Red Cross/Red Crescent

Here at KAS, our options for field trips are limited. We have a bus driver and a great little bus, but not so many places to go.
This spring, we have been trying to focus on service in the middle school. An email out to parents produced several connections and possibilities, as many of our parents are here with NGOs. Who would work with the kids on a project, or let them come run around their workplace? hmmm.... sounds like so much fun!
A HIT! The father of two of my students is the head of logistics for the International Red Cross here in Sudan. Wow!
He invited two of our classes out to the warehouse- the 'beating heart' of the organization, as he calls it. And what an awesome day!

He took us through the warehouses- explaining to the kids their job in Sudan. He explained the neutrality of the Red Cross as the parent of kids that are fighting. You still love both of your children, right? And they got it.
What food is most important to give someone without any? He did a GREAT job of explaining things to the kids and bringing them in on the discussion. Really cool, and difficult to do, without explaining the whole Darfur conflict. (What adult even understands that?)
We also got to climb into Red Cross trucks and drive around their compound, spelling our names into the CB radio with the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. What could be more fun for a 11 year old!?
"This is Romeo, Alpha, Charlie, Hotel, Echo, Lima. OVER."

For lunch, they prepared refugee rations for the kids. Eye-opening! It was Sudanese style, with asida with mulak (?)- boiled and beaten sorghum with some sauce and lentils. Eating with your hands, as per local tradition.For the Sudanese kids, it was similar to what they've had before. The other kids had a tougher time chokin' it down, but they were all good sports.
What a day! Their eyes were certainly opened, and it has surely sparked many more conversations to come. And the teachers even walked away with free desktop 'ICRC Sudan' desktop calenders! Oh, we get so many perks! The real perk was the chance to see the inner-workings of the ICRC in Sudan- what an opportunity!