The Switch Ajema Kikuyu-Ngumba, Kenya Administrative Director was recently in the U.S. visiting family. Several mornings, she had the task of braiding her niece’s hair. Ajema’s experience plaiting hair, like many African girls, is limited to play as a

child, and the results were not what she had envisioned! So, when Ajema returned to Nairobi, she approached Christine Mbithe, Hairdressing Tutor in the eduKenya Skills Training program, for lessons in hairstyling.Ajema started lessons in September and soon realized that hairstyling requires great skill! Braiding is hard on the fingers and takes great concentration; not only that, it involves mathematics! Sectioning the hair and adding extensions, so the result is neat, requires precise measurement! Ajema thought, “So often we take other people’s labors for granted. Each job at eduKenya and Kwa Watoto School requires knowledge, skill, passion, and commitment.”Through Ajema’s humbling experience in the salon, she decided that others might benefit from making a similar type of switch. Therefore, on October 24, 2014, we put to rest any notion that someone else’s job may be easier! On this day, teachers became cooks, custodians became executive staff, and accountants stood in front of a sea of little, expectant faces. On this day, we discovered what it means to walk in someone else’s shoes.The staff members received their work assignment by drawing it out of the proverbial hat. A few were delighted with their draw, but most experienced some anxiety at entering into an unfamiliar role for which they were unprepared. All drew up their courage and stepped into the unknown.Class 1 teacher, Joyce Njuguna, originally assigned to catering, had to trade because she is asthmatic and unable to tolerate the kitchen’s hot environment. Joyce moved to the Communication desk, where she received a list of 10 objectives for the day including photography, personal interviews, and writing stories based on those interviews. She accomplished three tasks and wisely delegated others.

Mercy Murugi, who serves as a school custodian, was an eduKenya Director for the day. She stepped up to the role of arranging, organizing and facilitating meetings. She dressed the part of an executive and looked very smart indeed! Mercy discovered that directors should be sober-minded, informed, and forward thinking. She said that, “The role requires good people skills to deal fairly and equally with employees.”

For those assigned to the tailoring department there was a slight problem - who would teach who? Sixth grade teacher, Elijah Muli, draped in an apron instead of his regular dust-coat, agonized over the sewing machine as tailoring students taught him sewing basics! He discovered that sewing required a very specialized set of skills.

Head Teacher Michael Maingi and Class 7 teacher Starnsislous Mule joined an efficient catering department. These folks work hard, but made it look effortless. On this day, morning tea was ready two hours early; Uji, a healthy brown porridge, an hour before schedule; and lunch - 30 minutes ahead of time! By 2.30 PM, dirty dishes were cleared and 4 P.M. tea was prepared. It was impressive, except when the kitchen and surrounding rooms filled with billowing smoke, setting off the smoke detector!

Joseph Njenga, who manages the Community Support Ministry, headed off to the Kindergarten class where he engaged well with his students and had a great time. eduKenya Accountant, Erick Nzomo, acting janitor, discovered that in addition to keeping the building clean, he had to monitor the movements of children. He enjoyed supervising children during their breaks and hastening them back to their classrooms.

The queen for a day was tailoring instructor, Roseland Elaya, who drew the Head Teacher assignment. She reigned supreme as she countersigned lesson plans and dealt firmly with teachers unhappy about their teaching schedules. Rumor has it; she played her part with evident glee.The students enjoyed The Switch the most! Younger students took time to warm up to new teachers, but once adjusted, engaged eagerly in the lessons. A fourth grade student said, “I was very happy for the day. I had a new teacher who inspired us a lot with the Word of God in the Pupil Pastoral Lesson (daily devotion).” The switch taught students to respect everyone in the organization. They learned that each member of the staff has something valuable to teach them.At the end of the day, we all acknowledge that walking in our colleague’s shoes is a challenge. Each job requires skill, effort, strength, and most of all, God’s grace. The experience helps us to understand the important role each person plays in the organization, and increases our respect for each another. Perhaps the most important take-away lessons are that unity is strength and team spirit is essential for the progress of our organization.~ The Communication Team