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A School in the Open Air

School in the Open Air

While in Kenya, one day we visited a school in the open air. Standing next to the blackboard on the right, is the Chief of the African village. On the left, dressed in red, is the Chief’s oldest son who is also the school’s teacher.

A group of children and adults standing in front of a blackboard at the Ololepo Community School, smiling and posing for the camera in a rural setting.

The class included 22 children of a variety of ages. On this one day, they were learning the English alphabet and numbers. They were all super friendly and eager to show off all they were learning.

A group of children sitting on the ground in a rural setting, observing a blackboard with educational content. Two boys are standing, one in traditional attire, while the other points to the blackboard, which features numbers, letters, and days of the week.

A gallery of other photos from Africa were featured on “Wilderness of Africa.”

All photos are my own. ©Pepper Tron/Heavens Sunshine
No usage allowed in any form without my written consent.

Posted for Six Word Saturday and Weekly Prompts – One Day

30 responses to “A School in the Open Air”

  1. SueW Avatar
    SueW

    It’s not very easy to teach mixed-age children. I love the idea of the outdoor classroom. Thank you for sharing this with our challenge, Pepper.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      So glad you enjoyed it, Sue. 😊

      Reply
  2. Hammad Rais Avatar
    Hammad Rais

    Such a joyful capture this is

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      So glad you think so, Hammad. 😊

      Reply
  3. heavenlyraindrops Avatar
    heavenlyraindrops

    Very nice photos. When I was in Africa, I had a point/shoot. Back in the 80’s. An incredible experience though. Sounds like your trip was special, too. We are so blessed in America, compared to how they live over there.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks! It was a life changing trip. I will forever look at my own life differently because my experience in Africa. So glad you got to experience it too.

      Reply
  4. Linda Schaub Avatar
    Linda Schaub

    Interesting and I’ll bet they are more vested in learning than kids who have everything at their disposal nowadays, i.e. the phone/computer and even AI. I think of all my evenings/weekends spent at the library copying info from the encyclopedias, either by handwriting the info or Xeroxing it.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      You are so right about that. They were definitely invested in learning, every single one of them.

      Reply
      1. Linda Schaub Avatar
        Linda Schaub

        That’s nice to see. They appreciate their education. I used to listen to the Mitch Albom Show every day and he has an orphanage in Haiti that he subsidizes. Those kids are very smart. He takes them books, pays for schooling for those kids and brought several teenagers home with him to live with him/wife here in Michigan. They are attending college here.

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          Interesting! I have no idea who he is but Mitch sounds like an amazing person.

          Reply
          1. Linda Schaub Avatar
            Linda Schaub

            He’s a local media personality. He was a sportswriter for “The Free Press”, then wrote the book “Tuesdays With Morrie” then they made it into a movie. He has written about a dozen books, opened and subsidizes the Have Faith Haiti Mission after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. He does a lot of charitable work around the Detroit area as well. He still writes a column for “The Free Press” sometimes about sports, other times miscellaneous topics. He is on WJR Radio (AM 760) every weekday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

            Reply
            1. Pepper Avatar
              Pepper

              Ah, yes! Tuesdays with Morrie. I remember now. Sorry about the occasional senior moments. 😁

              Reply
              1. Linda Schaub Avatar
                Linda Schaub

                That’s okay Pepper … you did not live in Michigan all this time or you’d be more familiar with him. Yes, his first book put him on the map so to speak.

                Reply
                1. Pepper Avatar
                  Pepper

                  I remember seeing an interview with Mitch years ago about the book “Tuesdays with Morrie.” I was impressed by his story that it stuck in my head but now his name. I don’t think it clicked with me at the time that he was from Michigan. Now I have to read the book. 😉

                  Reply
                  1. Linda Schaub Avatar
                    Linda Schaub

                    Yes, that is what started it all for Mitch. I should go back to listening to him on WJR, but he was gone so often promoting his books and they changed the show hours, so I stopped listening.

                    Reply
                    1. Pepper Avatar
                      Pepper

                      Yippee! I found his books at the library on Kindle. 😉

                    2. Linda Schaub Avatar
                      Linda Schaub

                      You lucked out – now you can catch up!

                    3. Pepper Avatar
                      Pepper

                      I’ll probably be catching up very slowly. 😉

                    4. Linda Schaub Avatar
                      Linda Schaub

                      🙂

  5. Eliza Waters Avatar
    Eliza Waters

    How sweet! They seem so earnest and eager. As Donna said, ‘humbling and endearing.’

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Yes, they were. Being in the village was a reality check for me. The children were adorable and so happy to have us there.

      Reply
  6. Bay Photos By Donna Avatar
    Bay Photos By Donna

    I appreciate these photos, Pepper. They are humbling and endearing. May they learn as much as they can until their heart’s content!

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      They really seemed to be enjoying their schooling while we were there. 😊

      Reply
  7. Gisela Benseler Avatar
    Gisela Benseler

    So nice to see all these African children and their teachers!

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      I agree with you, Gisela. It was one of the highlights of the trip. 😊

      Reply
      1. Gisela Benseler Avatar
        Gisela Benseler

        ☺️

        Reply
  8. Sang N. Avatar
    Sang N.

    Hi Pepper, beautiful stories you have here. I’d like to request permission to reuse this photo for an article linking the tax evasion of extractive industries to the lack of resources in African countries, with which to spend on education, healthcare and job creation…

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Hi Sang. Thanks for asking for permission to use my photo. So sorry, but my response at this time has to be no. I do appreciate you stopping by and have a wonderful day.

      Reply
  9. Teresa Avatar
    Teresa

    Interesting to witness this. Did you make an appointment before you went?

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      My African safari was one of John Greengo’s photo tours. Our African guide was wonderful and he set up every stop, including the visit to the school. Yes, they knew we were coming in advance.

      Reply

Thoughtful words accomplish much.

error: All photos are copyrighted by Pepper Tron (aka Irene Tron & Heavens Sunshine). All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited.