Our school discovered this secret right away from its start in 2005. And decided that we couldn't wait any longer to pass on skills to children at Rubanda Solidarity school. This has since then made a big difference to both our school kids and the community. Their new mindset of how formal school education is linked to community development tells it all. It has boosted the school curriculum in reaching out to the needs of the kids, created a positive attitude to children toward skill programs and attracted active community participation toward an integrated school program as well.
Our new poverty alleviation approach is that poverty eradication is a responsibility of every individual in the community. And teaching kids how to fish was the best way. Kids learn this from the day to day community initiatives within the schools which have become the modern venues for children's learning. For instance, with a bamboo and papyrus art lesson, kids learn about its by-products and innovations. They will know how to use it for fishing, securing their books, winnowing out chaffs, designing local mats/carpets, building cereal barns and baskets, erecting fences to minimize community conflicts against kitchens' trespassing into neighbor's gardens. It will also improve their homestead yields for better meals, less family wranglings, court time and cash expenses into less stress and better community.
Indirectly, skills provided to school kids will not only boost children's innovative power but will also protect resources and environment because kids will know the advantages and the need to preserve them.
Isn't it amazing!
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| An elder from the village instructing kids how to make papyrus baskets, fish traps, mats and fences for school, home and income purposes. |
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| Most of these kids are very curious about this project because they thought that these were traditional activities with nothing to do in school. school Nov. 23rd 2013 |
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| A community elder with practical skills instructing our children at school Nov. 23rd 2013 |
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| A school kid demonstrating the product of their skill class work Nov. 23rd 2013 |
