Curator’s statement
It has been 273 days since I was inside an elementary school classroom.
I don't remember exactly when I decided to do this or how I discovered The School of Hope. I think most people who come to an island in the Indian Ocean are here for exquisite beauty and tropical activities. At some point, this became a part of the itinerary and such an obvious one for an elementary teacher.
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An educator named Coco founded The School of Hope in 2015. He began his first school under a tree as he gathered children from the village to come and learn. The children come from impoverished families who can not afford to attend government-subsidized schools. Without the School of Hope, these children would receive virtually no education.
When I contacted Coco and asked if I could come and visit, his response was instantaneous and genuine. "Welcome, my friend."
Walking the 1.3 kilometers from my accommodations to the school seemed like a no-brainer. However, the oppressive African summer sun and the unpaved road labyrinth made it really challenging. As I walked past unbelievable living conditions, I was greeted with beautiful smiles and friendly greetings of "Jambo Jambo" at every corner. Even with that said, I was questioning my decision to do this.
That was, of course, until I turned the last corner and could hear the very familiar din of elementary school children in class.
The two-story school was modest and teeming with children. As soon as I walked in, children came running over, offering big hugs and high-fives. I immediately felt at home and knew this was absolutely the best way to spend my morning -- just as I did for several decades in the classroom.
Over the years in the classroom, my colleagues and I often lamented how we lacked the supplies to teach. So frequently, educators must reach into their own personal wallets to fund their classrooms. I did it, and several hundred other teachers I have taught with continue to do so. The classrooms I stood in today were not dissimilar; dynamic teachers were making do with very little. They were working hard to maintain engagement and check for understanding. Simply put, they were making magic in the classroom.
I didn't stay long, as my presence in the classrooms was an obvious distraction to their community of learners. But I can tell you that regardless of the culture, kids are kids. They laugh, they run, they are off-task. Educators work their magic.
You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but a teacher's heart will always find the way back home.