Tuesday 18 May 2021 was a very special day for all the students in P5 and P6 at one of Children in the Wilderness’ (CITW’s) partner schools in Rwanda: Akayange Primary School (situated in the village closest to Akagera National Park, where Magashi is located).
With permission from the Ministry of Education and the district leaders, the whole afternoon was devoted to extra-curricular learning. All 75 students of these highest classes at the primary school took part in the activities. The students were divided into three groups of 25 learners each. The different groups rotated through activities of photography, drawing hand-crafted thank-you cards, and outside physical exercise.
The photography lesson – an inspired addition initiated by Michelle Karam and Dennis Stever, the founders of TJD, a bespoke adventure-travel company – started with an introduction to the basics of photography, and an explanation on how to use a Polaroid camera. TJD provided the cameras for the lesson, and all the film. From there the groups were divided into smaller numbers and were accompanied by a teacher. The children could now experiment and start taking their own pictures.
They were amazed by the Polaroid cameras and how the photos came out immediately. Everybody had their turn, and all the children were able to take home at least four of the pictures that they took.
What fantastic memories Michelle and Dennis created – and for many of the children, the first ever photographs of their own.
In addition to the photography lesson, Michelle and Dennis also donated six soccer balls to the school.
Next, the children prepared thank you cards, and at the end of the day presented them to Michelle and Dennis, who loved this gesture and said they would never forget this special day.
