank everyone for their continued support and donations. I want to take a second to tell you how your donations have made a difference. Here is what the money has gone towards:

- Gugu’s rent and utilities for 1 month

- Much needed teacher’s salaries for 1 month

- Art supplies for children’s programs

- Books for the teachers

- Transportation costs

- White boards for the classrooms at 1 adult school

- Books for the adult education program

- Dictionaries for the adult education program

- Music and videos for the children

- Some of my personal living expenses

While this is not a solicitation for more donations, much of my donations have already been used to cover these things. Continue to pray that I will receive the assistance I need personally and more importantly, the costs to keep these programs running

After School with Angels

2008-02-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

I think I should buy myself a t-shirt that says “I Survived the After School Program at Gugu Learning Center.” After climbing Mt. Sinai a few days ago following a 10 hour bus ride both directions, one would think that the next week would be simple. This false hope is soon shattered after one tries to have 25 children make a bee hive/ bee-havior foam craft with many small pieces.

Actually, the program is going well. The craziness is a bit of an exaggeration.

I have started this after school program at Gugu as an incentive program for the children who are performing well in class. I developed the curriculum last September and this is the first opportunity I have to use it. The staff and I chose about 5 kids from each of the grades based on their efforts in the classroom. However, as always, not choosing everyone causes problems. Fifteen minutes before the program began, there was a mob of children outside of the school waiting to get in. You would think that they were waiting for the front row of the largest rock concert to take place in a decade. I then had to pull the kids who had been selected out of the crowd and allow a select few to enter as well. I would love to take all of the kids, but the space and resources are limited.

The children were incredibly attentive for about the first hour. Then attention spans started to vary as the students are ages 6-14 years old. Frustrations mounted as the glue wouldn’t stick to the foam or a bee wing fell on the floor.

Let’s not forget the language barrier. I asked some of the older girls, “Do you want some more?” referring to the glue. One of the girls then asked me if the glue bottle was called, “some more.” It’s easy to take for granted teaching in English sometimes.

The difficulty I find teaching children here is that the kids don’t get to have fun regularly. This is such a sad thing to consider. It’s amazing to hear them laugh as we play a game, smile as we sing a song, or show off their new sticker. This one second grader gets so excited about the smallest things- it’s so cute. However, since the kids lack these everyday experiences of “fun,” things can get out of hand when they do get it. To play the game of “hot potato” creates an overwhelming excitement that soon turns into chaos. Coloring with crayons turns into a hectic party. If you give them some fun, they take it too far. I hope as I continue to teach, I will find a balance.

I will be having this program every Monday. Fortunately, I have some assistance. As the program continues I can only pray that it provides an environment for learning, laughing, and loving for these children.

Some answers...

2008-02-10T04:18:00.000-05:00

I received an email from the Pemberton Township High School Future Business Leaders of America recently. I just want to thank them for the great work they have been doing. They will be presenting their organization, "Second Chance for Darfur's Kids" at the state competition soon and asked me the following questions in preparation for this. I think that these are questions some other people might have as well. Thanks again for everything you are doing!

1) What inspired you to go to Egypt and work with the refugee?

I never thought I would end up in Egypt working with refugees- that wasn't in my "plan." However, in January 2006, I went with a group of students from my university to Egypt to study Christianity and Islam for 3 weeks. As part of our tour, we visited an organization called Refuge Egypt which serves African refugees. I didn't really know about the refugee situation facing Sudan and especially their lives in Cairo until that point. I was so inspired by the visit, that I helped my professor organize a returning trip the following January, with the intent of just working at Refuge Egypt. We spent 3 weeks working in different departments of the organization and I fell in love with the youth team there. I began teaching English and doing some gang outreach. Through this time, I established great friendships and a desire to serve refugees. This led me to return shortly after my graduation in June for a month. Yet, again I decided that I liked this so much that I deferred law school for a year and returned in September. The people I have met, the things I have done, and the opportunities I have experienced have inspired me to serve the refugees and continue to do so.

2) How has our donation helped?
FBLA's donation has helped tremendously here in Cairo and even back in Pemberton. The $850 has gone to paying rent and electricity bills as well as giving teachers the money they haven't received for several months. This has helped boost their morale as they were becoming frustrated with not receiving a salary. The money they received will keep them teaching at Gugu for a few more months. The largest expense at the school is rent and your money has gone to helping that process as well. The refugees have been extremely grateful for these donations. The money came at the right time too. The school was facing many uncertainties during the holiday break and wasn't sure how it was going to continue. This money allowed them to have a fresh start beginning in January.

Your donation has also had a positive impact on our community. Pemberton doesn't have the reputation of "helping others." I've talked to some people and your work has given them a positive impression of our high school and students. It has even inspired others to start doing some work as well. It shows that Pemberton students do care and can make a difference.

3) What impact has this type of community service made on your life?

Community service is my life. I don't think it always comes in the forms of participating in an event, joining a club, or donating money, but rather having the desire to help others. I have learned much more from serving others than I would from serving myself. This type of community service - giving a year to just volunteering- has helped me refocus my goals, develop long lasting relationships, and view the world in a new lens. I know that a lot of people say that volunteerism can change your life, but it is absolutely true.

The Sudanese have taught me to love whole heartedly, to be grateful for everything that you have, and to never lose hope. Sometimes I'm having dinner with a friend and I'll think to myself, "This person has gone through the same things that we see everyday on the news about war in Africa, yet we are sharing pizza and sharing laughs- we are the same." These people are not just distant figures on a late night news channel, they are my friends, my coworkers, and my second family. It's going to be hard to say goodbye in a few months, but I know that I will continue to serve others in different capacities. I can no longer sit back and ignore the situations of those around me who need help.

4) What impact has this type of community service made on the refugees' life?

Refugees have faced hardships unimaginable to any American. Not only are they forced to flee their home country, but then they come to Cairo and face racism, discrimination, and poor living conditions. However, it is the help of community service organizations, coupled with their ambitions and outlook, that is their survival. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees only can provide so much assistance. It has become the responsibility of grassroots non profits to help with the rest. For example, refugee children cannot attend Egyptian schools because of the harassment they will face, so the only alternative to receiving any education is through schools like the Gugu Learning Center. Jobs are linked to nonprofits as well as medical care. Community service by those outside the community and other refugees is the backbone to life in Cairo. Even though the refugees are live a life around the service of others and themselves, there is never a moment that they aren't grateful.

Also, thank you to the Pemberton Soccer Club for supporting my work. You can visit www.pembertonsoccerclub.com to see their write up about what I am doing here.

It is so encouraging to know that people back home are supporting me.

An update

2008-02-04T04:05:00.000-05:00

I realized that I have been posting a lot of different things, but nothing really qualifies as an update. So here's one...

It's Monday. That means it's the start of a new week- kinda. Fortunately, or unfortunately sometimes, I have now lost all of my free days. There is a program every day of the week for me now. However, I came here to serve and I should spend my time doing it. Here's a glimpse into my schedule.

Sunday- English tutoring, children's program, sports program (when it begins)
Monday- 3 classes at Gugu, children's after school program
Tuesday, Wednesday - 3 classes at Gugu, adult English program
Thursday- 2 classes at Gugu, adult English program
Friday- church, cell group, sports program (when it begins)
Saturday- 2 classes at Gugu, adult English program

This certainly isn't a form of complaining or posting. I just want to give you an idea of what I've been doing each day.

I really love teaching (which is good since I do alot of it). My students are starting to behave better. It's been really hard discipling them because they are used to being hit as a form of punishment. Rather than hitting, I have resorted to positive incentives. It's amazing how far a sticker can go. I hope my supply lasts a long time! I also allow them to listen to music when they behave. They sing along with the music the same way we do in the car- we don't really know the words but we try anyway. I will try to post the videos on this site, but of course uploading anything here takes forever! Not to mention the loss of internet we had in Cairo due to that cable that broke.

My adult classes are going well too. We have more students than I expected which means I have to get more books copied. This is a good problem though. My advanced classes have been interested. Math really is a struggle for them. We even have to review the basics of addition, subtracation, multiplication and division. Our curriculum for the first half is based around October Sky. That means our science unit is about space. It's really hard teaching about the universe and planets when some of my students didn't even know that there was anything beyond where we live. I've been asked questions such as "Can you feel gravity when you are a plane?" "How do cell phones work?" " How can we go into space- do we hit a solid shell as we try to leave?" These are all great questions, but sometimes they catch me off guard. We'll be watching October Sky this week so hopefully that will give them some of the answers. We also are learning about the 1950s- an era of transition for the world and Sudan as it gained its independence in 1956. The students are so willing to absorb everything and willing to take risks in class so it's been great. However, I will never be able to fill the gap they have in their education.

I'll have to give an update about the other programs in a later post. I hope everyone is doing well and thanks for taking the time to read this!

P.S. Cortney is here now which is great. Of course, the landlord raised the rent because there are two Americans in the apartment.

My First Angel

2008-01-29T08:24:00.001-05:00

My time here is marked by those who change my life everyday. I want to take some time to highlight those people and introduce them to you, hoping they will have just a small impact on your life too through their stories.

Friendship comes in many forms. However, there are those whose friendship with you is absolutely priceless and life changing. Anwar Nabil is one of those friends. Since our first meeting, Anwar has been changing my life moment by moment.

Anwar is a Sudanese refugee who came to Egypt over seven years ago as a youth. He grew up with his mother and two younger sisters, his father absent for most of his life in the Nuba Mountains. Anwar has slowly opened up to me about his past and memories, revealing to me things he has never told anyone. When he was a teenager, he came to Cairo with an uncle hoping for a better future in an unknown country. Without any guidance, he quickly fell into the life style of the first generation of gangs in Cairo. However, a transformation took place in his life when he attended a church retreat. Since then, Anwar has had a desire to reach the gang youth and children that will be the next generation of South Sudan. His ministry is based around his love of music- singing and playing guitar to bring hope to his community.

My walk with Anwar has been full of excitement and fun. I first met him on the staff retreat, the only refugee in the pool with goggles. Our first conversation came after he beat me in a swimming race. He invited me to do some children’s programs with him at his church and I started attending his children’s music program. The hour long bus ride to his area would give us a chance to talk about a lot of things.

This is when I realized Anwar was special. He would speak of how the Sudanese community needed to take more responsibility and help each other rather than depending on the handouts of others. He had dreams of leading his people when they returned to their home country. He wants to give children and youth the tools they need for future leadership. Anwar has many dreams, but what impresses me is that he is not slow to act on them.

Inspired by his passion and equipped with a monetary donation from some friends, I decided to give Anwar a chance to fulfill those dreams. He had been working as a cleaner/ security guard in the office, humbly washing and mopping all of the time. He enjoyed his job, but it was not his passion. With the money I was given, I was able to sponsor Anwar and have him moved to the youth office where he is today. Since the move, he has done administrative work for the team, but also has been active in many programs helping the youth. In addition to his children’s programs, he is involves himself in the sports program and English schools. His biggest project is a youth hip hop program every Friday night in which gang and non-gang members come to practice their talents of rapping in a positive environment.

However, working with the youth can sometimes be dangerous for him. As a young Sudanese male, he is a target for the gangs. In early October, Anwar was attacked by gangs that knew he associated with rival gang members through the youth program. The scars on his neck and cheek are reminders of this day. He has had his wallet and cell phone stolen as well.

Despite these problems, Anwar still continues to joyfully serve. He is now one of my teachers at the school we started in Hielasher. He started a sports program for the Outlaw gang members in his part of the city. There is never a night Anwar does not have a program to help his community.

For the first time since we have met, Anwar shared with me that he wants to come to America to get a better education before returning to Sudan. Most refugees discuss their desire to come to the states within their first conversation with me. Anwar and I have spent long bus rides together and deep conversations on a balcony, but he had never mentioned this before. He said that he would even go to high school before wanted to attend university. I was inspired by this. Again, this is a sign of his humility and willingness to work hard. I’ve personally tutored Anwar and I see his potential. I believe that he doesn’t need an education to achieve some of his goals, but a great education would make him an inspiring leader for the rest of the community.

Continue to pray for Anwar as his follows his heart in ministering to his community.

Second Grade

2008-01-21T03:30:00.000-05:00

Here is my second grade class roster:

Okello
Apio
Kenedy
Christopher
Sameol
Asha
Ali
Godfree
Yohannes
Agustino
Nancy
Heaven
Lime
Bakita
Muahib
Alia
Taban
Friday
Rizik
Chang

This class is full of energy, both good and bad. I have them for two classes- English and religion. The biggest challenge is that the kids range in age 6- 19. Despite the craziness of the room, they are really starting to grow on me. I hope to have some pictures up soon!

Getting into the routine

2008-01-16T02:46:00.000-05:00

So I've been in Cairo for a week now. Unpacked, freezing, and over the jetlag, I am now settling back into the "routine of Cairo" (and yes, I said freezing- there is a constant coldness here as a result of the lack of indoor heating and desert nights). My flat is comforting, especially now with the internet and television (plus some few kitchen items I brought from home).

Teaching second and third grade has been interesting. My second grade class has 17 students, ranging in age from 6 to 19. This makes an exciting mixture of attention spans, reading levels, and understanding. However, my 6 year old can do much better than some of the other students in the class. My third grade class is full of 7 & 8 year olds with a group of 13-16 year olds. I mainly teach English and have been suprised at how much the students haven't learned up to this point. One would think "My name is" and " I am from" would be things that would have been taught during the first 4 months of class. The lack of curriculum certainly has contributed to this. The other problem is that English class has always been taught by "volunteers." Volunteers from America, Canada, the UK. Volunteers here for 3 weeks, 6 months, or 5 years. A different volunteer every day. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I will be their teacher until June. Discipline hasn't been too much of a problem. It's amazing what a sticker or some markers (referred to as "colors" by the students) can do for a classroom. The kids here are used to being hit or yelled at constantly. That will not be the case in my classroom. I hope to also get some picture dictionaries copied for them so they have a book and I have a guide. Overall, I am looking forward to the next few months with these kids.

We also started the Adult English Program. With the help of some friends, I have been able to start two schools. One is located at Gugu and the other is about 1.5 hours from my flat. Each is two days a week, for two hours. We will be teaching English, mathematics, social studies, and science. I have a good number of teachers, something that a lot of schools lack here. I even have "real" teachers from Canada. So far, we still just have a lot of students taking placement exams and many returning students that have forgotten that it was "the first day of class." That's how things work here, but in a few weeks school will be in full swing. I was able to get all of the books copied at a good discount and the students were really excited to receive them. The books donated from the high school provided a great source for the compilation of these books.

I have some other projects that I will update on later. For now, I am thankful that everything is working out and I can't wait until Cortney gets here in a week!

Books for Africa

2008-01-12T01:45:00.000-05:00

Wow! Things are already off to a great start. I don't want to be overly optimistic, but this email from Books for Africa is promising. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, but it is extremely possible. If you know any organization that would be willing to help in this effort, please let me know. I am currently looking for some sponsors to cover the costs. Thank you to everyone who referred me to this organization. This is the chance to get books for several schools in the area.

Dear Bobbie,

Thank you for your inquiry, I am very pleased at the timing of your message. Books For Africa is interested in offering you a 40-foot donated containerof Primary textbooks and reading books.

Normally, our recipients pay atleast $9,000 towards shipping charges. However, since we have not yet sent a container to Egypt, we want to take advantage of this unique need in your community. Your group or another of your affiliates will be required to clear thecontainer at port and pay related port and customs charges, at least $1,000. We prefer to ship the container to an Egyptian NGO or government entity that has experience clearing a container at port. Therefore, you must determine if the group receiving the container has the capacity to clear the container at port and transport the books to the sites where they will be housed. Further, we request that this group be willing to provide us with photos that document the receipt and impact of the books on the children.

How long do you plan to be in Cairo? We could pack the container within thenext 6 weeks, then count about 2 months at sea. It is not necessary that you be in Cairo when the container arrives, since ideally you want an Egyptian from a local organization in charge of clearing it, as long as you are confident that your group will receive its books. You may want to set up a collaboration with 2-3 other groups, since this amount of books is plentyfor several sites, if not more.This will be an immense pleasure to take forward. Do remain in touch so we can address any of your questions right away.

2008-01-10T21:34:00.001-05:00

I arrived in Cairo safely on Wednesday. The flight was long, but with no problems. I was able to come back to my flat and take a nap. I had plans to go get the English books copied, go to the grocery store, and get dinner but they were delayed by my overwhelming exhaustion.

It never really rains in Cairo. However, it rained of course on the day I arrived. While it wasn't pouring, the constant drizzle is enough to cause problems on the dusty streets of this city. Cars have poor windshield wipers and mud flows everywhere. The last time I remember it raining was on the day I arrived in September and one other day while I was here last time. People have told me I bring blessings. I don't know if bringing filthy drops of water from the sky that ruin the street for days is exactly a blessing.

I was able to organize all of the school supplies in between some naps and visiting friends. I was able to give my friends their Christmas presents, leaving some speechless and almost in tears. It's amazing what a small present can do to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas anymore because of conditions here.

Obviously I'm still somewhat jetlagged as I write this post at 4:30am, but that will soon fade. I will go to Maadi Community Church in the morning. I start teaching again on Saturday in Hei el asher. I am looking forward to getting back into a normal, busy schedule. I'll keep you posted!

For those of you who have been reading my blog, I have now made it possible for anyone to leave comments rather than only those having an account! Sorry about that!

Thank you!

2008-01-06T17:01:00.001-05:00

As I prepare for Cairo, I can't help but be thankful for everyone who has supported me since my very first visit, during my stay, and while I was home. My bags are finally packed, full of wonderful supplies for Gugu and my programs. While it wasn't easy getting everything into two 70 lb. bags, the joy that these materials will give is indescribable.

For everyone who has supported me, thank you!

Inspiration

2007-12-27T16:25:00.000-05:00

Sometimes true inspiration comes from the most unlikely places unexpectedly.

I just received an email from a former student of mine who I have recently asked to teacher a beginner class in my adult education program. He is a Darfurian who seeks to learn as much from life as possible.

My prayer are that I snould give you truth .beaty, Money .Love and Joy.Be you as the stone. stand up to the assailants,overcome your aggressors and remaber one crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name,dear Bobbie If u not mind I hope we are close friend so dont feel that out of sight ,out of mind am never forget my friend
please accept my great respect
Friendly yours
Mohamed Hussein Mohamed

Hometown Heroes

2007-12-27T16:22:00.000-05:00

Pem. Twp. students raise $850 for refugees

By JASON HARRIS
Burlington County Times

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP — When she graduated from high school here in 2004, Bobbie Downs wanted to become a lawyer. She said she never expected to find herself living in Cairo and teaching English to refugees from one the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Downs is back from Egypt for Christmas. She was at Pemberton Township High School yesterday to talk to students about her work with a school operated by Gugu Community Development and Building Association in Cairo and pick up a check for $850.

Students from the group Second Chance for Darfur's Kids raised the money by printing a program for a faculty basketball game and selling advertisements to local businesses.

Downs said the money would go toward teacher salaries at the school. “The teachers haven't been paid in 42 months,” she said.

Downs said Drew University, where she majored in political science, has a strong program for sending its students overseas. When she decided after graduation to take a year off before going to law school, she volunteered to work with Refugee Egypt.

She enjoyed her time in Africa so much, she volunteered to go back and work with Gugu.

“It sounds really funny, but it has a good meaning in Arabic,” she said.

“Gugu,” she said, means the place where treasure is kept.

She works with Sudanese, Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis. Most are refugees escaping the fighting in South Sudan and Darfur. There are programs for children and she's helped establish two schools for adults. The refugees who have re-established themselves in Egypt help others who have fled the violence.

Downs said Gugu is now looking to add an after-school sports program.

“The kids have nowhere to play,” she said. “We're trying to raise money to build a playground.”

While Downs was working in Egypt last summer, high school English teacher Terry Hagen read an article about her efforts with Gugu.

“All of a sudden, a light went on,” Hagen said.

Teachers here are responsible for organizing a service project each year. Hagen, the widow of a Cameroonian citizen and a former Peace Corps volunteer, said she'd been trying unsuccessfully to get her co-workers to take on a project that would benefit Africans.

When she read about Downs, she knew she'd found a way to connect the continent to the township.

“It wasn't just about Africa anymore,” she said. “We had a connection to Pemberton Township.”

Hagen called Terri Sharp, a fellow teacher and an advisor for the Future Business Leaders of America club at the high school. They suggested raising money for Gugu to the club and students voted to take on the project.

The Future Business Leaders of America, along with members of the National Honor Society and DECA-Marketing Students of Cooperative Education club, formed Second Chance for Darfur's Kids.

The group plans to continue fundraising for Gugu. They've already collected and shipped soccer uniforms and they're hoping to raise enough money to send laptop computers to the school.

“We're going to raise money until she leaves Egypt,” said Future Business Leaders of America club President Megan Writenour.

* The article misquoted the number of months the teachers have not received a salary- it should read " 2 months" instead of "42 months."

How I Entertain

2007-12-27T00:50:00.000-05:00

Entertaining angels is a constant occurrence. Every person that comes into our lives needs to feel our love. This is how I show mine.

For anyone who wonders, this is what I have done and will be doing...

teaching 2nd and 3rd grade English and religion
children's after school programs
adult English schools -teacher and administrator
children's music program
organizing a children's sports program
fundraising
Bible studies
youth outreach
relationship building

*I am currently enjoying time at home in New Jersey after 3 months in Cairo, but I will be returning to Egypt on January 8th and my work will continue.*

Educate yourself...

2007-12-26T23:58:00.000-05:00

Understanding the when, why, where, who, and how of the Sudanese refugee situation in Cairo is difficult. This video is a strong beginning. While it can't explain and show everything, I recommend it for anyone who might want to understand a little bit of the history and larger context of what I do everyday.

Entertaining the community...

2007-12-26T23:28:00.000-05:00

The Gugu Community Development and Building Association Mission Statement:

The Gugu Community Development and Building Association (GCDBA) is a grassroots community association run by refugees for refugees that seeks to provide and enrich education for refugee children, eradicate childhood illiteracy, and improve adult education, women’s activities and cultural events for refugees.

GCDBA is located within Hadayek el Maadi, a poor area in the district of Maadi. The town of Maadi (about 30 minutes outside of Cairo) has a population of approximately 4,000 Sudanese refugees. From these 4,000, about 45% are children from 1 to 17 years old. GCDBA focuses its services on this population, but seeks to work together with other organizations to serve those in areas with high concentrations of refugees, such as Arba wa Nus, Maadi, and Ain Shams.

Gugu serves a community of an estimated 190 direct beneficiaries, made up of many who have not been interviewed or have been rejected by UNHCR and therefore have no access to their humanitarian and other services. Beneficiaries are asylum seekers mainly from South Sudan and Darfur, but also include those from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

In our community, there are few affordable educational alternatives, so we place great importance on serving as many refugee children as possible. Without the GuGu Learning Center, many refugee children would grow up without ever attending school. This is the main reason that the founding members were interested in creating a school—to give children a chance at a better future and way of life. Our primary school currently provides education to 106 children in levels 1 through 5, divided among a morning and an afternoon shift. The kindergarten program serves 40 lovable kids. Our teachers come from many different African cultures, but the majority of our teachers are Sudanese refugees and the staff is supplemented by volunteers mainly from the United States. We are also hoping to establish a children’s sports program that will provide a place for children to play while giving them an opportunity to exercise and eat nutritional snacks regularly

The Gugu Adult Program provides services to refugee adults and youth in the area. We currently provide computer training classes to members of the community. GCDBA also coordinates vocational training through Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS). The Adult Education Program is in its foundational stages, providing English training to youth and adults in three different levels, including an advanced level program that also instructs students in mathematics, social studies, and science.

I currently have been focusing my activities around the services of Gugu. I have been teaching several subjects and grades at the learning center and also placing much energy into restoring the adult education program. Gugu is only the beginning...

Entertaining Angels

2007-12-26T23:04:00.000-05:00

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
~ Hebrews 13:2

Life is full of strangers. Everyone is a stranger at some point.

For the past few months, I have been in constant contact with strangers. More importantly, I've been "the stranger" in most circumstances. It's obvious that I arrived as a foreigner in Cairo and that I remain a stranger in many ways everyday. Yet, somehow being a stranger has become so "normal" now.

This blog is going to be about strangers. Who knows- you may be reading this and I am a stranger to you. You will read this and the people I write about will be strangers to you. They were once strangers to me too. Some of them will remain as unfamiliar characters, but many will unfold as loving friends and invaluable people in my life. I've been entertaining them and they've been entertaining me.

Let's try to change that. Let's break down the walls that make all of us strangers to each other. Welcome to the life of this stranger- an American girl, fresh out of college, living in Cairo, Egypt serving Sudanese refugees

This is the start of my story. The story of entertaining angels.