Welcome to Goderich Waldorf School
Welcome to the web home of Goderich Waldorf School, Sierra Leone (Last updated: 07-Oct-2007).
School News
The Goderich Waldorf school in Freetown is located in one of the poorest countries worldwide. After long years of civil war there is outwardly peace now. But what war and poverty have done to the souls of human beings can´t be seen easily. The school that was founded by Shannoh Kandoh is an oasis, which gives the now over 200 children of classes 1-6 hope for a better future.
Shannoh writes:
On June 29, we closed school for long vacation (June-September). It is a period marked with heavy rains, thunder and lightening, and plethora of diseases that make life wintry and especially tough for the “food poor” whose daily feeding come by supernatural grace or shall I say good luck?
During this time in Sierra Leone, the “haves” look forward to shopping with their children in the most expensive stores and confine themselves in the comfort of their thick-wall fenced homes that are only stink with surpluses of everything from food to old clothes, but the aroma of good food disturbingly invites the poor near their dust-bins to collect whatsoever is disposed of.
It’s a reality that even the empties of milk tins, brandy bottles and packages are all useful to the poor. Disgustingly, the children as the very human beings, made in the image of God, a stage which every adult must pass-rich or poor, white or coloured, man or woman, are commonly found scavenging. This is the picture of life in areas where the wealthy live, but with also the poor who patches around to survive from the crumbs and wastes from the rich.
Poverty, worries…and a festival
But what about the Goderich community wherein we do not have the poor-rich situation?
It is an absolutely poor-poor situation wherein the rivalry for survival is so rife among adults and community groups in such dimension that children are less considered as human beings. In fact a shameful saying goes as thus: “When a child falls, it can be easily lifted up by an adult. But when an adult falls, a child (children) can not lift him/her up”. It means that in situation wherein the possibility of daily food or survival is unpredictable, the adults must first be satisfied before children. This is kind of environment that we are, and we continually work to change the perceptions of parents, guardians, community leaders regarding every child.
Therefore as we closed, the children are reminded of the many challenges, but more importantly, the benefits that continuing in school will do for their future if they avoided activities that will keep them away from the school family next September.
Even though the staff are all too worry about the situation of children in their classes, we always try to create hope in the children by planning a big school family party as a way of leaving with them feelings of good parting and the desire to come back after the season. I facilitated this closing sessions as usual because I have observed that the first day at school when school reopens and the last day of closing are significant in setting the moods of our children to want to continue in school. But again teachers are encouraged to set such moods on a daily basis during term-time because children come with heavy hearts to school and terrified to return home for many reasons.
During the closing session Susan Taylor, our class 2 teacher, supervised the children in the cooking. This year we served boiled rice with Cassava Leaves soup, bread and locally prepared ginger drink. Children were also prepared to dress in their best attires, and we took beautiful photos and encouraged them to do some reflections.
Reflections of the children
In a way, we consider the whole school year as the children’s “dreaming” period wherein they have experienced wonderful experiences that they have come to share with members of the school family. Indeed experiences that continues to linger on the minds as they face various challenges of life.
During the reflections, they recalled all the aunties that visited the school. “I remembered Nana Barbara, Kelly, Elaine, Annabel”- thunders the voices of children from different corners in the assembly. When Marie who was very quiet was asked whom she remembered, she said “NA”. Do you mean Annabel or Nana I asked her. She replied “Nanabel”.
What about them? Children gave reflections on our friends as thus: “Nana and Barbara sang and told us the story of the bird, Elaine the buku-buku (plenty) crayons, Kelly (now named, Pema) brought the first Aid kit, played the recorder and big-big (great) dancer. Annabel, Quiet, just click!!!!” The kids demonstrated with an imaginary camera in front of their eyes. Yes Annabel was very kind to do wonderful photographs for our school.
When we asked the children, what they will be missing as they go on holidays. “The morning handshake, the bread at lunch time (occasional though), the songs, the play, teachers etc”. What will you take with you and remember in your hearts every morning even when the rains darkened the skies and keep the sun at bay? Many gave beautiful responses, but one answer that came from Hawa Conteh (class II) was: “the Sun with Shining lights”. With this response, all the children continued with the recitation of the morning verse to our amazement.
Hopes
The morning verse is surely gaining roots in the hearts of these children, serving as a great source of spiritual strength. Also, this verse is the children’s first contact with the English Language- they strive to know it and the teachers are proud to know that even in the community, children recite it to the wonders of the community members who hitherto felt that the children can never learn anything but only created to be used and abused in different manner. Our School in collaboration with the charity “Action for Child Protection” continue to create awareness on the rights of Children.
Our children have shown great prowess in African traditional dance. Through dance, we aim not only to build their self-esteem and confidence again, but also to bring together individuals and groups in a divided community. In February, we invited the District Supervisor of schools to witness one of the children’s rehearsals. After his visit he remarked as thus: “African dance and songs are lost activities in schools as well as urban communities today, but in your school, teachers and children are creating a vehicle that will bring reconciliation, peace and communality”.
In spite of the challenges that we experience as a school, we continue to look forward to a brighter future for these children which God has placed in our care. We have the moral responsibility as adults to help them. Without our school, these children would definitely not have the opportunity to be educated in a more humane way.
Finally the children and staff of Goderich Waldorf School would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all, for their benevolent support given to us. Without your support in kind and cash, our work would not have been possible. We are especially grateful to the children in Waldorf schools worldwide who are sacrificing their time to raise funds, pocket monies and materials to support our school. May all of you enjoy the true experiences of life as your efforts bring us the hope of a common humanity.
The school is moving to a new location in september 2007. Thanks to a WOW-Day-donation of more than 3,000 Euro from Waldorf school Ottersberg the work for the new school building could be started. WOW-Day donations from other schools made it possible that we can support the running costs with now more than 900 Euro per month. From October 2007 until 2008 an experienced Waldorf teacher from New York will support the school and help the teachers.