‘I Love Trucks’ on a school visit in Kenya

My colleague Liz suggests I might like to read to the literacy class today. I’d love to. If only I’d had chance to read the picture book we’ve brought with us before now I’d feel a lot better about it. Anyway, life isn’t a rehearsal. Here goes.

They love it. It’s high-fives all around and they join in with a musical chorus of “Trucks! Trucks! Trucks! I love trucks!” I appear to be on the floor carrying out the actions. Well, I might as well let myself go and live in the moment. I hope they’ll remember an English man coming to read to them enthusiastically, and entertain them for a day, with fondness.

We end with a question and answer session. I answer their questions by telling them about my journey here and my life. It seems so far from their experience. I have to imagine as best I can how to explain it in words which will fill their minds with images of where I come from and what life is like in the UK. It’s a fascinating challenge. It’s what books do; fill your mind with other worlds.

I want them all to have choices in their lives and be able to understand what their lives could be.

When asked what being a superhero means to them, children here answer, “I carried heavy firewood home” or “I carried heavy jerrycans of water”. Many only know the roles of subsistence farmer or teacher. Even knowing that people write books and that they could write books is a revelation. Knowing that people illustrate books and that they could illustrate books broadens their horizons.

It was a pleasure to spend time with them.

Many schools in Kenya are critically short of resources. There is a way you can help. Even the smallest gift, donation or purchase will make a massive difference to children here.

If you would like to help the charity Kenya Connect empower rural communities you can visit them here and donate here. They have an Amazon Wishlist for the basics of paper, pencils, and books. Please support them if you can. Their need is great and their cause an honourable one.