July 2009 - The End of the School Year

This was a strange time. First we had a power cut. The pupils stayed on site, but there were complications with classes. Then President Bongo died and there was great confusion. After a few days everyone went home - except for the security team and the four teachers who lived onsite - including me. It was a very uncertain time; Bongo had been President for so long that nobody was quite sure what would happen - and there were only three or fours security guards onsite! There was a generalised panic; talk of an invasion from a neighbouring country, possible civil unrest, the army everywhere...... I slept with a machete under my pillow! In the end, nothing bad happened .....

Here is a mixture of photos of pupils at school in those days (when they didn't have to wear uniform) and then going home. (Chris Snuggs - December 2020)