The kids build a small section of the canal

One of everyone’s favorite days of the trip was when we go visit Mandaka Primary School, the school where about 500 of the village go to school.  When we arrive they greet us with songs and welcome u with tea.  They are so excited to have us visit yet I think I might have been more excited to be visiting them.  The kids are so cute.  They are in classes of about 40 and sit three to a desk, but they are so enthusiastic and joyful.

 

This year we hoped to teach the kids a little bit about our project by building a canal out of modeling clay.  Each child got a little section of clay to make a part of the canal that we connected and improved to make a working canal.  When we told the kids it was ready, they just about ran to the front of the room to see.   We put a hole in the wall to how that overtime the canal will break and water will escape, which out water did spilling colorful water all over the floor of their classroom.  We then fixed it to show that little repairs will help the communities get water.

Did we make a huge mess?  Kind of

Everyone excited gathers around to watch the demonstation

Did anyone care?  No

Did the kids fully grasp the concept of maintenance? Probably not

Did we at least help the kids understand the canal more?  Hopefully

Did the kids have a blast? Yes

Did the other EWB-Valpo members have fun? Of course

Was the day a success?  Definitely!