Hello dear readers,
This summer
we (Rebekah and Fatima) participated in the Water School that Dar Si Hmad
organized in two rural areas right outside of Sidi Ifni. If you have not heard
about the Water School before, this is a good opportunity for you to find out
more about this project:
The Water
School provides an opportunity for children living in the countryside to
explore and learn about new topics related to water and the environment. The
Water School is accomplished via various workshops, lessons, experiments, and
games to achieve two of Dar Si Hmad’s top priorities simultaneously: learning
and having fun!
The annual
Water School was inaugurated last summer, and the activities took place at one
school in the countryside. This year, Dar Si Hmad expanded its efforts and the
Water School took place in two schools; one was Ezzahraoui primary school where
we had 40 students and the other school was Jabal Akhdar primary school where
we had 46 students. Our main objectives resided in teaching the two communities
of Ait Baamrane about the science of water, the importance of water quality,
and important hygienic practices related to water and sanitation (WASH).
Following the completion of the Water School this year, here are our personal reflections:
Fatima Gouali: Water School Teacher
BA in English Studies from Ibn Zohr University
Translating and Teaching Intern at Dar Si Hmad
The Water School
experience was one of the best experiences I have been through. It was a
mission that enabled me to challenge myself and, as a result, benefit greatly
from the experience. I strongly believe that this year’s Water School was
successful due to many factors, especially the great team I had the honor of
working with. I can’t deny, I was nervous when we first started planning
activities for the kids, but it was an overall incredible experience.
Water School students participate in an activity that explores how germs work using glitter! |
However, I convinced myself that I could do it no matter what and that I
would do my best to make the sessions a compelling combination of learning and
fun. In the first class, I explained the three states of matter after our warm
up activity. I was smiling and the kids were interacting in a positive way.
There was a moment when I looked over at Marouane (the Water School Supervisor)
and he was smiling too! When I finished, Bekah told me «you’re doing fantastic».
Their encouragements made me so comfortable about everything that was going on.
The other classes also went well, and all of the work we
did was very satisfying.
I am so glad we could make our plans and ideas for the Water School into a reality. The Water School helped mold me into a stronger and more confident teacher. I can proudly say that I did my best and I devoted a great deal of both my time and my energy for the Water School to take place. I challenged my fears and my lack of experience in coordinating games and entertainment for children, and I developed into a person that was able to make the water school a success!
Rebekah Daniel: Curriculum Coordinator
B.A. in Physics at Willamette University
Pursuing joint MS/PhD in Environmental
Engineering at CU Boulder
Teaching
children is an area that I am extremely passionate about. Sharing knowledge in
a way that sparks curiosity, develops deep understanding and, in turn, provides
personal empowerment for any individual is always a rewarding experience.
Although I did not teach the Water School myself, taking part in the ‘behind
the scenes’ curriculum and activities prep work was equally as rewarding.
Students and Dar Si Hmad staff on a sunny day in Mesti. |
Watching
the curriculum come to life in the children’s faces while they participated in
the planned activities was an incredible experience. The success was only made
possible by my wonderful teammates, Fatima, Latifa and Marouane, who taught the
Water School in such an engaging and informative fashion. The enthusiasm and
curiosity of both the teachers and the students in the classrooms were
contagious; just one moment in their presence reminded me of how important and
wonderful it is to invest in the children of the next generation.
The
children were hungry for knowledge and having fun, and the Water School
provided them with those exact opportunities. I am so excited to hear about the
amazing adventures, successes, and newfound territory of the Water School in
years to come. Over the next few years, as Dar Si Hmad expands the Water School
into other rural schools with new curriculum topics in the STEM fields, I am
positive that they will continue to make a significant and positive impact on
the lives of the children involved in the Water School program.
Peace to you
all,
Fatima and
Rebekah
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