12月5日㈭にKitgum郵便局から発送した“ごあいさつ状”が支援者の皆様のお手元に届き始めたようで、関連していただいたご質問にお答えいたします。
Letters to our supporters that were mailed from the post office in Kitgum on Dec. 5 have begun to reach their recipients. In that connection we have received several questions.

Q１：「3学期が終わり手紙書きを始めた」そうですが、子どもは「期末テストが終わった、結果はまだ分からないが進級できると思うetc」と書いています。通知表がまだ、ということですか？　進級できるかどうか、とは、義務教育の小学校なのに落第がある、ということですか？
The letter I received indicated that the third term had ended and that the child was awaiting examination results but expected to advance to the next grade. Have the children not yet received their report cards? As the letter referred to whether or not the child would be promoted, does this mean that children can be held back at the compulsory primary school level?
A：学校、学年にもよりますが、テスト終了後は授業が無く子供たちは登校不要になり、1週間ほど経て終業日を迎え、この日に通知表が渡され、進級可・不可が分かります。しかし、その「採点期間」と称する時間が過ぎても通知表の用意ができない教師がかなりいます。来年度が始まるまでもらえないことも珍しくありません。今回も半数近くの子供がもらえていません。
進級不可つまり落第もかなりあります。特に中・高学年（P.４～P.7）は珍しくありません。経済力のある家庭の子供はリピートしたり、転校したりしますが、貧しい家の子は費用が嵩むので、落第、そのまま、小学校中退…になってしまうのが一般的で、図書館学習組の子供たちにもそういう子供が多数います。‘図書館塾’ではほぼ能力別に分けた5クラス各10名前後の子供をスタッフ1名が教えますので、5，60~7、８0名以上ものすし詰め教室の学校では落ちこぼれてしまった子供も目覚めて、適宜、通学を再開させるとトップクラスになる子が続出！
It depends on the school and the grade, but after examinations there are no classes and children need not go to school for about one week until the official last day of the term. On that day children receive their report cards and find out whether or not they will be promoted. But quite a few teachers are unable to prepare their report cards by the end of the grading period. Students often do not get their report cards until the start of the next school year. This year, nearly half of the children have yet to receive their report cards.
Quite a few children are not promoted. This is not uncommon among upper graders (primary grades 4 through 7) especially. Children from families with financial resources may repeat a grade or transfer to another school, but expenses for children from poor families run up, so in many cases they drop out of primary school after failing. Quite a few children who study at the library fall into that category. Children who attend classes at the library are divided by ability level, and one staff member teaches about 10 children. So, in many cases, children who had fallen behind at school where they were crammed into a classroom with anywhere from 50 to 80 other students, bestir themselves and when they go back to school are at the head of their class.

Q２：昨年までは40名前後の子供たちが手紙書きをしていたと思いますが、今年は半数くらいかと。どうしたのですか？  Through last year around 40 children wrote letters. This year the number is about half that. What happened?
A：既に当該の皆様にはお知らせ、ご相談してきましたが、昨2018年度末から今2０19年度にかけ、多くの子供が当PRAfricaの支援を離れました。家族とか親類とかの誰かが費用負担できるので当方からの支援を受ける必要がなくなったという子が15名ほどいます。
当方が通わせている比較的費用が安い公立小学校から、費用の高い私立小学校に転校した子どもも複数います。残りは、何らかの事情で、保護者ともどもスッといなくなってしまい、支援継続ができなくなったケースです。こちらでは氏名も住所も登録や届出制度など無く、痕跡なく引っ越してしまうのが一般的なので、日頃から子供たちにも保護者にも「引っ越す時は前もって相談を！」と言っているのですが、「ホウレンソウ（報連相‽）無し」が文化？なので徹底しません。「遠くに引っ越したらしい。」と分かった時には、元の住まいの近所の人々や仲良くしていた子供たちに聞いても何も手掛かりはありません。
 We have already notified some of our supporters directly, but from the end of the 2018 school year through this school year, PR Africa’s support of many children ended. In the cases of 15 children, a family member or relative was able to assume paying the school fees and our support was no longer needed. Several children we were sending to the public elementary school, for which the fees are relatively low, transferred to private primary schools for which the fees are high. The rest disappeared with their guardians for some reason, so we were no longer able to continue to support them. There is no system here by which people’s names and addresses are registered nor is there any notification system, and it is common for people to move away without leaving a trace. We ask children and their guardians to speak with us before they move. But in this culture it is common for people to move without informing others or consulting with them, so we are seldom notified. When we learn that a child has moved far away, even if we ask neighbors at their former residence or the children’s friends, there is usually no clue as to where they have gone.

Q３：日本の郵便局で訊くと、「航空便ならⅠ，2週間で届くはず」といわれるのに、どうして何か月も時には1年以上もかかるのですか？
When I inquired at the post office in Japan, I was told that air mail should arrive there in a week or two. So why does it sometimes take several months or even more than one year?
A：UGでは、郵便局は私どものいるKtgタウンのような各県庁所在地に一軒しかありません。またEMSなどの国際宅配便は個配が原則ですが、一般の航空便・船便などは日本のように個配はしません。郵便局の私書箱に入れられているのを適宜見に行き受け取るしかありません。郵便局にも決まった開業日・時間があるのですが、なぜか閉まっていることがシバシバあり、私書箱を✔するのも一苦労です。私書箱は年６万シルほどの使用料がかかり、一般の住民でこれを利用できるのはおそらく１％にも満たないと思います。私どもの支援を必要とする家では、郵便局など人生一度も行ったことがないのが普通、第一、家には紙も筆記用具も無いのが普通、あっても読み書きできないのが普通ですから…。引っ越し前に相談があったので別々の遠くの村に引っ越した後も当方が支援を続け、今も各々の村の学校に通っているAngee Irene とAcen Harrietは、書けるかも知れませんが、書いた手紙をどうやって投かんできるでしょうか？また支援者の方が、直接この子たちに届けたいと思っても宛先住所をどうしたらいいでしょうか?　私どもが年一回彼女たちを訪問する時に手渡し、受け取りするしかないのです。
 In Uganda, there is only one post office in each district government seat, such as Kitgum. As a rule, international express mail items are to be delivered individually, but items sent via ordinary air mail or sea mail are not. We must go to the post office now and then to see if there is any mail in our box. The post office has regular hours, but for some reason it is often closed during those hours, so we have difficulty collecting our mail.
 A post office box costs 60,000 shillings per year, and less than 1 percent of the general population can afford that. Most of the families that need our support have never been to the post office. This is typical. First of all, they have no paper or writing implements, and even if they did they cannot read or write.
 Angee Irene and Acen Harriet informed us beforehand that they would be moving to remote villages, and we have continued to provide support for them to attend school in their villages. They could perhaps write letters, but how could they mail them? Some supporters have indicated they would like to send letters directly to the girls and have asked what they should do about an address. All we can do is take the letters to them on our annual visits to their homes.

”99％完成”のところで、足踏みをしていましたが、ようやく出来あがりました！
Progress on our new sign had been stalled at 99 percent complete, but the sign is now finally finished.

乾季到来！と思われるような青空、眩しくて「オディー」といっても笑顔が歪んでしまいます！

The brightness of the blue sky heralding the arrival of the dry season causes scrunched-up faces as everyone says “odi!”

透明プラスチックフィルムで全面をカバーし、木枠をつけました！　額縁に入れたような感じです。The new sign covered with clear plastic film and with a wooden frame around it.

みんなの協力で、ここまで成長しました！乾季を乗り越えてほしいです。

昨年より1週間ほど早く作業開始。昨年は、支援者の皆様のお手元に届くのが大変遅く、「半年以上もかかった！」という方もいますが、今年はできれば年内～Ⅰ月頃までに届くように、と子供たちもスタッフ一同も張り切っています。  写真説明は全て左から右です。

This year the children began writing their cards about one week earlier than last year. Last year’s cards arrived very late. In fact, some people said it took more than six months for their cards to reach them! This year the children and staff are working to ensure that supporters receive their cards in December or early January.

建設を始める時、用地の向き、形状などの関係で仕方なく、木を2本ほど伐りました。その代わりにはなりませんが、新図書館全体をグルリと取り囲もうと苗木を植えました。屋根より高い木だと雨どいに落ち葉が詰り、雨水利用に差し支えたり、枝が折れるなどソーラーパネルに障害が出たりしますので、成長しても屋根より下までの高さにしかならない生垣、葉色は、新図書館の外見の色にマッチした黄緑です。十分大きくなるまでには数年かかるそうですが、来年2月頃、大使館⇔KTG県⇔私どもPR Africaの“引き渡し”時には、数十センチの高さに一列に並んで来館者の目を楽しませてくれるでしょう!!といいたいのですが、さしもの雨季も終盤、雨が降る日の間隔が開き、雨量も激減しています。1日でも降らないと乾燥がひどく、ちゃんと根付いてくれるかどうか…。図書館学習組の子供たちが、整地、植え付けから、毎朝の水やり、雑草取り等々、一生懸命世話してくれています。幼い頃から、畑の手伝いで鍛えているからでしょう、鍬の使い方、苗の扱い方など、堂に入ったものです。約160本の苗木を植え終わり記念写真、ハイ, Ode(オディ～)!!、今日は、ご褒美のビスケットを一枚ずつ手に、もう一度Ode~‼

 When construction on the new library began, because of the direction the site faced and its shape, unfortunately we had to cut down two trees. Though they can’t replace those trees, we recently planted seedlings all around the new library. The leaves from trees taller than the roof would clog the rain gutters and interfere with our using rain water. And branches might break off and damage the solar panels, so we planted a hedge that will grow no taller than the roof and whose yellowish green leaves will match the color of the library’s exterior.

We were told it will take several years for the plants to reach their full height, but they should be 20 or 30 centimeters tall by next February and delight our guests when the library is turned over to PR Africa by the Japanese embassy and the local government. Or at least that’s what we hope. For now, the rainy season has ended, so there will be days with no rain. And the amount of rain has decreased considerably. When rain doesn’t fall for even one day it gets quite dry, so we’re not sure if our seedlings will take root.

The children who study at the library have worked hard to take care of everything from preparing the soil and planting to daily watering and weeding. Perhaps because they have been working in the fields since they were small, they are very good at using a hoe and caring for the seedlings. We gathered for a group photo after planting about 160 seedlings. Say odi! (the local version of “Say cheese!”) After giving everyone a cookie as a reward, we posed for another photo. Once more: odi!

2017年2月下旬に着工、8か月後の10月に完成の計画でした。長～い長い道のり、何度も挫けそうになりましたが、皆様の励ましで遂にここまでたどり着きました!　この後、工事完了承認を受けるための各種文書が大使館を通して、外務省とKitgum県との間で行き交い、最終的には来年2月頃に、いよいよ私どもPRAfricaに利用運営が委ねられる予定です。
Construction of the new library began in late February 2017 and was scheduled for completion eight months later in October. It was a long haul, and we were often frustrated, but with your encouragement, the building has finally been completed. Next, documents to certify the structure’s completion will be processed by the Foreign Ministry and government officials in Kitgum via the Japanese embassy, and in February operation of the library will officially be turned over to PR Africa.

Babaたちが2日間付ききりで注文し続け、何とかOK!となった書棚と机‼
 Bookshelves and desks Baba and others spent two days ordering arrived after we managed to get approval for them.

“99％完成”の看板と毎㈯ミーティングに参加の就学支援生たち。高学年生は全員対象の毎㈯補習のため学校へ行き、中・低学年生も数名はマラリア（おまけに最近は風疹*も流行っていて騒動に！）等で欠席ですが、アヤノさんのKTG出立直前、"もう待てない！"ので撮りました。

風疹*　北部一帯で流行りだし、WHO、赤十字、医療NGOなどが子供に無料の予防接種を実施。ところが、「毒だ！受けさせるな!」という風評があり、図書館組の子供の中にも、保護者が“受けさせない！”という事例が発生！　同じ家の兄弟姉妹なのに、就学生は学校で一律に受けさせられ接種済み、図書館生は未接種、という事態が起きています。
Students we are supporting to school pose with the 99% complete library sign at the weekly Saturday meeting. All upper graders were absent in order to attend supplementary lessons at school, while several middle and lower graders missed the meeting on account of malaria. (There has also been an outbreak of rubella* recently.) But we couldn’t wait any longer as Ayano was about to leave Kitgum, so we gathered for this group photo.

*Rubella is prevalent throughout northern Uganda. The World Health Organization, Red Cross, and medical non-governmental organizations give free vaccinations to children. But groundless rumors that the vaccine is harmful circulate, and the guardians of several of the children who study at the library have told them not to get the shot. In some cases, among children in the same household, those who attend school have been vaccinated while those who study at the library have not.　　

10月9日はウガンダの独立記念日、今年は57回目。以前は、多少、学校に通ったことがありそうな人たちでさえも「独立記念日?　何それ?　ヘ~、アッ、ソッ」というような人がほとんどでしたが、ここ数年はラジオの普及が進み、認知度が少しは上がったかと…今日は久々P.6 生が来館しましたので、日本在住のNさんから届いた英字新聞を紹介。　

Oct. 9 marked the 57^th anniversary of Uganda’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. In the past, even people who had had some schooling seemed to be unfamiliar with Independence Day, but with the proliferation of radios over the last few years awareness of the holiday has a bit increased. On the day this photo was taken sixth graders had come to the library for the first time in a while, so we showed them a special page on the holiday that was published in an English-language newspaper and sent to us by N, who lives in Japan.

入手できないスチール製の代わりに木製書棚が地元業者によって製作中、同時に、アヤノさん（68thボランティア）が、今まで皆様から頂戴してあった折り紙などを活用し手作りの看板を作ってくれました！　“完成‼”と言いたいのですが、雨風土埃を防ぐためにも仕上げに使おうと決めていた“無色透明ラッカー”がKTGには無い！　K’laでなら売っている！！そうですが、アヤノさんの約3か月のボランティア期間も残り少なく、彼女が立つ前に入手は困難…なので、“９９％”完成記念写真を図書館寺子屋組の子供たちとパチリ。マラリアが猛威を振るっていますので10名ほどが欠席ですが、次々交代で欠席するので全員集合は“１００％完成！”時に。

Because we could not get steel bookcases, wooden ones are being made by a local contractor. Meanwhile, Ayano, our 68^th volunteer, has made a new sign for the library using origami and other materials from supporters. We’d like to say it’s finished, but clear　and colorless lacquer for weatherproofing the sign, the final step, is not available in Kitgum. It is sold in Kampala, but Ayano’s three-month stay as a volunteer is almost over, and it will be difficult to get the lacquer before she leaves. So, we took a photo of the 99% finished sign with students who study at the library. There is an outbreak of malaria now, so some ten children have been absent, and we had to give up on getting a shot with everyone present.

９９％”完成記念写真　Ayano, library staff and children pose with the 99% complete sign.

作成中のアヤノさん　Ayano makes the new sign.

皆様のご声援、祈りのおかげで、Anywar Patrick（アニワーパトリック10歳）が、幸運にも再々々…輸血を受けることができ、昏睡状態から再び回復しました！！（彼のために輸血が受けられなかった患者さんもいるかもしれないと思うと複雑ですが…）　

鎌状赤血球細胞自体を根本的に治すことはできなくても、輸血が必要となる溶血を起こさせないために、血液にダメージを与える感染症にかからないように気を付けなければならないのですが、写真のような住環境…電気も水道もなく、生活排水を流す下水路もなし、窓もないワラ屋根土間小屋に大人から乳幼児まで何人もの家族でザコ寝…ですから、「マラリアにかかるな！」というほうが無理…　日頃から少しでも血液の状態を良く保つため、たくさん皆様からお届けいただいた“葉酸”、“鉄分”、“ビタミンB12”などを摂らせます。まとめて渡すと、いくら説明してもガバッと飲んでしまったり、兄弟姉妹たちが食べ？てしまったりするので、近くに住むJoyceに預かってもらい、毎夕1回ずつ服用しに来るようにします。『元気になってね！』の手作りカードをお送りくださった方もいました‼　Apwoyo Ma Te~k!!!!

Thanks to your support and prayers, luckily Anywar Patrick, 10, was able to have a series of transfusions and recovered from his coma once again! (I have mixed feelings when I think that there may have been others who were unable to get transfusions as a result.)

While his sickle cells themselves cannot be repaired, in order to prevent hemolysis that requires transfusion, he must be careful not to catch any infectious diseases that might damage his blood. But, as you can see from the photograph, he lives in a windowless thatch-roofed home with an earthen floor and without electricity, water, or sewer for domestic wastewater. Everyone in the family, from adults to babies, sleeps crowded together. So telling him to avoid catching malaria is pointless. In order to maintain his blood in good condition, we will have him take the folic acid, iron and Vitamin B12 that many of you generously sent. If we give it all to him, no matter how clearly we explain how to take it, he will take too much at one time or his brothers and sisters may eat it. So Joyce, who lives nearby, is keeping it for him. He goes over every evening to Joyce’s place to take a proper dosage. He also received a handmade get-well card!!!  Apwoyo Ma Te~k!

先回お知らせした鎌状細胞貧血にマラリヤを併発し意識不明から回復したAnywar Patrick（10歳）、写真のように無事退院し、その後元気に過ごしていると思いきや、容態が急変、わずか1週間ほどで再入院になってしまいました！　

鎌状細胞貧血には根本的治療法はまだ無く、“葉酸”と“鉄分”の摂取が対症療法として著効が認められているそうです。当地では入手困難ですが、日欧米などでならドラッグストアのチェーン店などでサプリとして比較的お手軽に入手できると思い、AnywarPatrickに“葉酸”を、“鉄分”を、お送りいただけますよう心からお願い申し上げます。厚かましい限りですが、なにとぞ一日も早く、お願いいたします。Apwoyo Ma Tek in advance!!! 

As you can see from the photo, Anywar Patrick, 10, whom we wrote about last time, was discharged from the hospital after being unconscious with sickle cell anemia and malaria. He seemed to be doing well after that, but his condition suddenly deteriorated, and he had to be hospitalized for another week.

There is no cure for sickle cell anemia, but folic acid and iron are recognized as being effective in controlling its symptoms. It is difficult to get folic acid and iron here but relatively easy to buy as supplements at drug stores in Japan, Europe and the United States. We would like to ask our supporters to send donations of folic acid and iron supplements asap for Anywar Patrick. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated. Apwoyo Ma Tek!

２学期も大詰め、期末テストが終わり、終業日まで登校不要となった中・低学年の子供たちが図書館に来るようになり、写真のようにすし詰め状態。

The second Term is coming to an end, and final exams are over. Students in the middle and lower grades, who don’t need to attend school through the last day, have been coming to the library, and it is packed, as you can see.

特記のない場合の写真説明はいつも通り左から右へ、です。

Laker Lisa　ラケー　リサ（14才）に 個人指導中のアヤノさん、オーストラリア留学とフィリピン生活経験のある保育士さんです。Ayano gives personal instruction to Laker Lisa, 14. Ayano is a nursery school teacher who has studied in Australia and lived in the Philippines.

Grace,　Nancy（右端奥）スタッフになって3年目,今やベテランです。Eunice,　Emma（左端奥）高校在学中から休暇の時手伝ってくれました。高校教師を目指し大学に入学するので間もなくKTGを離れます。　Grace, Nancy ( far right, background) in her third year on the staff, is now veteran. Eunice, Emma (far left, background) started assisting us during his vacation from high school. He will soon leave Kitgum to go to university so he can become a high school teacher.

今日が2日目、最新入りスタッフKibwota Isaac　キブウォタ　アイザック（左端手前）、８日だけ先輩のAgeno Rwot Euniceアゲノ ルウォット　ユーニス（右端）の授業を参観。

On his second day at work, new staff member Kibwota Isaac (left, foreground) observe lessons along with Ageno Rwot Eunice (far right), who has worked at the library a mere eight days longer than Isaac.

アヤノさんと子供たち、今日の勉強が終わってリラックス！　Ayano and kids relax after the day’s lessons.

当初の完成予定2017年10月より既に1年8ヶ月以上経過、手間が掛かるだけで先が見えませんでしたが、ここにきて大使館の強力なリーダーシップ、的確な働きかけにより大きく進展！　大使館GGP（日本政府による草の根無償支援事業）担当のS氏がKitgum入り。 

NさんがUS帰国中ですので今回は英文はありません。写真説明はいつも通り左から右です。

タンク内に落ち葉、飛来ゴミ、土埃り等が入るのを防ぐための仕掛け（ポリバケツの底に釘で穴を開け、メッシュと細かい砂利を敷き詰め、水タンクの蓋に穴を開けバケツを装着、バケツの蓋にもパイプを通す穴を開け…雨水はこのパイプを通りタンク内に入り、ゴミはバケツに残る、というもの）

椅子62脚搬入

天井の剥離とその修繕

机10台搬入。机の表面がザラザラ…、さらに磨きをかけニスを塗りなおすことに業者も同意。

PART Ⅱ: Posing with letters from their sponsors, students say “odi”! (Here we say “odi” (ground nut paste) instead of “cheese.”)

1学期終了後田舎に行ったまま戻らない子供たち、家の用事、学校の行事や全員対象の土日の補習のため図書館に来られない中高学年生たちへのお手紙が渡せずにいます。

期末試験後には、少しは時間ができ来館すると思います。今しばらくお待ちください。

We have not been able to give letters from the supporters to children who went back to their villages at the end of the first term and have not yet returned or to  students in the upper forms P.6 and P.7 who have not been able to come to the library because of chores at home, school events, or supplementary lessons on Saturdays. They will likely stop by after final exams, so please be patient.

Opoka,Dauzi,Joel  Secondary生3人、今度は、Dauziがお手紙を受け取りに来たのに付き添ってきました。

二人が就学支援生に加わりました！（写真説明は全て左から）

今年はいつものAdilangに加えPatongoにも。

This year’s visit included Patongo as well as Adilang.

Acen Harriet アチェン　ハリエット(P.5　両親なし)Ktg Primary Schoolに通い、成績も上位を維持してきましたが、乳児の時、母親が死去（父親については情報ゼロ）以来育ててくれた親類の事情で今後Agago県のPatongoという町の叔母宅に身を寄せ、この写真の学校に転校することに。検討、相談し、引き続き当PRAfricaで就学支援を続けます。 

Annual Visit to Agago District: This year’s visit included Patongo as well as Adilang.

1704: Acen Harriet, a fifth grader at Kitgum Primary School, has consistently got good grades. Her mother died when she was a baby. (There is no information on her father.) On account of the circumstances of the relatives who have raised her since then, she will go to live with her aunt in the town of Patongo in Agago District and attend the school in this photo. After discussing the matter, we decided that PRAfrica would continue to provide Acen with support.

転校手続きを済ませ一安心。制服も注文しました！　左から、これから世話になる叔父さん、図書館スタッフJoyce,　先生、Acen。Acen looks relieved after completing the procedures to transfer to her new school. She also ordered a uniform! From left: the uncle with whom she will live from now on; Joyce, a member of the library staff; a teacher, and Acen. 

Angee Ireneアンゲー　アイリーン(P.6 母あり)とお馴染みAdilangのOrina Primary School。彼女も成績良好で順調に進級。土曜なので学校はお休みですが集まってきた近所の子供たちと。

Angee Irene (sixth grade) and the Orina Primary School in Adilang. Angee also gets good grades and has steadily been promoted. It’s Saturday, so there is no school, but she has joined other neighborhood children. 

母、弟妹、祖母、親類一同、近所の人たちと。With her mother, siblings, grandmother, other relatives, and neighborhood children.

二学期のスタートが近づき、休暇中、畑仕事の手伝いをして過ごしていた田舎の村々から三々五々子供たちが町に戻り図書館にも顔を出すようになりました。休館中、支援者の皆様から届いていたお手紙が一通また一通と子供の手に…。（P.数字は学年、下線は普段呼ばれている名前）

With the approach of the start of the second semester, children have begun to appear at the library after returning to town from villages in the countryside where they spent their vacation helping in the fields. We have been passing out letters from supporters that arrived while the children were on holiday. (The underlined names are those by which the children are ordinarily addressed.)

Akello Sharon (P.2)

Sisters Aber Fortunate (left P.3) and Agenorwot Mercy Oyella (right P.３)

Lubanga Ngeyo Emmanuel (left) (P.2) and Wokorac Dick (right) (P.7)

Rwot Omiya Innocent (P.5)

Aol Fiona (P.6)

Such a long time!!! 何年ぶりでしょうか、久々、”ヴォランティア手記”に新掲載!!

是非ご覧ください。

新学年度が始まり、平日の一般子供利用者は姿を消しました。しかし、校納金（公立でも高額!!）や箒、トイレットペーパー、洗剤など学校に物納しなければならない品々、制服や学用品等が用意できず学校に行かれない子供たちが寺子屋塾への入塾を希望して連日続々と来館。前年末、20数名だった塾生の数が倍以上に!!！詰め込んでももう席が作れないので、就学年齢は6歳ですが、6、7歳の子は、帰ってもらうしかありません。「来ないでね。」といっても、毎日何名か来ます。Babaが指を使って１，２，３…10の数え方を教えています。
The new school year has begun, so young library patrons are no longer seen on weekdays. But some children can’t go to school because they can’t pay their school expenses, which are high even at government schools, or provide the required brooms, toilet paper, detergent or other supplies, or prepare their uniforms or school supplies. Many of these children have been coming to the library hoping to attend its school. At the end of last year there were 20-some students. This year that number has more than doubled! Even if they crowd in, there is not enough room for all of them. So, although children start school at age 6, we have had to send the 6- and 7-year-olds home. But even if we tell them not to come, some come every day. Baba teaches them to count to 10 on their fingers.

11月～12月に来てくれた67番目ボランティアのマリナさんのキトゥグム再訪‼！　二度目のケアプログラム実施。今回は、計画、準備の段階から、当日の進行、運営まで、当方のスタッフを前面に立て、ご自分は裏方に回り、助言者、相談役等を務めてくれました。今回のテーマは、『勉強に関連した辛い嫌な体験・良かった嬉しかった体験』。難しそうだったので、支援生の参加は中・上級生以上だけに絞り、一般の来館者も数名入れました。見つかった課題も含め、次につながる貴重な経験ができました。
Our 67th volunteer, Marina, who was here in November and December, returned to Kitgum to carry out the second care program. This time library staff handled everything from planning and preparation through implementation while Marina worked behind the scenes offering advice. The theme of the latest program was “Unpleasant and Happy Experiences Related to Studying.” It seemed like a difficult topic, so participation was limited to students in the middle and upper grades who receive support from the library along with several other library users. Including the problems that were found, the program was a valuable experience that we will be able to build on.

初登校日!!　青シャツは、これまでと同じPrimary小学校、白シャツはPublic小学校。
First day of school! As before, blue shirts are worn by students in Kitgum Primary school, while white shirts are worn by those in Kitgum Public school.
 彼女たちの家からは、Primaryは遠すぎるので、種々検討の結果やや近めのPublicに決めました。
These girls live too far from Primary school, so, after considering various options, it was decided that they would attend Public school, which is a little closer.

今年度（2月スタート）から新しく就学支援する子どもたちの家庭訪問
Visits are paid to the homes of students who will receive support during the new school year, which starts in February.

県側と新旧２業者の3者が、現場を見ながら話しあったハズなのに、「何のこと？」と。その時撮った写真を見せ思い出してもらいましたが、「そちら側の仕事だ、我々側の責任ではない‼」と決着しません。

昨11月建築業者の作業員がやっつけ仕事を終え、立去ってから55日が経ちました。

　軟弱な木質と取り付け作業の雑さが原因」とのこと。

コンクリートの強度を高めるのに必要な水やりをせず、セメントを塗って直ぐ黒タールを塗っている！　仕方なくBabaと子どもたちが、バケツで水を汲んできて撒いたが、ご覧の通りの雑な仕事のまま、姿を消して早や４５日！　

Apwoyo Katoo Mwaka~!!　明けましておめでとうございます。

新年初めのアップに相応しくない全然おめでたくない記事で恐縮ですが、新図書館工事の種々問題箇所の写真です。