Crossroads Springs Institute Children's School/Care Center for African Orphans of HIV/AIDS

 Crossroads Springs Visit July 2010           Alison Hyde                 

Courage, Knowledge, Hope, Peace, Dream, Success! These are the words painted at the top of a colorful mural on the outside wall at Crossroads Springs Institute. Our group from several corners of the world (Bridie, Australia; Mariko, Federal Way, WA; Alison and Carol, East Aurora, NY) has just returned from two weeks at CSI, living in the community and interacting with children, teachers and staff every day. Teachers, management board, and students (“change a fish to a soccer ball”) all gave input for the final design after Carol’s proposal. Little did we know that everyone, from Masai security guards to the accounts clerk, would actually paint! One man asked to paint the heart because of the love and peace nurtured at CSI.  

Courage. Most orphans and staff walk miles to and from school each day, rain or shine. Dealing with hardships of poverty, illness, loss, they work and study hard to survive, producing stunning exam results, constructing the classroom building, planting trees and food crops, and encouraging each other. Charles, a welder, molds and inserts the letters Soo into the grill of a safety railing, subtly symbolizing school of orphans. He studied art and tech drawing but had to leave school for lack of funds; he hopes to earn enough at CSI to return to school.  

Knowledge. In classrooms we learned and taught. We brought letters from children in USA and bring back letters from CSI students for USA friends. Animated teachers, asking questions of children who responded mostly in rote chorus, used activities and demonstrations to balance the shared textbooks. Kindergarten children did “construction” with bottle caps and colored corncobs. Groups of class 8 students made small fires outside to illustrate chemical, heat and light energy, taking the remains of the kindling to the kitchen for cooking. I was impressed by a teacher goal: “we go from the known to the unknown,” bringing along a child who needs help by building on what he/she knows to master a new concept. We taught games such as Uno and Rummicube, as well as showing geography of our homes on an inflatable globe. Exam results prove again that CSI ranks #1 in the area, as Class 8 prepares for standardized tests.  

Hope. We interviewed the 24 Class 8 students and took their photos for sponsorships to secondary schools in Jan. 2011. Speaking softly, encouraged by a teacher to “be audible,” they described how they plan to use their education to help their families and make their country better. They are hopeful teachers, lawyers, doctors (“to fight AIDs”), pilots (to land safely!) and a future CEO who wants to improve Kenya’s economy. We are working with CSI, two organizations, and individual sponsors for secondary school placement and funding. 

Peace. Mari played soccer, running games, and danced with the children at break and PE. Many of their games are in large groups with singing and rhythms, often spontaneously organized by older children. The local Quaker meeting and other surrounding congregations give thanks for the work of CSI and pray for the CSI community.  

Dream. Children dream of further education and careers. Meshack and Helen are seeing their dream for service come true. Shadrack, an unemployed health worker who does wood carving, is sending his wife to teachers’ college with funds from the sales of his work at “Art for AIDs Orphans” in East Aurora. He was thrilled with a gift of carving tools we brought, saying, “Now I can walk and carve at the same time.” He is one of many we met who are educating and helping others achieve dreams through their CSI salaries.  

Success. We could see success measured in exam scores, healthy meals, happy children, optimistic staff, new textbooks, improved physical plant, and community praise. The success of fundraising efforts in N. America was visible in the overall program, as well as the arrival of locally purchased shoes for all of the very excited children, thanks to Federal Way Public Academy. Thank you, all.  

Our experience of CSI generosity can be measured in the gifts of eggs, fruit, chickens, roasted corn, fresh cow’s milk and other items, but mostly in handshakes, hugs and invitations to return.

Click for More Photos of the July 2010 visit to CSI.

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