Rumwe Academy

When we arrived at Rumwe primary, the kids peeked around the building. It was their break time, they played in the dirt and grass. As word spread (mzungu mzungu!) more came to glimpse and we waved calling "sasa, sasa!" There was excitement and caution and shock and eagerness. I think I had a grin plastered on my face all day. 

The principal led us to each classroom and the students stood to greet us.  We presented a short introduction and the kids sang "hiii!" We walked outside to the next classroom, the school yard overlooking trees and rolling hills dotted with tin houses.  The sky was overcast, partly from the clouds and partly from the smoke rising from morning chapati and burning garbage. Over a short wall goats roamed and gardens of kale grew. It was hard to believe that the sticky city slum, crowded with sellers in their stands, stray dogs roaming lazily, women cooking mandazi and meat, goats mating casually in the road, was just outside the metal wall that marked the entrance of the school grounds.