A good start

version française

It's early in the morning and the youngsters from the septième rue in Limeté are doing their capoeira training with Maestre Ninja:

Training is over and Guy is ready to start classes but how can he?  There are so many kids!  The word has got out that there are free classes and free food to boot and they have all followed Ninja for this early morning session.

On the steps of the makeshift classroom on Madame Nadine's veranda, all proudly showing their work.

Heart breaking as the task might be to turn some away, finally the 13 kids who had already been selected were allowed into class.  It is rarely possible, in such activities to do great quality and great quantities at the same time (at least not at the beginning)!

The kids were taught how to wash their hands well with soap and they then received their bread and eventually their writing boards etc.

Next it was assessment time.  Even to simply introduce themselves in French proved problematic for most of them but they were all very proud of themselves when Guy filmed them at the end of the session so they could see how well they had done.

A good start.  Here's hoping we will see great steps forwards during the month to come.

HOPE [Helping Other People's Education] works in partnership with EducAid.  If you would like to know more about EducAid's work with vulnerable youngsters, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.educaidsierraleone.blogspot.com and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com