For pretty much any job, who knows what you do, can make a difference in how your area gets funded and moved forward.

Today we were fortunate to have both the leader for World Vision's Tanzania education programs and a head school inspector from the Ministry of Education observe part of our class. Both were beaming at the instruction, our unconventional style in delivering curriculum, and most importantly hearing the reflections at the end of the day from our teachers on what they learned. We couldn't have planned it better!

Theresa gave another fantastic and engaging lesson on Kiwix, searching, and using PowerPoint. We shared several  educational gaming resources with them and Gita shined with advanced Excel as she taught budgeting using examples from some of our more advanced teachers who we gave an "extra assignment" to at the end of yesterday.
The budget lesson was eye opening to see as our teachers shared examples of a household budget. They included: school fees, oil for cooking, maize, tea, rice, an exercise book, pens/paper, electricity....
Very basic livelihood essentials. There was no clothing or gym
membership line item listed. Again, another reminder that even though we are in a nicer facility this week, our teachers still come from the areas in Tanzania with the most need. I also think-  THANK GOODNESS for organizations like World Vision who exist to reach and improve these communities.

Some stats we learned today to reinforce the need for volunteers to teach and fund digital literacy:

-  in one of our teacher's village schools, she said there is 1 teacher for 120 students PER class!
- In her whole school there are ONLY 10 teachers for 520 students!
- the whole school only has 20 computers they share through weekly computer time.

No PTA exists here to help fund. It is what the government can fund. What is so reassuring though,  is that the officials we did meet today from the Ministry of Education and World Vision so understand the needs, and clearly have a vision and desire to move forward. With this type of commitment we will see changes over the next decade. Yes, not a couple years...this is a journey and we have to stay focused and committed for the future of the children.

After teachers left class, our intense and exhausting day of teaching ended with our project team playing a fun and impromptu game of handball (and we used a box, plate and shoe as racquets when needed) against the conference room walls with a tennis ball and Pharrell Williams "Happy Song" playing in the background. Have I mentioned how we are always listening to music? Several of the team members (Terry, Joel -aka Toto, Joseph, and pretty much everyone else)....is totally into songs and dancing)?? It is a blast. Thank goodness for the speaker Terry brought! We use it all the time during and outside of class.

Fun evening in our hotel garden together. Tomorrow is our last full day together. I love this team, the project, the exposure to so much, and am so lucky I was able to take this trip.

Thank you again to all of you who supported me. Special thanks to Tae for the introduction, sponsorship, and passion for philanthropy, Bailey for supporting me and covering my work (at a very busy time:)), Mark for embracing my inner gypsy from the beginning and being a rock for our children, and all our family and friends who made this possible and have been so supportive.

Less than a couple of days and I will be back in Mountain View. While I am so excited to hug my family, I am going to soak up these last 48hours.


Btw- Noel mentioned he never said to shorten my blogs...so they are back to long. :)))