KSPCA - Orientation Day

This Wednesday was the orientation day for KSPCA. I was very excited to be starting out on this trip because it embodies everything I stand for, I am firmly set against animal cruelty and abuse and want to do all that I can to help the rescue animals. I have been to KSPCA numerous times in the past and missed visiting the animals last year. I can't wait to get back and see their large innocent eyes and the love that they are so clearly brimming with.

Immediately after school ended we all filed into the gym and got into our respective groups. Mrs Redler then told us about the various trips and the rules that we were required to follow in order to be part of them. This went on for around half an hour, and then we all went out to eat our lunches before heading for a classroom.
There were around ten people in my group, and my friend Nidhi and I were two of the only three high schoolers! The trip was clearly one of the most popular, completely filled up and with a long waiting list for next semester. The two heads of the group told us about the institution and the dress code, social rules, etc. We then started out with some games to get to know each other (for example 'two truths and a lie' and making letters in teams).

After our games we sat down and discussed who would be the leaders of the group. My friend Nidhi was made head of writing articles and taking photos, a middle schooler the treasurer, a ninth grader the leader, etc. I was annoyed at the way these positions were assigned. The two people in charge of the group simply pointed at different people and told them what they were going to be, and even though four of us were nominated to be the leader there was no fair test to see who was most adequate. I was passionate about becoming leader (as I am so concerned about animal rights) and yet the lady simply pointed at the ninth grader and told her she was leader (they didn't even get the group to vote or wait to see who was actually most qualified for the position). I went to her after the meeting was finished and told her about her my concerns and I was made a leader as well, but I was still slightly ticked off at what had just occurred.

Despite this slightly rocky start I am very excited to begin visiting the KSPCA, no warped system will stop me from enjoying being with the animals and helping make a difference in their lives. I know that what position I have in the group doesn't really make a difference regarding how much I can put myself forwards and assist those less fortunate than myself.

I can't wait for my first trip!!

Track and Field - First Week

This year I have decided to join track and field! I am very excited about this, as I have never really done running in a team before and it's a completely different experience from swimming. I find it much harder, as swimming exercises completely different parts of your body, and I've never done much running before.

 I am going on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons, and am doing middle and long distances. It is a requirement of the team to compete, and though this is something I am very afraid of I think it will be good for me to get out of my comfort zone (it will help me to develop as a person).

The coach is mrs Smyth, and she is very strict and to the point. She intimidates me, but I think that it's good (as I have a way of getting out of doing things that scare me). The second coach is Mr Z, the math teacher, and I really like him - he's in charge of long distance (what I am doing) and he is extremely understanding and supportive. His attitude is definitely helping me to get into the sport.

Joining track and field was definitely a big deal for me, as I usually shy away from things that I'm not especially good at. I like that I have decided to challenge myself, and it's nice that I have a few friends in the team with me and that we support each other.

I can already feel myself getting fitter, and I am very interested in these new methods of training! I have been in the swim team for so long that it's nice to have a change. I can't wait to improve my running!

Swim Team - First Week

I have done one week of swim team so far into the year, and am really enjoying it. I love this sport, and my goal over the course of this year is to improve as much as I can and feel good about my level of fitness.
In the past I had some difficulty with competitions - I refused to compete as I was far too nervous and afraid that I wasn't at a level high enough to succeed. This year the coach has told me that it is a requirement that I compete, and I am very nervous about this. I have had experiences in the past which have made me terrified of racing, and I don't know if I will be able to do this. This is my biggest challenge and fear this year, and I hope I will overcome it.

I plan to go to training on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. However, with my extra sport this year I may possibly drop down to three practices a week sometime during the year. I understand that a commitment like this requires good time management and a balanced lifestyle, and I am willing to push myself to fill these requirements.

We have the same coach (coach Muriithi) but he has clearly become much more focused over the summer, a lot stricter with regards to attendance and competition. His workouts are also a lot better, they challenge us more and he has much higher expectations of the team. There are a lot more people on the team this year, as a lot of new students have come to ISK.

I am excited to build up my fitness in swimming once more and push myself to my limits. I hope that this year is a successful one in regards to sport!

Summer Work Experience - Brantome Police Horses

Northhavon

This summer I spent around two weeks working for Brantome Police Horses, which is an institution that takes in retired police horses (that would otherwise have been put down) and looks after them in their old age. These horses are looked after by Roland and Alison Phillips and are situated in the Dordogne area in France. I really admire what this family is doing, most people don't understand what police horses have to endure throughout their careers and how much it affects them (both mentally and physically). I learnt a lot about businesses and the world of work during this time - for example how much publicity Roland and Alison had to give the centre. During my time with them they did this through cream teas on Wednesday afternoons, a fair, an art class visiting to draw the horses, and a ball. I want to work for a charity organisation like this in the future as it is so beneficial for the animals, and I get to be involved with the animals (clearly) and people that share the same values as me.

A friend and I with Copperfield

Some of the horses were:
- Johnny Johnston
- Lewis
- St Michael
- Matthew
- Northhavon
- Copperfield
- Comic

I contacted Roland and Alison when I was in Nairobi and expressed my desire to come down and do some volunteer work for them for a month or so. They were very happy to get my email and said they would appreciate my help greatly (after all, there are 18 horses to look after and only a few people working on the farm). I ended up going for four weeks, from July 14th to August 6th. I would arrive at 9:30 in the morning and get picked up at 5:00.

Dolly and I

Roland and Alison were also very kind to offer to pay for me to do a horse care course with Susan Rainbird, where I learnt how to muck out, set fresh straw down, groom, use bandages, make up feeds, and much more. The group was made up of about seven or six kids (ages 5-16) and there was a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere throughout the time there. Susan allowed us to consider things from different viewpoints, showing us exactly how the bit hurts the horse and how much pressure we should put on their feet when cleaning them, etc. During my first week in the course I was with my friend, though on the following Friday I was helping Susan out more (I was less of a student and more of an assistant). I liked this course as it allowed us to participate and get involved a lot and see the horses for ourselves. After the end of the two days we would get a certificate and have a quiz on the information. This went on from 9:30 to 1:00 and I would stay another 4 hours to do work in the stables.

I bring in Walter

My weeks were broken down as so:

Week one: Monday to Friday working
Week two: Monday, Thursday and Friday - Thursday and Friday including the horse care course in the morning
Week three: Monday and Friday - Friday including the horse care course for part of the day
Week four: Monday and Tuesday - Tuesday from 9:30 - 1:00

When I first arrived at the stables I didn't know much about how to look after horses and what was required of an employee. Roland showed me the basics and another girl helping out taught me how to muck out, make hay bales, etc. As the days went by I learnt how to do everything a lot better, and could eventually come in and work without instruction the whole day. The work was long and physically tiring but definitely worthwhile. It meant everything to me seeing the horses so happy and well cared for and being able to interact with them on a daily basis.

Jobs included:
- Making hay bales and putting hay in the stables
- Making feeds - 1 scoop conditioning cubes, half scoop chaff, half scoop cereal
- Grooming the horses (I learnt about the various brushes and their uses throughout my time at the stables)
- Mucking out - I got to know the different equipment and how to save the expensive bedding in the stall while getting out the dirt
- Feeding the sheep
- Putting horses in and out - I learnt how to hold them, how to put on their head gear, the dangers, etc
- Cleaning the feed bowls and filling water buckets

Susan teaches me how to groom

- Cleaning out their water bowls - I had to empty out the containers and get out all of the dirt accumulating at the bottom manually
- Sweeping the stables
- Helping with the cream teas - I helped set out the tables and serve people when they came and sat down, this was very stressful as there were so many people all waiting to be served and only about 5 of us. However, it got me to get more used to interacting with people I didn't know and being more confident in myself.

Copperfield

- Helping at the fair the first day - They did cream teas at this fair and also needed someone to watch their two granddaughters - Izzie and Chloe.

Some of my best memories of this experience were all the free range chickens wandering about the stables and laying eggs in the straw for us to find, their seven dogs (Angus, Bessie, Cooper, Henry, etc), and Alison and her daughter Debby preparing delicious lunches and cream teas for everyone. Roland was so kind and gentle with me, teaching me how to do the work around the stable with infinite patience and good humour and my favourite horse Comic was so affectionate, often coming over and licking my hand, or falling asleep while I was stroking him. I also loved seeing how well looked after these police horses were - Comic, for example, had a recurring eye infection and his antibiotics weren't working so Roland and Alison got a woman over who did reiki on him and another who did healing touches for all of the horses.

Comic and Copperfield - inseparable

This was an amazing experience for me, and one of the best things I've ever done. It taught me so much about determination and having confidence in myself. I loved that I was making a direct and clear difference for these animals, who have been so hardworking and dedicated throughout their lives and who deserve a retirement more than anyone. They have endured so much throughout their lives, like the underground stables in police stations (Roland told me that one of their horses, upon arrival, had never been in an outside field before and didn't know how to graze) and the violent protests that they go into (often getting objects thrown at their eyes and faces).

Free range chickens!

Having this job made me understand what it's like to have something I'm passionate about to work for, and what it means to mean something to someone and have people depending on you. I also recognised the transition between being in school and in work - in school you do it because you must get good grades, not necessarily because you like it. However when you're working you're doing it because you believe in the message it sends and enjoy spending your time in a certain way. Furthermore, it allowed me to acknowledge what is required of an employee (respect, timeliness, determination, friendliness, etc) and how to properly follow instructions and work well with others.

I was pleased because this relates to what I want to do in the future - it's a charity organisation that works to help those who cannot speak out for themselves, and allows you to be in contact with the animals themselves. It therefore let me get a feeling of what it's like and gave me a chance to see if it was what I really wanted to do with my life - it definitely made me more sure of my choices. Furthermore, my confidence was boosted by the fact that I was treated like an adult. I was expected to know certain things and function independently, and I surprised myself with how hard I worked and how well I responded to this. I feel like I really made a difference for Roland and Alison as looking after so many horses is very challenging (there are so many things that need to be done in one day).

I can't wait to see the horses again next summer - I already miss them all so much!

For more information about Brantome Police Horses you can look at their website:
http://www.brantomepolicehorses.com/about-us.php

CAS 2013-2014

This year I am in 11th grade and am therefore beginning the IB. I will try to keep up my CAS during this term despite the extra work I'll be getting and will hopefully continue to improve in areas like leadership, dedication and responsibility. I had an amazing experience doing this program last year - I learnt so much and became a better person for it.

I am planning to join a number of groups this year:

- Photography club - creativity

- Interact club - Service

- GIN - Service

- Greenhouse club - Service

- Swim team - Action

- ARTSCO - Creativity and Service

- Save the Rhino - Service

- Book club - Creativity

- President's award - CAS

- Piano classes - Creativity

- KSPCA - Service

Over the course of this school year I will try to build on the eight learning outcomes of CAS:

1. Increased awareness of strengths and weaknesses - I know that I am not a very good leader, tending to automatically fall into place as a follower in group activities. However, I am very determined and hardworking and believe I have the potential to improve in this area. Hopefully more of my positive and negative traits will become known to me during this program.

2. Undertake new challenges - A challenge for me would be to speak up and be a leader in one of my groups. I have already applied for the role of vice president in save the rhino, but don't yet know if I was successful. Even if I don't get this position I will actively engage in discussions and volunteer myself when necessary.

3. Plan and initiate activities - I have planned out the groups that I'm joining and will try to continue keeping myself organised and working with others to do this.

4. Working collaboratively with others - I will aim to work well both with my ISK peers in the school groups I'm joining and outside campus with street children, rescue dogs, etc.

5. Show perseverance and commitment in activities - I'm going to attend all meetings in my groups and try to tackle problems that arise (while at the same time finding confidence in myself and being more comfortable speaking out and stating my opinions).

6. Engage with issues of global importance - I feel that I will do this in this school year as I will be a part of GIN, interact, and save the rhino (among others). The fact that we live in Kenya makes this less difficult as I recognise global issues each day as I go about my normal activities. I only hope to bring them one step closer to being solved.

7. Consider the ethical implications of my actions - When we lead such privileged lives it's easy to forget the implications of our actions. CAS will hopefully keep reminding me of what's happening in the world today and how we should act around one another.

8. Develop new skills - CAS definitely exposes us to new experiences, therefore letting us gain more knowledge and experience in various areas. I am sure that challenges will arise in many of these activities and that I will grow as a person as I tackle them. For example, last year I decided to take up guitar and learnt a lot (especially since I had never played an instrument beforehand).

I will try and make time to do all of these activities but I may have to drop some throughout the year to keep up with the IB. I am very excited for this coming year of CAS and I can't wait to start participating in all of these groups! I