A day in the life of one of our Osiligi Teachers

William Shakespeare once wrote that some people are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. Afri-Lift has a team of men and women who have all these qualities all rolled up to one. These men and women work as part of the training and rehabilitation centre program at the Osiligi Training Centre.

Osiligi Training Centre

Afri-lift runs the Osiligi program in Kiserian which is an hour’s drive from the city. Here they train, rehabilitate and disciple young men to reach their Gods given potential. The training program has seen many trainees graduate and make a difference in their world.

So what do these great men and women do?

Osiligi means hope in the Maasai language. Hope is what these men and women give the trainees at the farm.  Most of the young men in the program have faced a hard life. They have lived out on the streets, run away from home, been involved in gangs and basically led despairing lifestyles. However when they enter the program they meet a team of men and women who are ready to help them understand that there is hope and not just any hope but the hope of Jesus Christ.

At the training centre we have teachers who are also counselors as well as pastors. We also have a staff of interns, volunteers and also a fantastic cook.

So what’s a typical day for a teacher out on the farm?

Meet Kyalo, he is one of the teachers on site. He teaches Swahili, English, Computer Studies and Agriculture.  He has three other teachers whom he works hand in hand with.

Josephat Kyalo- Social Worker at Afri-Lift

When asked how a normal day to him is like, he smiles and narrates like it’s an everyday story.

Kyalo’s wakes up between 5.30 am and 6.00 am every day.  He then wakes the boys at 6.30 am. It is not usually an easy task since we all know how most teenage boys are ‘allergic’ to morning. He then supervises the boys as they do their duties around the farm for half an hour.

7.00am to 7.30 am they all have devotions in the dining hall. Here one of the teachers shares the Word of God. The next half hour, as the boy on duty serves breakfast, the trainees and the students have a chat. The teachers provide an encouragement on any challenges they are facing.

The next 80 minutes, Kyalo teaches in class on the subjects planned for the day. Here the trainees are taught the curriculum subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English, Agriculture, Social Studies, Swahili and CRE (Christian Religious Education). They later all have an half an hour break. This is where Kyalo relaxes as prepares for his next 80 minute class.

At 11.50 to 12.30pm, they have a discipleship or group therapy. This is where they discuss life issues by opening up and talking about what they have experienced for example domestic violence.

“Last week, we discussed with the boys on who is a mature person”, Kyalo says with laughter in his voice. “The boys ended up talking about who is a childish person!”

12.30 pm to 1.00 pm the trainees work on their assignments then later watch news on the television. Here, Kyalo interacts with the trainees on what their views are on a particular matter.

Later the trainees work on the farm with their various teachers. Here they are taught many skills such as how to nurture plants and take care of different animals.

Practical at the farm

This involves a lot of patience especially from the leadership side since most of these trainees are learning for the first time how to take care of something else rather than themselves. This is part of the rehabilitation program.

The practical ends at 4.00 pm and for the next two hours the trainees go for games. They play soccer and sometimes basketball.

The trainees playing basketball

Kyalo has enough time for himself to relax before 5.30 pm where he has to supervise the irrigation and also feeding of the animals.

7.00 pm, they all have their supper and watch a bit of television. Then from 8.00 pm the trainees have their personal studies. This is also where Kyalo has a one on one with the trainees to see how they are doing and also provide encouragement for those who are still struggling to adapt to the new change.

9.00 pm to 10.00pm the trainees retire to their beds. As they do so Kyalo goes around encouraging some of them and providing what Osiligi is all about, hope.

There are great things happening out there in Osiligi. Great men like Kyalo do that every day. What about you? Why don’t you pass by provide hope.