visit Masai Mara village

menahelen

Does the trip include a visit to a classroom? If so can we bring something for the children, how many would you say there are (best guess) and what sort of easy to carry things could you suggest. Thanks.

AlanS

menahelen wrote:

Does the trip include a visit to a classroom? If so can we bring something for the children, how many would you say there are (best guess) and what sort of easy to carry things could you suggest. Thanks.

If you visit a school at all, it will be in Tanzania near the Ngongoro Crater, not the Masaii Mara in Kenya. The availability of students depends on when you go and whether school is in session or on break or holiday. Except for a classroom of students who were there just for exam prep, the school we visited was empty. There are a number of threads concerning this in the K&T forum archives. The schools/students can use almost any type of school supplies- pencils, pads/tablets of paper, composition books, etc., but other items, such as sports equipment are welcomed. Some Tauck visitors have gotten a little carried away with soccer balls, however (light and easy to pack un-inflated), but they are fun. You can also give money (via Tauck). Tauck has teamed up with the Serena hotels to provide support and was supporting the building of a new, but modest cafeteria building.

A couple in our group wanted to give something more substantial, so asked the administrator what he needed/would like/could use- sometimes there are big differences in all three. He responded he needed and would like a copier- almost everyone in our group nodded in agreement, after all, every school needs one or more of those, right? However, as our TD quietly reminded us, this school did not have electricity (neither wired, generator, nor solar)!

The school rooms were very basic- concrete block construction, whitewashed walls, dirty windows (likely missing panes), basic wooden benches with attached desks, or separate wooden desks (shared, like books and almost everything else, by two or more students.) No electricity, no lights, and no heat, A/C, or fans of any type- since it is a high plains area (1 mi. +) it can get downright cool or be very hot. While we were there, students arrived in ones and twos, each carrying a stick or twig- to be used later as fuel for the fire to prepare lunch.

British

The school we visited on the Tanzania tour in Karatu was somewhat nicer. Find this Website Tanzania-schools.org. The school was called Tumani School. We get regular emails from them and Tauck has made a huge difference to the school, things like computers and a library. We just got an email about the girls liking the Nancy Drew books. We took frisbies which were a hit. At the time we thought they would get too many footballs. But money gifts are best. We did not visit a school when we went on the K and T tour. Last year when we visited Namibia with another tour company we were supposed to go to a school but it was cancelled.

Sealord

We went to the same school posted by AlanS, but it was in full session with at least forty students present. They sang for us, and behaved with almost military precision. We spent quite a bit of time with them. They were all very friendly and we had a great visit.