I had a new adventure this past Saturday, attending the graduation ceremony for the Form Four students at Lutangilo Secondary School. The drive itself is an adventure, up and down and around mountains, crossing bridges, meeting heavily loaded trucks on narrow roads, slowing down for 30 speed bumps in a construction zone, and finishing the approach to the school with a drive through the forest road. We started from Iringa at 7 a.m. and added passengers along the way.
A tour of the school began with the renovated computer room. New tile flooring was contributed by Bega Kwa Bega, and German mission partners gave a dozen new computers. Continuing on, the physics teacher beamed with pride as he showed the new science laboratories. Other classrooms are being refurbished, the concrete floors covered with tile.
We were given a detailed, down to the minute schedule of the day’s events. The celebration was held on the school’s soccer pitch, with seating beneath decorated tents to shield us from sun and rain. Honored guests were introduced and given a chance to say a few words of encouragement and congratulations to the graduates.
The day was also an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning. There were choirs and dancing, as well as gymnastics. Groups of students performed academic demonstrations: an agricultural science experiment, calculations of body mass index, a discourse on proper pronunciation of English words, a discussion of American English vs British English. Another presentation was titled “Fashion Show by the Talents and Lifestyles Crew” and involved students dressed to depict a chosen career. There were doctors and nurses, teachers, carpenters, soccer players, and even a bishop.
Watching the students come forward to receive their certificates, I was grateful for all that has brought them to this point in life: the blessing of their parents, families and guardians, their teachers, their faith communities, and for some, this Bega Kwa Bega Companionship that supplied scholarship funds. Visiting the schools, I always wonder where these students will be in five, 10 or 20 years. They will be living out their aspirations, a fashion show of talents and professions. They will be living into the better life in the words of their school song:
Have you ever heard about Lutangilo – is a school surrounded with mountains, rivers and forests.
All these make the school shine.
Education for better life, is our motto. We believe we can do better to save our future life.
ELCT Iringa Diocese, owners of the school. Oh Lord keep us safe from AIDS which attack the world.
Workers and the students, we all live in peace, discipline is observed, Lord make us one.
Amen!
Asante sana,
Kirsten Levorson
Director of Bega Kwa Bega
