After awarding the Wash Project to Awach P7, Joyce, the incredible head teacher, was able to quickly round up and organize the parents in preparation for the big dig. With the instructions from the contractors already distributed to the teachers, everyone was on board on where to begin the digging. Over the course of two days, parents of enrolled students came together to help get the project rolling.
On the first day of the dig, Emma, Benson, and I arrived around 11 A.M. We were pleasantly surprised with the rapid pace and the amount of digging that had been completed. Parents had been working as early as 5 A.M., and the turnout had exceeded all expectations; as many as 120 parents gathered on the first day as they dug the pit in support of their children!
Despite the hot conditions, the long journeys they made to be able to attend, and the hard labor they endured, the parents felt extremely thankful that the Wash Project was taking place and benefiting their children. As the digging came to a close at around noon, the majority of the dig was able to be finished in one day due to the hard work and dedication of the parents.
Parents partaking in the dig
With all the success and progress made, the GDPU team made it a point to thank and speak to each parent that came out in support, starting with Benson, one of GDPU’s executive members and treasurer. Emma then spoke to parents about the importance of attending to children with disabilities and the importance of caring for them and giving them equal opportunities. She then referred parents to the resources at GDPU like wheelchairs, walking sticks, etc. and then opened the floor up to the parents to express any personal experience with individuals with disabilities and things that the community as a whole can do to assist these individuals. Afterwards, I shared my thoughts and thanks to the parents, expressing my gratitude of how fortunate I was for their support and how the project will be conducted and completed before I return to the US. Despite the language barrier for some, my smile and hand motions spoke more than my words.
Emma delivering her speech to the parents under the tree
As we sat under the tree enjoying our posho and beans, the success of the first day of digging came to a close. With many more adventures left in this Wash Project, the school community was left hopeful and more connected than ever before.
Speaking with some of the parents after lunch
Posted By Kyle Aloof
Posted Jul 15th, 2022
1 Comment
Iain Guest
July 17, 2022
So good to hear that the parents rolled up their sleeves to help with the big dig. This shows their commitment to the education of their kids and underscores the importance of the school in the community’s life. Hopefully, it will also motivate them to monitor the new new toilets and make sure they are kept in better condition that the current disasters….