At home, a center for learning
These experiences of childhood are what mold us and make us who we are. How you translate the life you see, feel, smell, and touch as you grow up-the water you drink, the air you breathe, and the food you eat are what you become. -WANGARI MAATHAI
Learning starts from home. We incorporate independent thinking, creativity, and active learning to help our kids develop into well-rounded people. Education fulfills its original purpose when it is applied in life situations. Often in the home setting is prime learning ground to practice what we learn. We want our kids to have a healthy sense of self, of community, and of purpose. In all aspects we emphasize life skills, academic enhancement, and leadership development.
Supplemental to regular schooling, a classroom in the back of the house with 2 white boards, desks and chairs, a soon-to-be small library, and scheduled quiet hours, offer places to study, receive tutoring, and get their book learning in. For the littlest children not yet of school age, educational toys and teaching basics provides a head start for school.
Daily physical activity promotes healthy growth, mental health, emotional health—the positive effects are nearly endless. Whether it is walking to school or playing games our kids get exercise. Organized soccer games are set up on site for children in the village. Kids not only have fun but learn about good sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy competition.
Stimulation of creativity gets kids to think outside of the box and to expand their imagination. Through arts and crafts or music and dance children can learn different forms of expression and gain appreciation for unique visuals and sounds. OHS volunteers have implemented short-term art programs in local public schools to offer more children in the community an artistic outlet.
As a center focused on self-sustaining methods, it is essential from an early age to understand what we take from the ground and what we put into it. Gardening teaches the connection to the earth. Tending to green growing things on site generates respect for nature as the provider of the food we eat, and that we will never be able to divorce ourselves from cycles of life. We incorporate a scientific approach as working outdoors offers the best textbook to biology and physical systems.
Our kids share in home responsibilities such as helping to prepare meals, cleaning their rooms, older kids watching after the younger kids, keeping home organized. Participating in everyday chores generates each child’s sense of ownership and responsibility for themselves, their home, and family.
From stories, life, real life. We learn from those who have come before us. In the unbroken chain of oral tradition strong in Tanzanian culture, we pass on to our children what we learned from our grandparents and their parents. Our kids learn of things unwritten—of fables and personal history—why the zebra has stripes, how this family came to be, how Tanzania has changed in forty years. Our permanent in-house staff is an unbeatable team of Tanzanians from all walks of life. They are our core family deeply devoted to the kids and their every well-being.
We celebrate Tanzanian holidays and Barack Obama’s election. We eat wali maharague and try stir-fry. It is important for our kids to understand Tananizan culture, but to also get a taste and appreciation of different cultures. Interaction with OHS volunteers from abroad gives the kids a chance to meet all types of people from different backgrounds. With on site internet capability, we can offer guided exploration of the world at their fingertips.
After School Academics
