Cabin Fever is settling in. It’s February and we all need a night out with friends.
Sure, we love our Midwestern winters, but we also recognize that shut-in feeling of not having seen many folks due to the colder temps.
It’s time to do something. Something fun.
It’s time to laugh, gather together, and support a fantastic non-profit.
It’s time for A to Z Trivia Night.
Head to the website for tickets – www.atozliteracy.org
By Betty Trummel
We got word from our Lusaka Rotary Club contact, Masautso, that he was able to meet with some of the students A to Z is sponsoring and help them arrange their school fees for the new year. Being in the southern hemisphere means that a new school year begins in January or February.
As I think about the start of my school year back in August here in Illinois, I’m thinking of kids with new shoes, maybe some new clothes, school supplies, and the excitement of a well-decorated elementary classroom filled with books and bulletin boards and lots and lots of resources. That is not the reality for many children around the world.
The students we sponsor are given the gift of a year of schooling, at what we would consider a relatively small price. Leftover funds can be used for basic school supplies or school uniform. Children we sponsor show great excitement and gratitude for being given this chance to continue learning.
Jimmy, the student my husband and I chose to sponsor, is 17 years old and is entering the 10th grade. He would like to complete his secondary schooling and attend a university. He’s interested in possibly following a path to medicine in the future. He’s a quiet young man, and very serious about his schoolwork and exams.
When our A to Z Literacy Movement team worked at Shine Zambia Reading Academy last June, Jimmy and other former Shine students came by each day to meet with us. They are eager for us to keep teaching them, and they took great pride in sharing their notebooks and work with our team. I am happy that my family can assist Jimmy with school fees, basic supplies, and uniforms.
In Jimmy’s words: “I want to say thanks for everything that you have done for us/me, cause you have taught me a lot of things and I believe you are still going to teach me more. I have seen a huge thing in you guys…just to come and help us, for there are few people who do this that you are doing. I have seen a lot of passion in you and you have a caring and loving heart. What you are doing shows a lot of kindness.”
By Betty Trummel
As I took a look at my tiny class Christmas tree last week, I saw the gift of books and reading for my 30 students. Each package under the tree contained a bright, shiny, new chapter book.
I thought about so many children around the world who don’t have new books or any books at all. In many places literacy is not the reality of everyday life.
The work we do as part of A to Z Literacy Movement is on a small scale, but it is mighty. I’m thinking back to our trip to Zambia this past June, and how exciting it was to see gently used and new books in the hands of the children and teachers at the Village of Hope and at Shine Zambia Reading Academy.
We’ve given the gift of books and reading to so many, just as I have in my 36 years of teaching. How can you help give the gift of literacy this holiday season?
By Mal Keenan
There is power in a box of books.
Books can make a difference in a child’s life and within his community.
Books can raise reading levels and graduation rates. Books can help solve old problems and create critical thinkers.
As we continue to grow our organization, books remain at the center. We will always be working to get books onto shelves, into homes and classrooms, and in the hands of impoverished children.
Mal and Jonathan
By Mal Keenan
8:30 am Chicago time. 4:30 pm Zambia time.
Calling Zambians is such a treat for me. Yes, it’s hard to sometimes hear students and teachers talking. Yes, I find myself saying “Excuse me? Can you repeat that?” because of the background noise or accent. Yes, it’s tricky when cell phones are turned off for a day (or two) and you get the same message over and over again. But then there’s that moment when I hear “Hello, Teacher Mal”. Honestly, it never gets old.
This morning, Betty and I talked with Jonathan, a Shine Reading Academy graduate, who has been on our radar for the last four years. He attended Shine for two years, went on to another community school, and has now applied to Munali Secondary School as a sophomore at the age of fifteen. This young man is such a success story as so many teens in Zambia remain in grades sixth, seventh, and eighth as they are unable to pass the Ministry of Education mandated exams. Jonathan is forging ahead and has a goal in mind. He wants to complete his high school academics in Zambia and then travel to the United States for college. He is motivated. He is committed. He is a force.
A to Z believes in Jonathan and will be providing funds to cover the cost of his tuition at this government (public) school. If you would like to make a small donation in honor of Jonathan, please visit our website at www.atozliteracy.org and hit the donate button. He is a ray of hope – shining bright – in our eyes.
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