On October 18, 2017 the founders of African Girls Can visited St. Katherine’s Secondary School in Lira and surprised our five students with a special two-hour session outside of the classroom at their school. Based on the girls’ enthusiastic reception of us, it was a wonderful surprise indeed! Alecia recounts the very special day in this photo diary.
We arrived at the school on a beautiful clear morning. There is a stunning bougainvillea at the entrance. You also pass through a very strong secure looking gate with a guard.
I met the school Headmistress, Madame Rose Nangwala.
Madame Rose took us on a tour of the campus. We saw science and computer labs, an art class and dormitories with school uniforms hanging on the line to dry in the sunshine. We had to be very quiet as we moved from place to place as S4 national examinations were underway in the library and classrooms.
Meeting and hugging the girls for the first time was something I’ll never forget!
The girls helped set up our outdoor meeting space in the shade of the trees.
I showed the girls where I live on a map and left one of these with each class (there are two first year girls, two second year and one third year). We also left a dictionary, thesaurus and art supplies with the group. The girls elected Patricia as their group leader, in part because she is in the highest grade.
Phoebe, Aggie and Emma conducted an exercise about having dreams and goals, and the steps needed to achieve them. It started with brainstorming about things that get in the way of or help dreams and then the girls had a hands-on activity of creating their own “Dream Tree.” We read poetry about dreams and the girls each received a bookmark with one of the poems printed on the back.
The girls were able to select a personal diary (with a motivational message on the cover such as “Yes You Can!”) and also a biography from the “Who Was” series. Their choices were all inspirational: Michelle Obama, Mother Theresa, Malala Yousafzai, Maya Angelou and Nelson Mandela. It is our hope that they will share these books with each other and their families and neighbors.
The girls each received a very special present, a “Dream” necklace” made especially for them by a Middle School student from Boulder, CO (more about that project in a future blog). We also brought them some snacks to enjoy – orange Fanta and biscuits.
I exchanged gifts and spent a brief time visiting with Emma Okite, former History teacher at St. Katherine’s and now Dean of Students at the recently founded Lira University. Emma helps with recruiting for African Girls Can and gave the girls many words of wisdom on this day.
We bid farewell to the girls as we drove off and were left with the image of them with beaming smiles.
