by Betty Trummel

I love days like today when the air is supercharged with excitement and joy! We were out in the rural district of Rufunsa, visiting the tiny village school now connected to Shine Zambia Reading Academy and using its phonics program. We also visited the Shine pig farm, which provides revenue for Shine school back in Lusaka. What a day! 

An interesting drive on the Great East Road out of Lusaka, was an opportunity to see the bustling city fade away, the vegetation changing to bush land, and plenty of opportunities to observe rural life here in Zambia. In time we left the paved road (full of potholes) and turned off on dirt roads which were rutted, full of rocks of all sizes, had craters that our driver expertly maneuvered around and the dust flying was incredible. Despite all that…this “country road” led to a real gem.

Our two-hour drive to Rufunsa was followed by an amazing welcome at the tiny village school called Bamcaf.

Teachers Febie and Mary are teaching 50 students in one large room/ building, and other students from a local government school also come for phonics lessons. Teacher Febie had started this school in her home, and was able to move it to its current location in a former community center that was no longer in use. It’s a great space. But, like so many schools, they’re lacking books for the children and need picture books to capture the children’s interest in reading. This is a way A to Z Literacy helps…by sending shipments of books to help create small libraries and reading opportunities for vulnerable learners. 

After the children sang and danced for me, and several children read books aloud, I had the chance to read a picture book to the class. So much fun! And, while I read, the book was also translated into Nyanja (the local language) by both Isaac and Teacher Febie. Very cool.

The teachers asked me to teach a Shine Zambia Reading Academy phonics lesson so off I went to a tiny classroom inside the “office” in an adjacent building. This was a lesson for a small group of readers, who were attentive, and many were eager to participate although they had just met me today! I think they were ready to show me what they’ve learned! It was just awesome to be teaching them!

Our afternoon was spent at the nearby pig farm and was a lesson in all things related to that operation. I certainly learned more about the feeding and raising of pigs. Having grown up on a small farm I was quite interested in this production.

Suffice to say, this was a stellar day and is going to be one for the books! I hope you have enjoyed this taste of a rural school in Zambia! 

Remember, your donations can help A to Z Literacy ship books to schools like Bamcaf School in Rufunsa.