“You will stand tallest when you kneel down to help a child.” This is the mantra by which Robert Omwa lives. At Arya Primary School in Kisumu town, teacher Robert is surrounded by a group of both lower and upper primary pupils. They engage in visibly hearty conversations. Claps, high-fives and songs characterize their talks.
“This has been like my second home the last one year,” says Omwa, who just got a transfer to secondary school in the county. Most of the children he is interacting with have no clue that this could be their last chance with him.
I would want to be remembered as that teacher who was there for a child when they needed someone to listen to them and offer solutions.” ~ Robert Omwa
Robert is a beacon teacher at Arya Primary School in Kisumu. A beacon teacher wears many hats. He or she is a point of reference, a lighthouse and one is vocal on matters child protection. He is a teacher who beyond teaching rounds, they have a third ear for the child; they listen to children, their stories, concerns and fears.
According to him, teaching is changing from the place where a teacher was everything. “We advocate for teachers to listen more to the children and provide solutions that are children-centred, in the best interest of the children. We have so far managed to bring other teachers on board. We have been able to reach children on how to protect themselves while teaching parents on how to protect their children,” he says.
A beacon teacher is a different from ordinary teacher. At school, children have identified him as a teacher who listens. At the community, he is seen as a confidant and one to whom community members report cases of child abuse. As a beacon teacher, you become a solution to almost every teacher. It is more than teaching.” ~ Robert Omwa
In 2015, Robert was part of the 200 teachers from five counties trained to become beacon teachers through a programme by the Teachers Service commission, Plan International and the European Union. “Being a beacon teacher has been a rewarding journey. It has transformed my teaching, my interaction with pupils, teachers and even improved me personally. As a beacon teacher, it has been life changing for me. I am inviting all teachers in this country to become beacon teachers.”
According to Robert, the highest moment is when he is called upon to assist a child. That, he says, remains the best of it. Most of the people who call for help on violence against children they feel defeated. They look out for someone to reach out to them. Our mantra in such situations is “You will stand tallest when you kneel down to help a child.”
In 2017 Robert received a Head of State Commendation form the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta. This, he says, boosted his morale and gave him credibility.
I’m a believer in child friendly spaces, everywhere. Metaphorically, when you rise up high when talking to a child, they run away. But when you kneel down they run to you.
This is who a beacon teacher is. The one who goes down to listen to children.
I’m a witness and very close friend of Robert. He showed me the way into a child’s heart. I’ve hard easy time with children since then.
Being a headteacher, I show my staff members the way.
Being child friendly as teacher makes the job so satisfying and you go home with a lot of reserves of energy, ready to rush back to the learners the following day.
This is true of Mr. Robert OmwaHis commitment earned him a nickname HSC, a dream he will achieve one day. Reverts dedication for the child’s protection is undoubted. He accompanied me in visiting many schools to talk on child’s protection and teachers and students who interacted with him made sense out of his speech to promote child protection.