The ‘official’ part of the ceremony happened as Ibra, his teachers, the chairmen of the two sections of Nawantumbi village met with Innocent, Judith and myself inside the classroom.
Eight children entered and brought two desks and some of the new books with them. They performed a poem they had written. It was thanking us for the gifts such as classrooms, desks to sit on and books. It was very good. The video is worth watching but is 1.42 minutes long so might not come through for a while!

The two Local Chairmen from the two halves of the village spoke thanking us for the love we have shown their village as there were no other schools within or for several kilometres. They said they were the envy of many especially as the school had performed so well in the National Leavers Exams, the first time the school had put children forward for it and they all passed! There were no 1st Grades, but two 2nds, three 3rd grades, three 4th grades and no one failed. More good news was that out of the eight candidates six had gained a place in secondary school! The parents of the other two just couldn’t afford the fees.

Tap to open photos

They were very grateful to you all for developing the school but mentioned the lack of water at or near the school, in fact two of the boys at that moment went past the entrance pushing a bike loaded with four heavy jerrycans heading towards the kitchen! Peter followed them with my phone!

Ibrahim spoke about the increase in numbers, now 185, and that classrooms have had to be partitioned to make two. I must admit that some children are a bit cramped! But he too was very pleased at how the children are performing and much of that is down to the physical help we’ve given them and of course to the good teaching staff. He described the conditions the school had been in when I saw it in 2020, how the children and staff had to use the sugarcane field when I they wanted a ‘short-call’! Later when it was my turn to speak I demonstrated how I had to bend down to get in their classroom where the grass roof was collapsing and it was dark, dingy and dangerous!

I was really pleased that Ibra thanked Innocent and Judith. He said Innocent knows what I like to eat and it wasn’t posho and beans, their school dinner!
There are several short videos of the speeches so if anyone would like to listen to them, particularly Ibra’s, I’ll send them to you separately.

Young Gerry completely ignored the business, occupying the desk sponsored by Jaxon, all by herself! She’s such a character!

Continued in next post!