By Mal Keenan

Last year I thought ahead and jotted down directions to Shine Reading Academy to make sure I could find my way back without trouble as there are no street signs in this part of town. The team had a real good giggle reading my directions as we drove to Shine on Monday morning as the Zambians stared at five white women traveling along in a small blue Toyota Fun Cargo.
Directions to Shine Reading Academy:
At roundabout (the car wash one) – go straight through heading towards Kalingalinga
Turn left at stoplight (Ok, no longer there…we now use Golden View Investments as landmark)
Go past Deliverance Church, God Knows Hair Salon, and Petroda Gas
Stay left (arrow sketched streets in margins) – pavement ends
Keep going past “bend down boutiques” (street vendors) on right
Quick left at electrical pole (drawing included)
Go all the way down dirt road to the wall with PM/PN spray painted on it
Go right – follow arrow on brick wall (watch out for holes in road)
Travel over smoking garbage dam – be careful of dogs and children
Go right off garbage dam and then take quick left past Kalikiliki Hospice.
Continue up hill, stay left and avoid big rocks (still heading east)
Turn left at small yellow sign “Big Digas and Sons” – look for cinder block building with big metal door
Look for two water storage tanks – old white one & newer green one – school is on left

By Mariann Zimmerman

So far this trip has been amazing. Today I taught a lesson to about 20 students about using True and False. They definitely know what is true, but false needs a little more work. The best part was bringing out the non-fiction texts on animals, colored pencils, and paper. The look on their faces when the handbell rang let me know they liked what they were doing and were disappointed we ran out of time. With a promise that I will be back tomorrow, I collected their work and sent them on their way with new pencils. Success!

By Anastasia Gruper

We arrived at Shine today to observe teachers; they were seeking feedback on how they teach! Mal and I were disheartened teacher Anala was absent today. However, it gave us another class to teach. Mal and I put our teacher hats back on and headed into a guided reading lesson. At the end of our lesson, we asked a question about what students would like to be when they get older. Our word bank of examples
students shared were amazing: teacher, police officer, lawyer, pastor, doctor, nurse, astronaut, and model. As the students poured their effort into drawing pictures of their future professions, it became clear to me that their hopes and dreams are real. Although they face extreme difficulties, these students will become what they hope and dream to be.

By Kalan Gott

True or false? A a 16 inch jump rope can light up the life of a child more than any iPod or cellphone. True or false? Six woman and two men with associates degree can run a school for 260 students on $1 per student per day. True or false? A group of 5 women from the U.S can plan to inspire and influence the lives of Zambian students and instead find themselves inspired and influenced. Today Anastasia and I taught a lesson on fiction and non-fiction using true and false to introduce the vocabulary. While teaching the lesson I started thinking about true and false situations in life. The fiction and non-fiction we live everyday. I know today that I feel like I am in a story. A make believe place where children only get one meal a day. But the truth is this world is real. This life is non-fiction. A political, social, cultural story leaping off of the page and into my heart. This world is real, fact, truth, and it is hard and beautiful all at once.

By Ann Yanchura

You know how you hear about being “in the zone”? I’m no athlete, but I know how it feels to be so focused on something you are doing that you don’t know what’s going on around you. One of the reasons I agreed to Mal’s request to come to Zambia with A to Z is that I recognize that I need to step outside of my comfort zone. I would never call myself terribly spoiled, but I know how lucky I am to live and work where I do and have the family and friends that I have. One of my specific vanities is that I love my living and sleeping comforts and was scared about what I would find here in Lusaka; I was grateful to find that our accommodations here are cozy, clean, and safe. That’s a relief and will allow me to focus my attention on my work in the schools. When I do, I will get “into the zone” of teaching, listening and learning.
It’s my fervent prayer that I will have the chance to grow braver and smarter as I age. This seems to be the place to do both. Think of stepping outside of YOUR comfort zone to try something that will benefit you and someone else. Get into a new zone – and you don’t have to go to Lusaka to do it

By: Anastasia Gruper
With innocence we arrived at O’Hare airport at four am, a large bag and teaching supply bin to check and a carry-on bag in tow. At six am we embarked on our journey to Zambia, Africa as our first leg of plane rides began. Our trip to Washington DC was pleasant and we arrived in good spirits. We had one hour to roam the Dulles airport before boarding for our second leg to Ethiopia, a 12 hour trek. We each said a little prayer in DC for our bags to transfer with us and we were delighted to see our teacher bins, wrapped in differing colors of duct tape, rolling towards our plane as we boarded in Ethiopia for what we thought was our last leg of the trip, a three hour flight to Zambia. After traveling for thirty hours exhaustion was eating our insides, we were disappointed when the pilot announced we were landing in Zimbabwe; this was not on our itinerary. As we waited for an hour for some passengers to exit the plane and others to join the ride, we walked the aisles to gain sanity. When the plane took off again, we were anxious to reach Zambia. Waiting in line for customs to check our passports was grueling. However, as we crossed the turnstile we were relieved and sighed in relief when we saw our teaching bins had made it on every flight we did. We had arrived with supplies and excitement to begin our Zambian adventure.

Today I had the priveledge to hear author Joan Bauer speak passionately about her books, writing, and reaching the vulnerable children in our lives. She spoke of the gifts our students possess and how we as teachers cannot fail them. What really grabbed a hold of me was when Mrs. Bauer talked about humor and despair sitting on the same couch in life.  And who’s sitting in the middle? Hope.

Next week I will be working in Zambia at Shine Reading Academy, filled with hope, determined to reach the resilient children sitting before me. As I try to understand the despair in their lives, I’ll bring humor and joy into the classrooms. We will laugh together as we read and write. What will I be looking for in the middle of it all? Hope.

By: Anastasia Gruper

As I try to plan for what literacy knowledge to share in Zambia, I am humbled when Kalan tells me I will not be able to target my instruction until I know my students. Kalan and Mal have the advantage of background knowledge to draw upon while planning and sharing ideas.  The excitement in their eyes intensifies my desire to get to Zambia as a new adventure calls my name. As Kalan and Mal have expressed, the experiences Ann, Mariann, Kalan, Mal, and I will share will far surpass anything we teach. With an anxious stomach, the days of departure dwindle as the yearning to learn from others grows. Incredible support, such as donations, well wishes, and conversations, from colleagues and loved ones creates a feeling of gratitude.  This trip would not be possible for me without the generosity from so many. For this, I am truly thankful.

By: Ann Yanchura

Thrilled. Challenged. Honored. Scared. These emotions cycle through my mind as I prepare to travel to Zambia. Our Summer 2012 team is busy planning, preparing lessons, gathering materials and supplies, and making our packing lists. I can’t believe I have the opportunity to share my love of teaching, learning, reading and writing with schools in the Third World…and to do it alongside four other women whom I admire and who feel the same way I do. Can’t wait to see what Zambia has in store for us.

A few months ago the team of educators planning to go to Zambia had our first meeting. At that meeting Ann Yanchura handed each of us a journal with a piece of the famous Mahatma Gandi, “Be the Change” quote on the cover. The journal brought tears to my eyes then and inspiration to my heart now. On this Memorial Day Monday I am diligently working in my journal. Brainstorming plans, creating lists of supplies, asking questions, and organizing lessons.
I am honored to have this time to remember our fallen soldiers who fought so hard for democracy and freedom. I am honored to remember them by continuing to fight for the same reasons that they gave their lives. Through literacy, the boys and girls of Zambia will know their rights, work towards equality, and help each other experience the freedom that comes with reading, writing, and education.