day 1 of mentor training
After a night in Kigali, we enjoyed a scenic journey through the Nyungwe forest and tea plantations to Kamembe. We were welcomed by familiar faces who were still sporting the Wetherby branded hats.
We've just returned from an absolutely brilliant day with the teacher mentors. We spent the morning getting to know the new group of mentors playing a great round of ice-breaker games. Nat's 'Tony Chesnut' song proved to be a big hit with the mentors and there's no doubt their singing put us to shame.
Throughout the day we ran sessions on planning, questioning, different styles of learning and assessment. The afternoon finished with lots of interactive word games including articulate and brain box. The most popular ones proved to be the simple blackboard games which reminded us how creative you can be with just a blackboard and chalk.
We've just returned from an absolutely brilliant day with the teacher mentors. We spent the morning getting to know the new group of mentors playing a great round of ice-breaker games. Nat's 'Tony Chesnut' song proved to be a big hit with the mentors and there's no doubt their singing put us to shame.
Throughout the day we ran sessions on planning, questioning, different styles of learning and assessment. The afternoon finished with lots of interactive word games including articulate and brain box. The most popular ones proved to be the simple blackboard games which reminded us how creative you can be with just a blackboard and chalk.
day 2 of mentor training
This morning we were greeted at the TTC by a small herd of cattle, which caused us much amusement... But for the mentors, it was our reaction which caused the most hilarity!
We started today with a productive session on lesson observations, giving feedback and setting targets. This was an area that Alex, the Education Officer, had asked us to focus on. We enjoyed sharing our own experiences and the highs and lows of peer observations.
After break we ran interactive sessions on English and Maths, consolidating the ideas that we introduced yesterday. We enjoyed going through as many different games and activities as 60 minutes allowed.
The day ended on a high with a lively parliamentary debate. The mentors delivered passionate arguments on topical issues affecting Rwanda.
We are thoroughly enjoying working with this great team of mentors and are looking forward to the rest of the week.
We started today with a productive session on lesson observations, giving feedback and setting targets. This was an area that Alex, the Education Officer, had asked us to focus on. We enjoyed sharing our own experiences and the highs and lows of peer observations.
After break we ran interactive sessions on English and Maths, consolidating the ideas that we introduced yesterday. We enjoyed going through as many different games and activities as 60 minutes allowed.
The day ended on a high with a lively parliamentary debate. The mentors delivered passionate arguments on topical issues affecting Rwanda.
We are thoroughly enjoying working with this great team of mentors and are looking forward to the rest of the week.
Day 4 of mentor training
We ended our mentor training week on a real high! In the morning, we split the mentors into 3 groups to share their demo lessons with each other. It was great to see the mentors trying out some of the ideas we discussed this week and we also took away some excellent activities that we can trial at Wetherby.
This was followed by the official closing ceremony where the mentors were presented with their certificates and a goody bag of resources to use back in their classrooms. There were lots of heartfelt speeches and it was sad saying goodbye to such a brilliant bunch of mentors.
It is evident that the mentors have made outstanding progress since last summer and we feel privileged to have played a small part in the programme. We were delighted to hear that the school based mentor programme, piloted by Rwanda Aid, has now been adopted by the Rwandan Government and all schools in the country will now have a mentor.
This weekend, we are very much looking forward to attending Alex's wedding and joining in with the celebrations. We've just had confirmation that the opening ceremony of the new classrooms at Mwegera School will take place next Tuesday. Lots of photos to follow!
This was followed by the official closing ceremony where the mentors were presented with their certificates and a goody bag of resources to use back in their classrooms. There were lots of heartfelt speeches and it was sad saying goodbye to such a brilliant bunch of mentors.
It is evident that the mentors have made outstanding progress since last summer and we feel privileged to have played a small part in the programme. We were delighted to hear that the school based mentor programme, piloted by Rwanda Aid, has now been adopted by the Rwandan Government and all schools in the country will now have a mentor.
This weekend, we are very much looking forward to attending Alex's wedding and joining in with the celebrations. We've just had confirmation that the opening ceremony of the new classrooms at Mwegera School will take place next Tuesday. Lots of photos to follow!
weekend in rwAnda
Having been inspired by the resource room at the TTC, we spent some of the weekend creating rice sack posters to take to Mwegera.
The highlight of the weekend had to be the wedding of Alex and Grace. We were fortunate enough to experience a true Rwandan wedding with lots of laughter, speeches and fun. Many congratulations to the happy couple; it was such a beautiful day.
The highlight of the weekend had to be the wedding of Alex and Grace. We were fortunate enough to experience a true Rwandan wedding with lots of laughter, speeches and fun. Many congratulations to the happy couple; it was such a beautiful day.
visiting rwanda aid projects
Today we went to Ngwino Nawe, a centre for children with disability. The manager, Therese, explained that one of the main aims of the centre is to support as many children as possible to attend the local primary school. It was good to catch up with Fidel and hear how he plans to study computer science in December. We also enjoyed playing games with the children.
After this, we visited two enterprise projects overseen by Jonas; the craft centre and metalwork. It was great to get a preview of some of the 2016 Rwanda Aid Christmas cards. The welding initiative has proven to be a big success. Claudius took great pride in telling us how the business has developed over the past 18 months after the initial startup help from Rwanda Aid.
After this, we visited two enterprise projects overseen by Jonas; the craft centre and metalwork. It was great to get a preview of some of the 2016 Rwanda Aid Christmas cards. The welding initiative has proven to be a big success. Claudius took great pride in telling us how the business has developed over the past 18 months after the initial startup help from Rwanda Aid.
the opening ceremony at mwegera school
What an incredible day! We were delighted to be part of the opening ceremony of the new classrooms and toilet block at Mwegera School. Some of the classrooms were funded by the generosity of the Wetherby parents and boys.
It was an emotionally charged day with lots of speeches, whole school singing and dancing. It is difficult to convey the extent of gratitude felt by the whole community at Mwegera School.
One of our favourite moments was a former pupil explaining just how much the school has developed over the past 10 years. He recounted how in Primary 1 his class had to collect stones and timber to sit on in the classroom. Some days when the classrooms were too muddy, they worked outside and nailed a chalkboard to a tree. He was overwhelmed to see all the positive changes at Mwegera School.
It was a huge privilege to be part of such a moving ceremony and to see our links continue to grow year on year. We can't wait to spend more time in the classrooms tomorrow with the teachers and children.
It was an emotionally charged day with lots of speeches, whole school singing and dancing. It is difficult to convey the extent of gratitude felt by the whole community at Mwegera School.
One of our favourite moments was a former pupil explaining just how much the school has developed over the past 10 years. He recounted how in Primary 1 his class had to collect stones and timber to sit on in the classroom. Some days when the classrooms were too muddy, they worked outside and nailed a chalkboard to a tree. He was overwhelmed to see all the positive changes at Mwegera School.
It was a huge privilege to be part of such a moving ceremony and to see our links continue to grow year on year. We can't wait to spend more time in the classrooms tomorrow with the teachers and children.
an unforgettable day at mwegera
Today has been the highlight of our trip. We found out that Mwegera means linking together which draws parallels with our own school motto; participes civitatis. This was highlighted further in a photo book we presented to the school to show similarities between our two communities.
We had such fun working alongside our friends at Mwegera. It's hard to put into words the atmosphere at this special school situated in one of the most stunning locations imaginable. The children are so enthusiastic and positive, it was brilliant to work with them. As you will see, the photos speak for themselves.
We had such fun working alongside our friends at Mwegera. It's hard to put into words the atmosphere at this special school situated in one of the most stunning locations imaginable. The children are so enthusiastic and positive, it was brilliant to work with them. As you will see, the photos speak for themselves.
fInal day in rwanda
What a great ending to our two weeks in Rwanda. We finished our trip by visiting some of the other Rwanda Aid projects. In the morning, we went with Jerome and Emmanuel to visit the farming initiatives. It was great to see first-hand the farm training and how it is benefitting the local community. One family explained how they are now able to send their children to school as a result of keeping livestock.
Our afternoon was spent with the children of Baho Neza Mwana (a village set up by Rwanda Aid for street children). It was a magical evening watching the sun set over Lake Kivu, listening to the talented boys perform on the African drums. Nat jumped at the opportunity to play alongside the group and didn't embarrass himself too much!
As you'll see, the brilliant boys at Baho Neza Mwana are huge fans of 'everybody's second favourite football team', Watford.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the team at Rwanda Aid for making us feel so welcome at Munezero House. It's a huge privilege to help in a small way with their fantastic work in the remote south west region of Rwanda. Boys, we can't wait to tell you more about our experiences.
Our afternoon was spent with the children of Baho Neza Mwana (a village set up by Rwanda Aid for street children). It was a magical evening watching the sun set over Lake Kivu, listening to the talented boys perform on the African drums. Nat jumped at the opportunity to play alongside the group and didn't embarrass himself too much!
As you'll see, the brilliant boys at Baho Neza Mwana are huge fans of 'everybody's second favourite football team', Watford.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the team at Rwanda Aid for making us feel so welcome at Munezero House. It's a huge privilege to help in a small way with their fantastic work in the remote south west region of Rwanda. Boys, we can't wait to tell you more about our experiences.