Two steps forward, one step back…
With any new project, progress is slow. And while Emmanuel English Language Centre is not a new project, it is in a new location and in many ways that is the same thing. The groundbreaking and moving into the community is slow. The building is physically there but the connections in the community are still frail and limited.
EELC was in Djibouti City for almost 50 years. That is a long time to build relationships and connect with the community. It was long enough that we taught both parents and, years later, their children at the library.
Now we are starting over again in Ali Sabieh. When the school opened, there was an initial surge of interest as any new and thus novel thing will have. However, in the last few months, that interest has dwindled somewhat. Currently there are about 12 regulars including library members, regular attenders at conversation class and book club, and the small group of men coming for grammar classes.
On the bright side, with the small numbers, the teachers can get to know the individuals more personally. In the conversation class, there have been some really good topics such as solving African problems, respect, money, and space exploration. In small groups, the students who come to class have more opportunities to talk. Because of the small numbers, the librarian was able to give each “regular” a small gift for Christmas.
On the down side, with few people, there is a limit as to what can be done. A women’s only conversation class was started in the evening, but after the first week no one came so it had to be stopped. In addition, many of the community members that come to the library work in the mornings so are not able to come during that time.
While there are great dreams for EELC, during this period we have been laying foundations, establishing contacts, probing what may and may not be feasible. Progress or growth is not very obvious. But as any farmer knows, breaking the ground is a long process. To prepare a field properly there is a lot of work behind the scenes and even once the seeds have been planted, there is still a period of waiting as the seeds germinate before one can begin to see growth above the ground.
Kerith Trust 