Hello TFFT Supporters! First, an apology—I have now been working with TFFT for over two months, and besides my introduction, this is the first time that you are hearing from me on the blog! Since I just lead a Full Circle class on effective communication, I’d say it is time to put that into practice, so I promise to be far more communicative in the future.
In the two months since I arrived here in Arusha, I have gained much experience, many friends, wonderful memories, and even some wisdom (for example, I learned that every time I thought I was saying “Leave me alone!” to someone pestering me on the streets, I was actually saying “Wash me! Wash me!”… which explains a lot). More than anything, however, I have learned that I have the BEST job in the world. When I came to TFFT, I had very little knowledge of the organization. I had seen the website and read a few blog posts, but beyond that, I was totally new to TFFT. So, armed with little more than two large suitcases and enough bug repellent to last for 10 years, I arrived in Arusha and have been constantly surprised and impressed by my own organization, our staff, our supporters, and our kids. I honestly could not ask for a better job or work environment. So that’s a pretty great way to spend your life!
Let me first give you a little overview of what the Full Circle program looks like now. At Usa River Academy I have four Full Circle (FC) classes, divided by age: Classes 1-3, Class 4, Classes 5-7, and Secondary. Something new to the FC format is that classes are not just for TFFT kids, but the primary school classes (class 1-7) are for ALL the students. This means that I can reach twice as many kids … and that I have twice as many names to learn. Even after two months, you’d be surprised at how many kids are still named “hey there, kiddo!” I’m trying, I really am.
Despite my inability to learn names, Full Circle has really taken off in the past two months. With the help of some wonderful teachers at Usa River Academy, I conduct one hour long classes four times per week, with topics and activities varying to meet the age and comprehension level of each. For the lower primary students, we are focusing on teamwork. We have formed teams, selected team names, made banners for their teams, and cheered on their teams. This academic term is one massive competition between their teams. Which team listens well, who has the most team spirit, who completed the activity first, which team works together the best, etc. This long-term teamwork Olympics definitely keeps me on my toes to come up with new, fun, educational challenges and activities.
The upper primary class is focusing on community involvement. They have been brainstorming world and community issues and coming up with unique solutions. Not just any solution, but solutions that THEY can implement. My goal is that by the end of the term, they will have worked together to develop and plan a community service project that they will complete. I have been constantly impressed at the students’ level of comprehension and their creativity when brainstorming. I will definitely keep you up to date on their progress as their project develops.
Full Circle got a late start with the Secondary students because of changes at the school, but we have gained momentum and are really making up for lost time. Our focus has been on different aspects of leadership and the characteristics that it takes to become a good leader. After creating our own “Recipe for Leadership,” they voted on what they think the 5 most important characteristics of a leader are, and we are focusing on learning about those. With five sticker votes, communication came out on top, hence the lesson on effective communication!
I have definitely had some “learning experiences” (which is the optimistic term for “mistakes”), like the fact that it is a universally bad idea to play the game “Telephone” with 10 year old boys. But we have had many successes as well! I have discovered that one of the best things about working in Tanzania is that the kids think I am a Game Goddess when I introduce such unique activities as … Simon Says and the Human Knot. Even just watching the younger kids’ ability to listen and follow directions increase is a big win to me! Each week, the upper primary and secondary students write a week-long goal on a paper the size of a bookmark. When we started this at the beginning of the term, they didn’t know how to write good goals, rarely achieved them, and often lost the piece of paper after a few days, but the goals have slowly grown to be more specific and difficult, more students are achieving them, and several actually remember to bring their bookmark to class the next week. Nicemary, a secondary student actually took the goal-setting lesson and sat down and wrote out her goals…until the year 2017! It is seeing growth and initiative like this that makes this the best job I could imagine. So I owe a HUGE “thank you” to TFFT and our supporters
