Starting our two mile walk to Irigithathi Primary and Secondary Schools
When we entered the school grounds, the warmth of the children and staff was readily apparent. The kids had an excited energy upon seeing Emily, and they clapped, cheered and whistled at her arrival. While Emily was the main focus, I also got some curious yet friendly attention from the students, and a generous welcome from the teachers.
Their hospitality was wonderfully inviting, and humbling at the same time. Emily and I spent some time in one of the offices talking to the teachers in between classes, and it was clear that both the educators and administrators were deeply invested in the success of their students. We were also shown their library that was still in the midst of being completed. They have an impressive amount of books on hand, though some serious sorting is still needed to be truly effective, as well as a check in/out system.
The secondary school directly next door was filled with students, and buzzed with activities and discussions. We met with the principal, who was very professional and proud of the hard work his students have been putting forth. He organized an impromptu meeting with the thirteen Hansen Foundation scholars, and we got a few good pictures at the start. The meeting itself was short, but it gave a good first impression of the recipients of the Hansen Foundation scholarships. There was a strong sense of discipline and focus from the selected students, and while most were shy at first, they all were bright and curious.
Irigithathi Secondary School Office
Overall, it was a very positive experience! The students are happy and eager to learn, and the teachers intent on helping them as much as they can. It is an unfortunate reality that many of the children who are both bright and hard-working enough to achieve academic success cannot progress any farther than primary school, simply because of their parents’ income level. Fortunately, the students who truly deserve to move on to secondary school and beyond are able to, with the help of the Hansen Foundation for Education.