World Map Project - Going Strong

I started working on the world map project at the primary school back in April. This project has been wonderful from the start. I really needed a creative outlet and a way to feel accomplished when I started working on it, but it has turned out to be so much more. Without this map I would not have gotten to know the teachers at the school nearly as well and I would not have spent as much time with the students. Heading over to the school in the afternoons has rapidly become my favourite part of the day.

At first it was just three of us working on the map. Lorato and Rex have been my counterparts and helpers from the start. Lorato is my neighbour and good friend, Rex is a standard 7 teacher at the school (the American equivalent of 6th grade, I think). They have helped me with everything from getting funding and paint to drawing out a (somewhat) even grid.

 

Rex creating the outline for the map

As we progressed, more and more teachers came out to help or just to watch. It became almost like an afternoon tradition. When the colours started to show from a distance, more and more people began mentioning the map to me. Curious people started visiting while we painted or just came to voice their support. Friends and neighbours started helping out. Kids would gather round and would point to countries for me to name. 

Rex after we finished pink!

After weeks of work, we are now getting close to the finish line. We only have one colour left to complete painting the map (dark green), and then we'll begin labelling the countries and major oceans. I still haven't quite worked out how to label the countries. Some are so small that I just don't think there is enough space. Should I try to paint the names on? Use a stencil? Make a key? Write them with a whiteout pen? If anyone out there has some advice it would be much appreciated! 

We have also started discussing having an unveiling ceremony. This event will actually be my first foray into Botswana protocol. I had originally wanted to just throw a sheet on the wall and invite a few people to come see us unveil the map with the students, but that is not the proper way to do things! The headmistress kindly told me that we'll need to provide some food for the guests and send out invitations to all the heads of associations in the village to make it a nice event. I definitely want to make the school proud and celebrate with some good geography games, so now I'm working on finishing the map, finding some money for the food, and figuring out  how to write nice invitations in Setswana. 

I'll post some pictures of the final event and the map when it's all done (and if I find some strong wifi)!

p.s. I challenge you to learn the countries of Africa! There are great geography quizzes on www.sporcle.com for anyone interested in learning more about this huge continent.