Yes! English learning has started.
The fledgling Ali Sabieh University College nearby allowed the use of a room for evening Conversation Classes in the last week of April – but then it was damaged in a violent thunderstorm. The classes were therefore transferred into the new EELC – and interest began to grow. Now there are over 15 in a group chat that was suggested by the students themselves as another way of practising their English.
Book Club sessions have also started. These give the participants reading and pronunciation practice and they get a copy of the short story they have been discussing to keep in a coloured folder and to share with others. This is proving very popular. Work on structuring the other sessions is taking place, making it easier to adapt to the level of English that participants have.
The Director is also about to start twice-weekly sessions for employees of the Regional Council on-site; only one of these people currently attends our other classes so there is scope for a widening of our contacts in the local community and increasing participation.
The library at Emmanuel English Language Centre, however, is still not open!
Its doors in Djibouti City were closed in December. Since then, all the books, equipment and furniture have been moved to Ali Sabieh, the next largest town, a regional centre in the South of the country. The Librarian and the Director have been working hard to set up the new Centre, which will have the same name. This transition has taken hours of planning, packing and unpacking, miles of driving, and lots of prayer.
Books are on shelves, tables and fans are in place and appropriately encouraging quotes and mottos are on the walls. All is ready to go – except …. official approval is required! Only then can the local dignitaries and community leaders be welcomed to a grand opening ceremony, and the general public will be allowed to come in and read!
‘Not long now!’ is everyone’s hope and prayer.
Kerith Trust 