Welcome to My VSO Education Blog
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About me…..
My name is Jonathan Heath. I am a retired Deputy Headteacher. I am going to Rwanda with VSO for one year to lead a team of mentors who work alongside teachers in Rwanda to develop learner centred methodologies in Rwandan classrooms. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are my own reflections and are not… Read more
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Capacity Development for Sector Learning Facilitators.
Three days of training activities. Sector Learning Facilities (SLFs) in my mentoring team are fortunate to get large amounts of training, especially at this time of the year, as the teachers are supervising exams. My District Education Manager (DEM) has facilitated for me to lead 3 days each week of training during the holidays with… Read more
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A trip to the market in Ngororero
The market is my best hope of varying my diet and finding basic household items.
Culture shock or simple western ignorance?
In one week’s time I will be in my lovely house in Ngororero, so today I decided to test the local shopping (Ngoroero is my only hope of regular shopping. The next nearest town is Gitarama (one hour away).
First I found that Google Maps declares there is a market called Gahenerezo Market (see map) My Hotel is Refrabu so easy walking distance (about 1 km). Google maps took me straight there but when it said ‘You have arrived at your destination on the right’ there is no market, just 2 houses. There was a man sitting in the shade (a national Rwandan pastime). When I asked him ‘Ndashaka Market?’, he waved back at Ngororero. And yet on Google reviews someone called Immaculee Uwamungu said 4 months ago ‘Many people were there trying to shop since everything in it is good and cheaper’.
What am I going to eat?
So I headed back down the hill to Isoko market. This is where I bought an Avocado a few days ago. The pictures are Isoko market. There are shops for clothes and material, bowls and hardware (cheap) and several shops with soaps, washing powder, deodorant, shampoo etc but nothing for sale under £2000 RWF (£2) which is a day’s wages for many locals. Now I am beginning to understand the difficulties many Rwandans have with personal hygiene, quite apart from the often found lack of running water within thei houses.
Rwandan Pound Shop 
Isoko High Street 
A man sits (a common Rwandan pastime) 
Potatoes for sale 
Bananas for sale
Never mind, let’s look for food. Today there were no avocados in Isoko Market for sale, nor any meat, milk, cheese, nuts, eggs, fruit, bread, pasta, cooking oil, salt, pepper, herbs or spices .
I did find rice, kidney beans, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, bananas, cabbage and sugar cane. So if anyone knows of tasty meals that can be cooked with these 8 ingredients send me details. Otherwise it seems I will have to shop in Kigali (2 hours away) where canned goods start at £1.50 each for butter beans and go up to £4 each for peeled plumb tomatoes. It is possible to buy fresh meat and eggs in Kimeronko Market Kigali (if you are brave) but I have yet to find milk or cheese.
This is something that was missing from my 4 day ‘In Country’ Orientation.
Maybe I am missing something but there is no one who speaks English to ask.
My First School visit GS Gisebeya (Northern Ngororero)
I set out on a Motorbike taxi with JMV (acting DTM) my predecessor behind. One and a half hours, the last mile off road. We started by chatting to the Headteacher (well JMV interpreted for me). We planned a group meeting to help Maths then English teachers followed by lesson observations and feedback. The school has P1-P5 classes (Reception to Y5). Their reception class (P1) are aged 7 as this the starting age in Rwanda. There were between 45 and 60 children in each class. The children so enthusiastic, respectful and well behaved. Below are some pictures.
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Rwanda VSO Adventure Jonathan Heath 