Island Schools and Kuching

On Tuesday morning I set off to visit SK Pulau Gaya which is one of the schools that has been on the ELTD project since the beginning in 2011. The island (pulau) of Gaya is the largest island off Kota Kinabalu and is part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine nature reserve and is a strange place containing the most expensive resort in Sabah and a population of 10,000 people living in water villages around the coast. Many of the people living in the water villages are without their official papers and therefore are not allowed to attend the local school, however I was amazed at how large it was and also the excellent condition it seemed to be in in comparison to some other schools I have visited.

Arriving at school

The teachers' boat

 We westerners tend to have a very romantic idea of life living in a water village but seeing the actual living conditions makes you realise how difficult it must be and actually getting the children to school is in itself a challenge and as for educational support for the children from the parents I suspect is a very low priority. For the teachers and children it is just normal life and if there is a storm then you wait at school until it is finished.

The gym and assembly hall

The Power of Reading Room

 I spent a lovely morning in the school and was able to see the Year 3 classes enjoy the Power of Reading room which was the result of a book flood last year sponsored by the Malaysia Government and British Council. There are some delightful books and it was lovely to see the pupils enjoying them and I couldn't resist telling a story to them.

The view from the hotel window

The human beings waiting for orang utans

  Since Wednesday I have been in Kuching at meetings and enjoying the luxury of the Hilton. Yesterday I decided to go out to the Semenggoh Nature reserve to see the orang utans at the rehabilitation centre but sadly none of them appeared at the feeding platform. We all stood quietly waiting and I had the distinct impression that we were being watched and that they would appear after we all left - which makes sense if you don't want lots of tourists watching you eating! This morning I was up early to cheer and watch the marathon, half marathon and 10 km runners - some of them on our project. It is always very inspiring seeing people of all ages, shapes and sizes completing the race and I have bought myself a pair of running shoes - the first new pair for about 7 years- in an attempt to get myself to start running....... we will see!