Quick Update from Cura

The computer I'm on won't take my camera's memory card, so I don't have photos to share yet... but trust me that all is well here in Cura! It's wet and muddy and far too cold for most of us, but all is well, nonetheless.

Quinn and I arrived yesterday afternoon, following errands in Nairobi that included placing a large order for Primary School textbooks and a downpayment on new uniforms for the housemothers. We'll pick up those orders when we're back in Nairobi on Thursday, but until then we're here in Cura, reconnecting and taking stock of what's been going on since I was here in January.

The biggest news, of course, is the existence of a large structure where there once was none! The secondary school has its second story in place, so the next step is a roof... and lighting, and painting, and bannisters for the stairway, and chalkboards, and desks, and textbooks, and teachers, and students! Lots to think about and lots to do. But the process is inspirational!

Case in point: Yesterday, I met a friend of Scola's, Nicolas, who is currently a third year student at the University of Nairobi's business school. He told me that he went to Cura's pre-primary and primary schools as a child himself, but, as a strong student, he placed into a secondary school out of the area and hasn't been back. Now, he says, he loves coming back to Cura because the investment in infrastructure (the Home, the Clinic, the computer lab, the library, and now the secondary school) gives him a sense of pride. Though he doesn't have children himself to send to our new school, he's happy to see his hometown make such dramatic progress!

Similarly, the head fundi for the constrution project, Simon, has a daughter who is just finishing class 8 and will be in the first class admitted to Cura Secondary... every brick, every board, every gallon of paint he touches means a step toward providing an education for his daughter. Wow.

And speaking of paint... I met today with William and the painter to select colors. Floors and windowsills will be brick red; the doors will be dark blue. It's going to be beautiful!

We're doing more than just looking ahead, of course -- Quinn and I have had fun helping Gilbert distribute jerseys and blow up soccer balls for the new Cura United FC, waving around our glow bracelets after dinner, and handing out gifts from well-wishers (art work from high schoolers in Texas and toothbrushes and toothpaste from Seattle-area dentists) before tuck-ins last night.

More to come... with photos, eventually.
Cheers!
Hayden