Desks, Textbooks, and School...Oh My!

After a weekend full of fun and games, yesterday was our first full weekday in Asikuma. Anna and I were both excited to see what a “normal” summer day looks like for the kids living at the mission center. The school term does not start until September 8^th, but the other volunteers have been working hard to implement some summer classes for the mission center kids as well as anyone else from the village that can come.

Unfortunately, what we observed yesterday in the summer school classes was a mix of lacking supplies/resources, engagement, and experience. Although the school is doing the best they can they do not have desks for the children which means the students are either sitting on the floor using the bench as a table or they are trying to write in their lap. Additionally, there is a lack of paper, pencils, books, etc. This made engaging the students extremely challenging. Many of them know limited English and so without the ability to read, write, and copy they were struggling to make sense of class. Thus, many of them would just leave class frustrated, some in tears, as a result of not being able to be successful. Finally, the majority of the volunteers are not trained teachers. This means that they are doing the best they can but without resources it is even more difficult to meet the needs of all of the children because they have such a wide range of abilities. Anna and I left the morning classes feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed.

Thankfully, just when we needed it the most, Wisdom asked us if we would be willing to attend a “brief” meeting about the school. We knew better than to assume brief would actually mean short, we’re on Africa time after all. However, we agreed and walked back to the school to meet the new headmaster and about half of the teachers. I won’t bore you with all the details of our 2.5-hour meeting, yet I will tell you that we both left with huge smiles on our faces. We covered topics ranging from resources needed for the school to be successful to discipline to promoting literacy and the use of English. Everything we that was shared by the headmaster and teachers and all the various points discussed, Anna and I agreed with. This made us confident that we don’t need to try to reinvent the wheel, but instead will be able to spend our time making small changes and suggestions that will benefit the students and the teachers.

We will meet with the whole staff, eight teachers and headmaster, next Monday for a day of in-service training before school starts. Anna and I will be presenting about how to best meet the needs of all students especially with literacy and English. One of our goals is for the teachers to begin to see the importance of allowing students to work in groups and learn from one another. We will also be listening to the headmaster and trying to get a better grasp of their education system and have our questions answered. We are anxious for school to start, but thankful for the time we have to prepare.

We could not be more appreciative for all the love and support we have received, especially as we were leaving the states! We are loving every minute of our time here but it’s always great to hear from people back home. Please continue to follow our journey, spread the word, and support us financially if you feel compelled. We are currently raising funds for 50 desks and clastextbooks so we are prepared for the beginning of the school year. As always, let us know if you have any questions or would like additional information!