This year we are starting a job shadowing program whereby our older kids can shadow different departments for a few hours during school breaks. On Monday and Tuesday, our 8th-grade kids spent three hours in various departments such as carpentry, electrical, maintenance, mechanics, and IT.
We have discovered that our kids are quite nervous about being with strangers, even if they are faces they have seen many times, so we put them in groups of two to three and sent them on their way.
The people in each department were so very welcoming and taught the kids a lot of things. I stopped Walter, our electrician, on the road and asked the kids in the back what they had learned. Leah spoke up and said, “We learned how to change a lightbulb.” That was a great answer because that is something most kids would see their parents do at home, but our kids aren’t usually around when lightbulbs are being changed. And there are many different types of bulbs here.
When we asked Walter about his experience with the students, he shared that they are very smart and work extremely hard. There was no need to push them; in fact, they were the ones asking for more work to do. Leah was curious to learn about the sources of electricity. Walter also mentioned that he would love to have the kids visit his department as often as possible. The children chose his department (Electrical) because they want to learn how to fix things for themselves in the future.
I asked all the departments to take photos so I could see them at work. For anyone in woodworking, you will not be happy with the photo of Ruth with her protection mask on her forehead instead of her face. Then there is Esther with very long hair while using carpentry equipment. There are lots of good reasons to ask for photos, and clearly we have some work to do on teaching PPE 🙈
I asked Nokwanda how Caleb was enjoying learning how to make a heart keychain at Khutsala, and Caleb told her, “This doesn’t work.” She asked, “What doesn’t work?” He said, “Working at Khutsala is not ideal.” She very kindly reminded him of the great impact the department has in the Project Canaan community. He later told Allen that the work is too hard at Khutsala!
All in all, everyone had a good experience (perhaps except Caleb), and they not only learned new things and were exposed to other employment opportunities, but it also helped them become more comfortable interacting with adults.
We have 8th graders now, and we have to look at them differently than the younger children. They are not just teenagers; they are our eldest, the tip of the spear, so to speak. They are breaking new ground daily, and we need to help them “cut through the bush,” as we would say here.
I love helping raise these children. I love my calling, and I love my life in Eswatini.
Would you consider coming and seeing Project Canaan with your own eyes? We have a very special trip lined up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Heart for Africa in June. Please click on this link to get more information. I hope to see you in my world in June!
Janine