Busy busy busy

We have had a busy time!
Last week, I spent Tuesday morning with a reading group in a local primary school. They are in our equivalent of Primary Two, but most can’t read or write. Because they start school at age 7, they are 8 or 9 years old and really struggling with a series called Kathy and Mark much like the old Peter and Susan books,(or Janet and John if you’re a Terry Wogan fan!).
On Wednesday, I was invited to a literary competition for the brightest kids from the local municipality. From the ridiculous to the sublime! These kids were aged between 12 and 18 and were divided into groups according to age and language (the competition was offered in 4 languages). The children had read a number of prescribed books and had to answer questions in a series of elimination rounds before the grand finale, where a prize of R2,000 was on offer in each age group and in each language. What a day! There was a gospel choir, a local TV celebrity, various speeches and an excellent hot lunch. But most amazing of all was the serious nature of all of the competitors, including a huge number of boys! Would it work in Grangemooth? If only!
On Thursdays, I seem to have talked myself into running a homework club at the public library. These kids are all so eager to learn, asking for help to spell and pronounce words correctly in English. They are all black children who are bussed in from a local township. They live in shacks and definitely value education, seeing it as their ticket to a better life. I spoke to a number of senior boys and girls, aged 16-18, who were all really keen to get the best mark at school. Most wanted to be accountants but they still find time to read, both for information and for pleasure! What a pleasure it was!