Savannah- Teaching People to Fish

Michael Clark is the school librarian who is helping us structure and organize the library at the Kagugu School and he is doing an amazing job. Today I helped put colored dots on the spines of books according to the classification system he has created. While I was doing that in the open space of the library, several students wandered in and sat not far from me. I asked them if they would like to come over and look through the books I had finished marking. They accepted my invitation eagerly, and about five or six of them sat on benches near me reading English books all centered on the theme of HIV/AIDS education. After a while we began talking again, and I found out they are actually attend secondary schools nearby. They asked me many questions about myself, but eventually they got to the point and they made sure I didn’t miss it. They want pen pals from the U.S. A. I was a bit taken aback when I they asked for this so specifically and repeatedly. I assumed that had heard that I work with the IEE and we set up pen pals. Surprisingly, they hadn’t heard anything about it. This was simply what they wanted. In conjunction with that request, like most students here, they want me to teach them English. To learn English and to use it to speak to students in other countries is a repeated request of Rwandans. I’m excited to be able to give them what they want.

During our conversation something else interesting came up. I was asking what each of them wanted to do for their careers. One wanted to be a doctor, one wanted to simply travel to other countries, and one want to work in the financial sector. They asked me if all of that was possible for them, and I was glad to be able to say honestly that I believe they can do that in Rwanda today if they are willing to work hard. One student spoke up and said that when he finishes his education he wants to help poor people. “How?” I asked. They all laughed at my question at first. “By giving them food because they are hungry,” he replied. “Is that the best way to help poor people?” I prodded. “Yes,” he answered confidently. I disagree with him. To make my point I told him to proverb about teaching a man to fish versus giving him a fish (“If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.”) When I finished speaking they erupted in conversation and something like a cheer saying, “Yes! Yes! That is good.” I told them that that is the vision of the IEE. Although the need at Kagugu is not food, we are trying to educate people so that they are able to help themselves and are not dependent upon the aid of others. They clearly saw my point and to encourage me they chose to repeat the English slogan that Nike gave to the world. “Just do it!” they repeated. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh. We all parted ways with promises to see each other tomorrow when I am going to read them some books in English as requested. Thanks to everyone who makes this possible. The thrill of getting people what they need to help themselves is wonderfully exciting.