The school in Oloika - the main town in Shompole - has about 300 students in grades 1-10. Its physical plant is woefully inadequate. We worked on two projects: the renovation of a set of classrooms, and the planting of trees for a live fence. We also painted a mural on one end of the classrooms.We worked alongside community volunteers, and the community itself raised close to $4000 for these and related projects (through its conservancy). Oloika is really a model in the way the community takes responsibility for its own economic development. The work we did was incredibly difficult - my fingers are actually still stiff and sore from breaking up cement by hand - but we all loved doing it because it was truly a combined effort.
A volunteer I became good friends with, Liinty. He didn't speak any English, and my Maa consists of little more than a few greetings and phrases like, "let me help you with that" and "it's hot today" and "I will see you tomorrow." But there was a lot of gesturing and smiling and laughing.
