Sophia Special School

Pictures from the Sophia Special School...where most of my work happens.

Here are some of the students during morning prayer.

Some of the kids who are in my arts after school club.

Just now....

These past few weeks in Georgetown have been hot and humid with the rains sort of starting...some days it looks like it is going to pour down and not one drop of rain falls..then other days it's sunny and then we are slammed with a 10 minute downpour.

I have started back 4 days a week at The Sophia Special School with behavioral trainings for the teachers, language assessments for level 7 students, small literacy groups and even started an after school art club for students to experience visual arts, music/dance and drama.

At the ministry, I just finished working on a training for teachers/parents and educators on how to make teaching aids using grassroots materials. The teachers and educators commented that they enjoyed the information that I presented to them and I hope that I can continue to influence them to use creative arts in the classroom.

Additionally, I am planning large scale trainings for all of the teachers at the identified special schools in Guyana. I recently created a teacher survey to better understand the needs and concerns from special needs teachers in the country and am in the process of distributing the surveys and collecting the results. This information is going to help the disabilities education office formulate numbers for a comprehensive report to present to the education ministry on increasing resources for special needs schools.

As you can see...I've got a lot going on and am trying to make my remaining 5 months here worthwhile!

10 things I have learned while in Guyana

1. Corn in a cup with a random sauce is equivalent to chicken soup…AMAZING!

2. The kissy noise in Guyana is the same as hissing in Togo …I just ignore it.

3. There is such as a thing as a chip that taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch

4. Pange can be used all over the world.

5. Bootleg DVDs are fabulous when you are trying to catch up on movies/TV from the last 2 years.

6. Uncomfortable seats, crazy drivers and horrible roads= Bush taxis/ Buses around the world.

7. Mosquitoes still love me wherever I go!

8. Street food is so much better (and cheaper) than anything from a restaurant.

9. A working iPod can make things so much better.

10. Realizing that people can understand what I am saying when I speak English.