Day 3 - Back to Chanyanya

Today we went back to Chanyanya, this time visiting the kids of the Community School, who had gathered at MCW's community center to meet us.  When our cars pulled in they all rushed out to greet us!  What a welcome!  There were drums playing, singing, dancing, speeches and poems!

The teachers quietened the kids down, they all went into the classrooms, and we got to work...reading.  It's hard to find the words to express today's feelings...the children were more excited, yet so well behaved.  So much in need of help, yet so grateful.  I will let these pictures tell the story...

Day 2 - Trip to Chanyanya Basic School

Today was a big day for us.  We made it to our ultimate destination...Chanyanya!  We met up with the other volunteers at the KPMG office...and then headed out.

We drove about 30 minutes through the city and out to the country...then veered off the highway towards the village.  And then it was nothing but country dirt road for the next 45 minutes...

At the school we had a warm welcome awaiting us from the headmaster, the head of the PTA and teachers...

We paired up to read to grades 1 through 5, the teachers in the lower grades had to help translate the stories to the kids in the lower grades, who are still learning English and speak only the local language.  Oh the excitement on their faces as we walked into the classes and read to them!  And the sheer joy the all expressed as we gave them each a book to read!  Believe me, we were equally excited and simply overjoyed to have been able to do this for them.  You can see what I mean from these pictures.  Enjoy!

Do you see what I mean by the excitement on their faces!

That's all for now...more to come tomorrow!

Day 1 - Arrived in Lusaka!

Here we are!  Finally, Remy and I are in Lusaka...by way of Johannesburg.  Greeted at the airport by Vincent and Cathy from the Lusaka office, we were whisked to the hotel and soon thereafter to KPMG's office in Lusaka (very nice, by the way!).  Nate and Joe from MCW were waiting for us...we met with Michael and Corrie and the other volunteers from the Lusaka office.  We talked about KFFL, MCW and our plans for the next few days.  Lots of details to plan!

Then there were the books...lots and lots of fantastic books that Michael and Joe (MCW) has selected from local booksellers. There were also the books that Remy and I had brought from NY (thank you Meghan!).  All in all we had over 700 books.  We sorted them by reading level, counted them and assigned them to each grade.  It's off to Chenyanya tomorrow!

More to come...