Signs of the Times

This week we visited Alice Atieno (below, second from the right) at the Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf. We are so pleased to report back that she is making huge progress there, and has achieved good term grades.

We found her cooking up a storm with her fellow students - but whilst the class room was quiet there were obviously many animated exchanges going on, and the ingredients were being mixed with much culinary cheer! 

In September, Alice will be going on attachment, which she is much looking forward to. She spoke to us of her excitement at being exposed to more of the outside world and of how much she wants to learn new techniques and meet new friends and colleagues. 

When we asked her if she had encountered any particular challenges this year, her confident reply was that challenges are normal and to be coped with on an every day basis - one way or another, without fuss. This pragmatic approach to life was echoed in her recommendation to the Dean that it would be great to have more items available for their practicals - budget permitting. 

On our way out, Alice, realising our inability to follow what she was  'signing', rushed off to bring us her signing text book - which we will now do our best to delve into and learn from - so that on our next visit we can do better than our weird and wonderful gestures, that must have made a few of her class mates giggle! 

Alice with Catherine in the Dean's office and Catherine with Alice's 'signing' book.

Alice with Norah Joy Iganza, the Dean of Students

Visiting and Volunteering - Part 2

Signs of the Times

Next on our list of visits was to catch up with a new FDC student, Alice, at the Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf.

We were there to pay her term's fees and were lucky enough to sit in on a class for her food and beverages course - on table setting, presentation and serving. 

She has settled in well and has made a great group of friends, with whom you see her 'signing', in a group of four, above! We hope that she will go on to find a fulfilling job at the end of her course. She deserves to succeed, demonstrating to us and her teachers, huge amounts of cheer and enthusiasm!

Hard workers

Duncan and Dennis were last, but not least! Like Wilberforce, they took their KCSE exams in November and are now working to earn some money for living expenses, to enable them to do their volunteering work at a special needs school in Waithaka. They have 'networked' with friends in the area and found jobs on a building site in the Lavington area - doing 'finishing work' on 'new build' homes.

Dennis, above and right, is hoping to then move on to a catering course for his tertiary education, whilst Duncan, bottom left, is keen on pursuing a career in mechanical engineering and is hoping to either win a place on an internship at a well-known automotive company in Nairobi, or to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.