As Monday came, the skies looked a bit ominous. But this being the rainy season we cannot let weather deter, so we headed off to Kantolomba for a busy schedule. We wanted to accomplish three things: 1) Continue to solidify components of the Living English program, 2) Help firm up further routines regarding the Adult English program, and 3) See if we could be silent observers of the comings and goings of the students to the extra lessons program to assist in making clear schedules for each grade level.
A site we see each morning on our way to Living Compassion: Mwanawasa National Stadium. Named after the former president, it was completed about a year and half ago. Chipolopolo, the Zambian National Football (soccer) team plays their matches here—a nice boost for the local economy.
Upon arrival at the site, we saw another white vehicle pulling up next to us. And who was driving? Muyunda! It was lovely to see an old friend. He was delivering items for the kitchen. The children quickly surrounded to help take the packages to the kitchen.
Muyunda was our taxi driver for many trips when we did not have access to a vehicle. Theresa now has a license and we are able to ‘rent’ a car on a daily basis. Makes transportation very easy!
The children rush to take part.
The children help carry the bags to the kitchen. Such lovely helpers!
A young boy climbing a tree, watching the activity around him.
As the children were eating, we began our meeting for the day. First on the docket, the various components of Living English: field trips, curriculum before and after the trips, attendance...
We started with putting together a first draft of the flow for the program: enrolling the students, informing parents, the lead-up to the trips, the time between trips. When we got into the detail of enrollment, the primary focus was developing language to explain the program to the students. Over the weekend Georgina had written a draft, and she started off the process. We all agreed that it is important to convey to the students that the 100% attendance requirement is set up for them. The more they attend, the more they learn; the more they learn, the more opportunity and choices they have.
One common form of learning in Zambia is memorizing poems and rhymes. A poem the children like to recite for us expresses love for Living Compassion, and “Mama Cheri” in particular, for all they have received. Building on that, we asked the team if love might be a way the children could understand the program standards. Could we explain to the children that the teachers came up with the attendance requirement because they love them and they want to offer them opportunity. All agreed that was a good approach.
After reviewing key points, we asked if anyone would be willing to volunteer to practice, and Georgina offered. She did an excellent job! The afternoon was the first opportunity to start explaining the program to the children.
Putting together the schedule of the Field Trip program. Lots of important dates to track!
Georgina practices explaining the Living English program.
After lunch, we observed afternoon classes. It was wonderful to take a step back and just see. We learned a lot.
There is a trickle-down effect on scheduling. The majority of our children come in after their government school day. There is a timetable at each school, but any number of factors can interrupt that, from teachers being late, to weather, to students being kept for longer days to assist in chores around the school grounds. A strict schedule of extra lessons held the same time each day will definitely not work. It was fun to work together to find what WILL work. What we got to: we have a schedule of what we want to teach each day, and when the students come, the teachers teach! We added “staying on your toes” to their English phrases. All had a good laugh demonstrating how teachers must be very athletic to keep up with the ever-changing schedules of the government schools. This prompted a lively discussion about how it is possible to hold the spirit of agreements, even when the particular form may be a bit unpredictable.
Joy’s Grade 1 children are waiting patiently for class to begin.
Joy shows us young Hector’s schoolbook. If you look closely, you can see he is learning to write the letter b. Hector Kabale is Osric’s younger brother. Perhaps you remember Osric, the videographer on our journey to Masala Clinic on Friday. We hear that cleverness runs in the Kabale family.
When the classes convened, each of the teachers began explaining the program. When asked who wanted to join and attend 100% of the time, many of the children raised their hands. We took photos and names of the students to begin tracking attendance.
Theresa talks to the students about the program.
Joy tries her hand at explaining the program to the Grade 1 children!
Charles with his class, Grade 6 and Grade 7.
One of Charles’s students, Abram, will be in the program.
Mwansa, one of the girls, expressed interest in the program.
The Grade 8 boys, on their lunch break, watch a video of their trip to Masala clinic last Friday. That was a moment! The trip JUST happened. To be able to sit together on Monday and see themselves in a video, recalling the events, was grand fun for everyone!
After classes were over, we moved on to the Adult English program. Anna led the team in a review of how things are going. One of the teachers said that the book they are using, the “Red Book,” is difficult, and they wanted to see if there is a simpler version of it. Anna brought out the “Purple Blue book,” which was just that! As review of the new book began, we had to pause for a massive rainstorm. If you’ve read previous trip blogs, you’ll know that the rain is so loud speaking is difficult. We used this as an opportunity to be silent.
Jen and Theresa broke out a compass and found northwest and began to encourage the rain to head to California next.
Anna distributing the new Purple Blue English books. Charles was very happy to get a new one.
Living Compassion during a rainstorm.
At the end of the day we took advantage of a slight break in the rain to jump in the car to return “home.” The rain followed us back to Castle Lodge and continued through the night.