Career Week – Dream Big

We incorporated careers in this week’s classes. The theme for the week was “Dream Big. I could be anything!” After morning prayers I introduced the theme on Tuesday (as Monday was a holiday).

Morning prayers
I started by showing the students a picture of the most important resource on the island – my camera was turned on selfie mode and the screen was large enough so the students could see themselves. They loved it.

I believe the people are critical resources to the world, much more than money. I’m fortunate at this point in my life to be able to be a Peace Corps volunteer and put that belief into action.

I believe people are created different but equal – each has the potential to excel. If the world is going to thrive and if we are going to solve our problems we need as many people as possible pursuing their potential. Most poor people are poor because of circumstances beyond their control not because they are lazy. All people need help along the way. The problem with some people is they don’t know how lucky and how much help they received along the way.

Still, people have to work and accept responsibility for their actions. We encouraged the children one not only to dream big, but reminded them that study and hard work was also required.

Some who will shape the future for Grenada and the world

We spent some time each day to have others teach the students about jobs around them. On Tuesday we went to the local Post Office and to a carpentry shop.
Post office at Munich

Mail is sorted by zones to be kept for pickup or delivered

Mahogany and white cedar are harvested on island and pine is imported

Some of the equipment in the shop

The elementary school, before Hurricane Ivan, had a woodworking shop and that is where the owner got his start

Some of the furniture in various stages 

Nearly finished for the customer

Rough wood shavings used as a poultry bedding.  Now, if only I could start growing mushrooms.
On Wednesday we went to a farm. We had to skip a visit to the health center due to last minute scheduling issues on their side.

Looking at the shade house to protect the peppers from sun burn.

Describing this part of the 6 acre farm to the students

A field with lettuce in the foreground and cucumbers just starting in the background

A gravity feed water system from a river higher up supplies the water

On Thursday we went to a radio station, a water treatment plant and the police station. We had planned several other visits, but time was not on our side.
Line up to load up in the buses

Real FM is in the basement of a house

Control room explained to the students

Students "on-air"

This directional antenna points to Grand Etang where the primary transmitting antenna is located for the island
Hold hands and be careful, the principal doesn't swim and is nervous about the water treatment plant

Let's just walk across carefully, what could happen

Water comes from a dam higher up and first enters this 80 foot deep sedimentation tank

Describing the various stages of the process

Slow sand filtration, a popular method, is used with parallel units before chlorine gas treatment 
High enough up and the sea/ocean is generally in view - like I"m on a island or something
And this is how handcuffs works

Hugs and handshakes after the tour
On Friday representatives from a bank came by to explain how a bank works. The rest of the day the students worked in groups and individually to prepare for an assembly to tell what they had learned during the week.

All in all a successful week.

Goodbye for now
Love always,
John

Comments

  1. JimMay 27, 2018 at 8:25 PM

    Such a great idea John! Thanks for sharing. Let's just hope I remember it when I get to Nepal. :)

    ReplyDelete

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