July 2014 – Oysters and Pearls

Thanks to Hockaday for Introducing Us to EiE

We are so proud of our Engineering is Elementary program and the difference and influence it has made on our young students. I came to find out about this fantastic program from Amy Banks, a science teacher at the Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas.

The Hockaday School now has a post on their website recounting our initial discussion and how they were instrumental in introducing this wonderful program to Oysters & Pearls and sending us and our students on a great road of discovery and priceless learning. Here is a bit of what they have to say:

On October 12, 2012 Lower School science teacher Amy Banks met with Jennifer Nantale, Country Director or Nyaka Aids Orphans Project in Southwest Uganda and Sandra Washburn, Executive Director of Oysters & Pearls. Ms. Banks shared the Engineering is Elementary program and discussed how it is used with students in grades 1-4 at Hockaday. Ms. Banks encouraged her visitors to contact EiE at the Museum of Science in Boston to learn more about the program and how to apply it to their own organizations. Ms. Washburn took this advice, and met with EiE, who arranged to send two volunteers to Northern Uganda to train six teachers at the Gulu

What a Cool Shade

“What a cool shade I have got from she providing proper canopy from the blazing sun!”

The eloquence of Komakech Denis’ passage captures the heart of our mission whether it is to protect from destructive elements or cultivate and build on the helping and nurturing ones. Denis finished his A-level in December 2013 and we are awaiting confirmation that he will be granted a full scholarship to Makere University to start the journey to becoming a lawyer in August 2014.

Komakech Denis first lessons on the computer with teacher Marilyn Bland

Having access to a computer can be a real game-changer to a blind or visually-impaired person on so many levels. Being able to type and print one’s schoolwork for submission to a sighted teacher, accessing the internet, “listening” to a vast amount of content whether it is scanned books or downloaded material and even the chance to write an email that is received across the globe can have a big impact.

Denis is 20 years old; he was a peer computer teacher during Holiday trainings for 2 ½ years and the students have always praised his technique. He has started a