Category Archives: A to Z Abroad

Summing Up My Teaching and Learning in Zambia

by Betty Trummel

Here are some thoughts to sum up my experiences at both the School of Hope and Shine Zambia Reading Academy, written in an acrostic poem format.

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S  Sustainability in action

C  Commitment to learning

H  Hope for the future

O  Open arms to welcome us

O  Opportunity for growth and professional development

L  Love for the children

 

O  Opportunity to serve others

F  Faith and devotion

 

H  Happiness of the children was contagious

O  Outstanding leadership

P  Prayer is powerful

E  Everyone learns when given the chance
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S  Shining brightly for education

H  Hope for the future of these vulnerable children

I   Igniting the flames within each child

N  Nyanja is a cultural anchor

E  Excitement for learning for both teachers and students

 

Z  Zambian warmth and friendliness

A  A sunny courtyard, maintained with care

M  Many reasons to give thanks

B  Books – Shine’s mission is literacy

I    Increasing the numbers of children taught

A  A commitment to education.

 

Team A to Z Literacy Movement

by Betty Trummel

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There is something very special about being part of a team, whether that team is comprised of 2, 4, 10 or more people.  It’s knowing that you are part of a goal together, sharing an experience – and along with that facing challenges and celebrations.

The two weeks in Zambia was a tremendous learning and teaching experience for me.  In addition to working with the A to Z team, I was rewarded through our partnerships with teachers at both School of Hope and Shine Zambia Reading Academy.  Strong commitment to helping vulnerable children in Zambia was the common theme, always on the minds of not only our group, but with every teacher we met along the way.

Our work reminds me of how many lives teachers touch with our profession, whether it’s in a formal classroom situation, or informal teaching in community groups, volunteering to teach at home or abroad.  So many children and adults need good role models and mentors.  Good educators continue to develop professionally throughout their career…emerging teachers, seasoned veterans.  Remembering to take time to learn and challenge ourselves to grow is critical, and this doesn’t mean just an inservice program at school….it means thinking and doing professional activities outside of your school district, to broaden your horizons.

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With over 67 years of teaching experience on our A to Z team (35 years of those are mine!) we know the importance of literacy as it threads its way through the curriculum….connecting science, social studies, math, reading, and writing.  Reading opens doors to learning, always, and promoting literacy for all age groups is integral to success.

Staring down the start of the final school year of my career, beginning in August, I know that I will never stop teaching; not in my actions and my heart.  It’s part of who I am…who I will always be.  Opportunities like working with the A to Z Literacy Movement team are what motivate me to keep learning, teaching and connecting with the world.

The bonhomie (ba na ME) of strangers uniting in education is unmatched when you open your heart and mind.  Thanks Mal and team A to Z for an unparalleled experience.  Thanks teachers at School of Hope and Shine Zambia Reading Academy for the same.  You have all taught me a lot in such a short time.  I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.

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Becky’s Final Thoughts on the Trip

By Becky Roehl

As our team makes our final leg home, there are so many things going
through our minds. For me personal I know my heart was touched by hundreds
of students in Zambia and their teachers. The willingness to learn by
students and teachers is something that will forever be in my mind. The
appreciation of all A to Z does is seen and heard. ( picture or video of
goodbye) Many  people in our society question donations to non for profit
because they don’t how much actually goes to help. I can tell you
scholarships for students to go to school, bikes are giving to cut two
hour walk times in the dark to 30 minutes, supplies handed out to each and
every student, and meaningful professional development is giving to
teachers. I want to thank all those who ran fundraisers or donated to A to
Z. You are truly making a difference  in more ways than you can imagine.

Spread the word about A to Z literacy movement to everyone not just
teachers. I know I will be getting all those cheese heads on board when I
get home.

One last thing, a big thank you to the team this trip. You are all so
inspiring. I feel truly blessed to have gone on this journey with you.

How a Book Can Take You to a Place and Leave a Mark

By Mal Keenan​

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“Many people are happy with things as they are. They are comfortable with what they already know. But if I didn’t move outside my comfort level, how would I ever experience anything new, how would I learn, or see or explore? I believe that each of us has a purpose for being here, that we have certain gifts and certain challenges we need to learn from and fulfill for our lives to have meaning and richness.” Lynne Cox, author of Grayson
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While traveling by bus from Lusaka to Livingstone, Zambia, I read a really great book called Grayson by Lynne Cox. The memoir tells about Lynne’s experience with a baby gray whale early one morning while swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Lynne’s words created a perfect picture in my mind. There I sat on a warm, dry, and dusty bus in the middle of Africa, but felt like I was in that cold Pacific sea water watching Lynne try to find Grayson’s mother.
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Books are powerful. Books take us places. Books help us to better understand struggle, determination, and success. Lynne had so many thoughtful lines throughout the story, and I found myself tabbing pages with memorable quotes. The  short passage at beginning this blog post struck me as I watched the A to Z team of teachers learn and explore, better understanding life in Zambia, wanting to know more about the people. Pushing outside our comfort level is tough, but we all have gifts to share and challenges to overcome.

Meeting Mr. Mwale

By Mal Keenan
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I had the great privilege of meeting Mr. Mwale, Jonathan’s dad, while working at Shine Zambia in June. As many of you know, the A to Z Literacy team has been keeping tabs on Jonathan as he has progressed through school. Now in grade 10, A to Z is providing the funds needed for Jonathan to attend Munali Secondary School for Boys.

Mr. Mwale wanted to meet face to face to thank us personally and express his deepest gratitude. As he spoke, Jonathan sat quietly, head down, listening, respecting his father. I was moved by watching the two of them, so when I began to respond to Mr. Mwale, tears poured out instead of words.

Trying to pull myself together, I explained that even on my hardest day in Crystal Lake, Illinois, my roughest moments, nothing compares to their days in Zambia. Life is so much more difficult.

Telling Mr. Mwale that we believe in his son, that we are inspired by Jonathan, motivated by him, and trust him, was the highlight of my day.

Beacons of Light

By Pat Kelly

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Here in the slums of Ibex Hill, Kalikiliki and Mtendere, where “Poverty” is your middle name and “no way out” rides in your back pocket, there is a place.

It’s a place where discipline and respect abound, where children summon all they can to come to school and work diligently for nearly six hours on empty stomachs.

Teachers are miracle workers creating something out of virtually nothing. They carry to each class some tattered textbooks, a piece of chalk and a plan.

From that plan, fires are ignited and sparks fly, carrying off into the air children’s wishes for a career, repayment to families for their support and service to others in Zambia. That’s the focus of Shine Zambia Reading academy- allowing impoverished youngsters to shine to their best ability.

A School That Shines

By Betty Trummel

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When I first visited Shine Zambia Reading Academy four years ago, it was a fledgling school with three teachers and classrooms (a fourth room was used as the kitchen and storage area).  Fast forward to June 2014…this school has blossomed into an incredible garden of learning.  With six classrooms, a gathering hall, staff room, office, two staff bathrooms and bathrooms for the children, and a spacious library, Shine has tripled its footprint on this piece of land in the compounds of Lusaka.

 

The staff of three teachers has multiplied into nine, and there’s a full-time librarian.  The library not only serves the school teachers and children at Shine, but is open to the community as well.  Many former Shine students return throughout each week to use the library as a place to do homework and study.

Teachers have more materials to use for their lessons, and they are very attentive to the needs of the vulnerable children who attend Shine.  These educators are eager to keep learning, and so are the children.  Students often arrive early and stay late to read and play educational games in the library.

The food program is still in place, with each child being served fortified porridge on a daily basis.  A to Z Literacy Movement continues to raise funds to contribute to the cost of the food program and teacher’s salaries.

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Things that haven’t changed include the smiles we are greeted with each day.  The students work hard and demonstrate how much they want to be at Shine.  In the midst of incredible odds stacked against them, they appreciate this opportunity to go to school and to keep learning.

To See the Repeat US Teachers Seeing Their Friends

By Becky Roehl

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To see the repeat US teachers seeing their friends from Zambia was truly a
moving movement. The smiles and hugs were a picture I will always have in
my mind. The warmth and excitement in the air is so high. Zambian teachers
and children are so happy we are here. Alumni from Shine show up after
they knock off ( leave school) from 9th and 10 the grade. They ask us to
teach them more. They want to be doctors, electricians, and run orphanages
someday. The true future of Zambia. Students are moving around in the
classroom and working in small groups in classrooms that are right down
the street from a garbage dump that is burning. The mile or so road back
to the school from the paved road is dirt that if we were in my minivan it
would be bottoming out. Shacks for homes, food being sold, adults milling
around, and kids in uniforms coming and going to school. Truly the shine
within darkness.

Water in Africa

By Pat Kelly

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There’s something healing in the power of a shower. When you are 2 1/2 days without a shower and every day is spent in the parched, windblown red dirt of Zambia, your body gets this funky feeling to it.
A layer of dust coats everything here. Everything. It gets into your eyes, nose and ears. Feet? -forget it.
This is to say nothing of the temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s and classrooms with only natural ventilation- i.e., open windows.
Additionally, the water shuts off randomly at what seem to be prime showering hours- early morning and after dinner. Hot water is never a guarantee and always a toss of the proverbial dice.
But when the stars align and you are at your cottage with time to shower, the hot water rolls off your body, renewing, refreshing, recharging you for what lies ahead.

First Grade Frenzy

By Mal Keenan

It’s hard to explain. It happens every time. It’s an energy that should be bottled. It’s that feeling I get every time I walk into a first grade classroom.

Excitement.

Happiness.

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Not long after walking through the first grade door at School of Hope, I found myself teaching a lesson with a busy bunch of six and seven year olds including: Wanzi (my favorite), Habula, Jane, Precious, Loveness, and Enock. At times, I found myself laughing at how hard it was to keep their attention. We worked on consonant and sounds, reviewing what had previously been taught, playing a game to make things more engaging. I’m not sure who had more fun – me or the kids.

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After the game, and spending time moving from one area of the classroom to the next, I looked at the teacher and said, “You are amazing and this is REALLY hard work – God bless you”. She smiled and proceeded with the math lesson. All in a day’s work in Grade 1.