Hugs and laughs were abundant yesterday as refugee ladies and preschoolers assembled for the last American Life and Language class of the spring term. Along with lots of English practice, we shared a practical and inexpensive way to clean things around the house. Thanks to the generosity of our many church friends, we had plenty of vinegar and spray bottles to prepare homemade safe and effective cleaner. First we ate clementines so that we could add their peels to give the vinegar a better fresh smell. Next we passed around a little cup of vinegar for everyone to dip a finger and taste. While most ladies knew about vinegar, one Burundi lady may not forgive me for the surprisingly sharp taste. Then students used funnel to fill their own bottles with vinegar and a little water. We talked about all sorts of things we can clean in our homes with this little solution such as refrigerators, stoves, windows, mirrors, floors, counters, even fruits and veggies. We also talked about how commercial spray cleaners cost $3-5 and a bottle of vinegar is $1 at Dollar Tree. Our students were pretty impressed with that fact. This project was a fun finish to our spring term, and we thank you for making it possible.

After a short break, we will restart classes June 6 for a 6 week summer session. If you are looking for summer volunteer opportunity, please consider helping us with adults or preschoolers during this period. We’d love to have your help. Field trips for the summer session will be announced soon so please keep an eye on our website for future announcements.