Posts Tagged ‘childrens village’

Mr. Kiberia, one of the teachers at St. Clare Girls’ Centre, entered his class 7 students in a local drama competition that occurred on February 22.  The theme of this year’s competition focused on the March 4 elections in Kenya and was “No to violence in the elections.”  The students worked very hard preparing a backdrop for their presentation.  In addition, they developed costumes that they used as they presented a dramatic interpretation of why saying “No to violence in the elections” is so crucial in Kenya.  They left St. Clare early in the morning, did their presentation and returned taking third place.  Mr. Kiberia and the girls were pleased with how they fared, learned a great deal and are already talking about next year’s competition.

                                                                                                                                        (The girls practicing their drama competitive piece)

(Earlier this year, Sister Kathryn began a new photojournalism class.  As one of the first assignments, Carolyn and Julianna decided to report on this new class and their reactions to be a part of it.)

THE NEW JOURNALISM CLASS

It is our pleasure to be in the new photojournalism class. We (seven girls from forms 1 and 2) have seen how Sister Kathryn works with the previous class and so we have longed to be in this class.  It is so enjoyable since it is very rare in our country to see young people able to operate something as precious as a camera.

We offer many thanks to our dear Sister Kathryn who is always ready to volunteer herself for our class every Wednesday.  Lots of thanks from our dear sister who is always ready to volunteer herself to teach our class on every Wednesday.  We have really enjoyed taking portrait photos and close-ups.  They are very challenging, however.

I want to be in the class because it is a way for me to nurture my career.  I have always longed to be in the photojournalism class because I want to be a NEWSCASTER.

The seven of us have learned all the rules for the class, especially time management.  We do not have a lot of time since we start our class at four in the afternoon.  We practice with the cameras during the class because practice makes perfect.  We have learned well how to work with a camera and it is now not hard for us.

Many other students would like to join this class, but it is not possible because of the scarcity of cameras.  During class, we sit around our table, pray with Sister and then begin class.  We thank God for having wonderful Sisters who work in so many ways to motivate us and help us develop our talents and careers.

BY CAROLYN

My FIRST Journalism Class

It was on a Monday morning when Sister Kathryn put a note on the notice board. I was very happy because the form one and two students were told to write three reasons why they would like to be journalists. We all wrote because it was competition between seventeen students and only seven students can take the journalism class. We wrote our reasons the best we could and handed them over to Sister Kathryn hoping to be chosen.

Sister chose three students from form one and four from form two making a total of seven students. I glad that I was among the chosen. She then put a notice requesting the chosen members to meet on Wednesday at 4.05 pm.

We all eagerly waited for that wonderful day.  Immediately at 4.05pm, we were in the journalism room on time.  Sister was already there.  We sat down and remained silent until everyone arrived. When we were all settled we listened to a reading read by Sister. We then meditated on it by keeping quiet and going deep into ourselves, thinking about the reading. We said a word of prayer and started our class. Sister talked to us about a lot of things, but she first told the rules and regulations to follow as journalists.  She also said that a journalist is one who is able to analyze different pictures. We were given some books to read that were about journalism. Indeed it was a great day for me.

We were all given memory cards and cameras. Sister showed us how to insert the cards into the cameras. We were shown how to take pictures, how adjust brightness, how to zoom, and by the end of the day we had learnt a lot of things. We were then given the cameras to go and put into practice what we had learned. We took a lot of pictures.

I really appreciate and thank our Dominicans Sisters for the good work they have volunteered to do. I promise to always pray so that God can shower them with abundant blessings.

BY JULIANNA

Service projects are a vital part of students’ lives at Brownell Middle School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  Teacher Joanna Porvin, who traveled to Kenya with the Ozars on the first immersion trip, is  one of the teacher moderators for several groups who engage in service.  Recently, Joanna and her students covered over 100 books for the Ozars to take to St. Clare for the school library.  These same students known as STAND AND GEAR UP also sharpened 100s of pencils.

Asante sana, Ms. Porvin and generous Brownell Middle School students for helping prepare these essential “tools for learning” for St. Clare’s students.  Clearly these students and their teacher understand the meaning of SERVICE.

For the third consecutive year the Yoga Shelter-Grosse Pointe has held a fund raiser for Friends of Kenyan Orphans.  Donna Orbovic, owner and instructor makes the only requirement a free will donation for Friends of Kenyan Orphans.  Last year, the Yoga Shelter was able to sponsor Linet, a young girl at St. Clare, as a result of the funds raised.

Asante sana (a huge thank you) to Donna for continuing to share her time and talent for the benefit of the young women at St. Clare.

Some of the secondary students at St Clare participate in an after school class called photo/journalism. Under the direction of Sister Kathryn, the girls take photos of and write narratives about timely events and issues affecting their lives at St Clare and Kenya in general.  Sister Sue (pictured above) has been busy organizing the photos for display.

From March 16- April 20, 2013 some of these photos will be exhibited at Swords Into Plowshares Peace Gallery (33 E. Adams) in downtown Detroit. Save the date as this promises to be an excellent exhibit.

Several young primary girls from St. Clare Girls’ Centre along with their teacher, Mr. Musyimi have caught Father Riwa’s focus on creating food sustainability.  Under the guidance of Mr. Musyimi, over thirty primary school girls at St. Clare Centre began a “tomato club.”  They planted tomato seeds on a seedbed.  Approximately 1,500 seedlings were later transplanted into a small garden.  After planting these seedlings, the club members and Mr. Musyimi took care of them each day.  The care of the tomato plants was challenging due to interference from chickens, pests and diseases.  The tomatoes had to be watered daily and sprayed frequently.  In addition, it became very tempting to just grab a fresh tomato from the garden and take a secret bite.

Two more volunteers heading to the Children’s Village with Bud and Sue are Fred and Kathy Partlow.  Both Fred and Kathy are teachers, having over eighty years experience between them.  Fred will teach Latin to the students in Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4.  In addition, he will also instruct Form 4 in Theology and introduce them to the Latin Mass. Kathy will be working with Forms 3 and 4 developing a unit on the American Civil Rights’ Movement.  She will actually be picking up where she left off in 2011, when she traveled with the team to Kenya that year.  In addition, Kathy and Sue will team team a combined social studies/writing class to Form 2.

After returning from the U.S., this past summer, Sister Christa began a weaving class.  The girls in the class are continuing to do well as they are completing their first project.  They are each working toward making small bags.  The yarns are colorful and the girls are enjoying their handiwork.  Sister Christa (pictured above)  meets with nine girls in two different groups.  One group is able to work on their own, checking periodically with Sister.  The other group needs a little more direct attention as they work on understanding the weaving process.  Sister and the staff at St. Clare are extremely proud of all the girls and what they are accomplishing.

While traveling in the eastern U.S. Father Riwa and the Ozars stopped in Avalon, New Jersey where Theresa Montgomery (pictured below with Father Riwa)  hosted a supper for the group.  Also attending were Msgr. John Frey from St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Avalon and Father Neil (Pictured above).  Father Neil is a long time supporter of St. Clare.  Eighty-four year old Father Neil is blind, but has served as a parish priest for many years, taking his turn celebrating Mass without missing a beat.  Father Neil is very in turn to what is happening in the Church and in the world.  The group discovered that Father Neil and Father Riwa were ordained the same year.

Father Riwa, along with Bud and Sue Ozar, met with Steve Bennett at an Italian restaurant in Chicago on their way to Dubuque, Iowa.  Steve’s home is in Texas, but he flew to Chicago to meet Father.  A generous benefactor of the Children’s Village, Steve provided the funds to complete the septic system and provide a means for bringing the grey water out of the fields for crop irrigation.

A delightful evening was spent with Steve as he led a conversation focused on the priority of the needs at St. Clare Centre for Girls and St. Francis Home for Boys.  Father Riwa explained the most serious needs is FOOD SECURITY.  An irrigation system needs to be created at the three farming sites serving St. Clare and St. Francis to assume that the crops get enough water to yield an annual harvest.  In addition, green houses are needed in order to plant the vegetables which are not hardy enough to withstand the climate, but which would thrive in a green house environment.

Will  Father Riwa be spotted next in Iowa?  Stay tuned and find out!