Day 2 Margaret was running late but we still.....

made it all happen without a hitch.  The thing that is most great about us being here a second time is that they expect us and we know what we are doing.  That is an amazing combination.  Today we had a more extensive opportunity with all our classes and I have to say that they all have a different flavor.  Forms 1 still seems compliant and excited.  We did history and completed our first project that I call Unique identifier.  Creating unique Name Plates that represent you as a unique human, just like art and its unique style.  They get it and they understand that even individuals that do the same concepts, are still unique in how it is interpreted.

Forms 2 who offered such challenges last year have all growed up.....They are into the art in a way that is both pleasing and exciting to Margaret.  They get, they are engrossed and are actually really pushing to develop the drawing skills.  It continues to be rewarding that there is absolute recognition of the education that we provided last year and the continued desire.  Today Margaret shared with them new skill concepts with shading, form and direction of light.  They are engrossed.  

Forms 3 is a smaller but really advanced group.  They were the most mature of our classes last year because they were already experienced students and the self selecting process for lack of a better term became evident to me today.  In the same class last year, I had 34 students in forms 2.  This year, those the wanted to continue their art education ended up being only 14 of that same group and for Margaret's form 2's, it is only 25 of 35 from the prior year.  The uniqueness about these 14 is that they immediately started an Art Club after we left and have continued to practice and develop their skills as artists.  This same group has actually developed theirs skills through continued practice.  This group has some of the artists that we talk about as some of the more talented of the group.  When I met with them today, they were fixated on doing amazing things and because of their maturity level feel like they are very serious and demonstrated that through their desire to work at home, create the name plates with an already developed style and their desire to have a long term trajectory with their art.  We talked about many things and they all led to practicing art on a very very constant basis.

The most rewarding aspect for both Margaret and I is that their art is important to them, all of them.  They get to choose to participate and are in it for themselves not because have to.  Today when I was talking to Forms 3, we talked about sharing their personal stories in their art.  We know they share more wide spread stories of Kibera in some of their art, but I have asked my group to think more internally about this and to consider sharing their own stories in their art, even if it is painful.

Margaret and I are being rewarding just by their complete desire to be here.  I feel like we are probably more fortunate than most to be part of these smart, beautiful and important peoples lives.  We get so much for what seems so little to give.  

Beatrice the Asst. HeadMaster continues to reinforce that they had no idea that this talent was here and that it was our program that made it clear to them that this was an important, if not critical part of their development.  I continue to believe what we learned in 2007, "one person at a time can make a difference". 

I have to say, we have quelled our shopping bug and have just distinct times that we will go to market to get the gifts we promised or the Kazuri we have been funded to provide.  It is really nice to be here and not feel like we don't belong, but on the contrary, feeling like this is a place we should be.  

More to come, hope you are well.

Margaret and Charles