Being a teacher in a rural area
19 maart 2017 - Blantyre, Malawi
Hi folks!
After the mountain I wanted to do some volunteering. With some help of Salome and Veronica I went to a village Mkanda, a village where people rely on boreholes for their water and without any electricity. I could help out at the school for sports lessons and help wherever I could.
On monday we left for the village, since there are no shops there I needed to do a week of groceries again. Just before we left I found out that Veronica would join me for the week as well. That's nice that I wouldn't be alone. After groceries we left to the village, one hour on a normal road and 10km on a dirt road (about 30 min). I thought I would be living in a small house where the locals live. It turned out that Veronica has a big house, a living, dining, kitchen and 4 sleeping rooms. And she took a maide with her. But still no running water or electricity.
After arrival we left straight for school we went by car. All children came first to the car to see it (it's not normal to see a car in this village) and then they saw a Mzungu (white person) getting out of the car.... that was apperently even more interesting then the car, the rest of the children came up and stare. Not uncomfortable at all.... ;-)
We went to see the headteacher unfortuntly she wasn't there, with two other teachers we discussed what I could do upcoming week. Since all subjects for standard 5, 6, 7 and 8 are being taught in English, i should help these standards (same as groep 5, 6, 7 and 8 in NL). At least they would understand what I was saying. I could organise some sport activities and help with wathever is necessary. We went back to the car and the children keep staring at tbe Mzungu.
When going back to the house we heard that there would be a meeting of the head of the village. So after lunch we went there. About 45 min in the car (about 8km on a dirt road)and a 15min walk we made it to the house of the head of the village. I knew it wouldn't be in English and it would probably be a bit boring but I thought meeting many people of the village, and experiencing a village meeting could be very interesting. Unfortunatly there was a misunderstanding, the meeting is tomorrow. Veronica and the head of the village had a lot to catch up on, since the head of the village doesn't speak English, it was quite borning. After 45 min I left Veronica and the head of the village and went for a walk with a lady and two boys who all don't speak English. But I saw how beatiful this village is, and also how little people need to survive. (I would not be able to though.. can't even make fire)
Tuesday my first day at school, starting at 7.00 a.m. First meeting the head teacher and then seeing how the children clean the whole school using some sticks as a broom, they do that every day. At 7.30 the daily assembly, all the children of the school are there (about 600 children) the children do some arm movements, they say a prayer and sing their national anthem. Then by surprise they call me to introduce myself and to say something to the children....
Me "goodmorning"
Children "GOODMORNING TEACHER"
Me "How are you t.." (I coudn't finish my sentence)
Children "WE ARE FINE, THANK YOU! HOW ARE YOU?"
Me "uhm, yes I'm good as well. So... uhm... my name is Sabine I'm from the Netherlands, or Holland and uhm.... I'll be teaching here this week, so thank you for having me here this week.
Children "......(sound of crickets)...."
A teacher translates to Chichewa.
Children "YOU ARE WELCOME"
Me "wel... uhm... I guess that was my introduction. :-) "
After some songs the children marched to their classrooms.
Out of 8 teachers there were only 5 teachers today including the headteacher. I started in standard 5 with a teacher. A class with 63 pupils not one single chair, not one single desk.
I found out that eventhough all subjects are being taught in English, the children barely
y speak any English.... First we had the subject of English and after we had sports, so I could help out a little bit.
Teacher "The boys play Football so you can do Netball with the girls"
Me "But uhm.... I don't know what Netball is... I don't know the rules... We don't play Netball in NL"
And so... I played Netball with the girls, there were 2 balls in the entire school that we could use. One ball for the boys to play football and one ball for the girls to play netball. After some throwing the ball around we started to do a game. And the teacher and children made me play in one team... So I tried, I played without knowing any rules. While teachers went for a break I played a bit more. When I was finished playing we waited a bit more untill one teacher decided the break was over. The number of teachers went down to 4 since the headteacher needed to do some training. Somehow the children go to school and stay in their classrooms even when being all day without a teacher.
After school I got a small tour around the village. There is a lot of agriculture in the villages, maize, pumpkin and tobacco. People here eat a los of Nsima (pap, ugali, stiff maize flower cooked with only some water) , cooked pumpkin and fried pumpkin leaves.
When we got back one of the ladies came to me. "Can I please braid your hair?" Me "... well sure" within 30 minutes I had braided hair.
Wednesday another school day standard 6 and 7, the children in standard 7 understand some more English. They had culture class so talked about religion.
Teacher (im front of the whole class) "Are you a christian or a Muslim?"
Me "Uhm... I'm an athiest...."
Teacher "Ohw, how does that work?"
Me "Well that isn't so difficult... it just goes.."
We talked about the continent Europe and on how the Spanish/English came to Malawi and introduced religion, introduced school, introduced many specialized professions.... I thought Colonialism wasn't a good thing. But how the teacher was describing it, it sounded like a good thing.
In standard 6 I tried to explain some games that doesn't involve football or netball, it took long for the children to understand. 60 children without any materials and barely any English skils. Poeh....As soon as we went outside the remaining 540 children where standing around me, watching what thw Mzungu is doing. The children didn't really understand the game, but they had fun!
In the afternoon I was invided to go to another school, in november there was a big storm there waa a lot of damage and of one building the roof came off. So far they fixed most problems but haven't managed to find money to fix the roof. There are 2048 children in this school, there are 20 or 28 classes that means that the teachers have between 102 and 73 children on average... now 200 of the children are being taught under a tree, and when it rains they just squeeze more children in the remaining classrooms who do have a roof.
After hearing the story they asked me if I can do some fundraising... they fixed many problems after the storm themselves but this roof they can't. So I have to figure out what I can do. So I asked to give me an exact amount of what they need. That will come in two weeks. So probably an update on this school in two weeks, or maybe a month. ;-)
Thursday another day of English lessons, sport games. Again I played netball without knowing the rules. According to the teachers I was good in it. :-)
I was asked to do some of the grading work after school. Only 60 kids.... one of the questions "what is a source of risks in the sportsfield" many children replied "loving one another" that's so cute!! But it says so much about their level of English. The children know the answer for sure. Just not in English.... just like these children couldn't tell that the shape on the board was a rectangle (instead of a circle and a square) these children are between 10 and 15 years old.
Friday my final day. For standard 5, 6 and 7 I made a quiz, a game and some English work to get to know what their future dreams and goals are in life. I guess it's difficult to answer these questions. For Dutch kids even more with less oppertunities in life, and in English...
And still after this week and all these hours standing in front of the class the children were still staring at this Mzungu. When I asked their name (in English of in Chichewa) most children ran away.
In the end of my final day I made pictures of all the classes, then I left.
After school it was time to pack my bags and go back to Blantyre.
It has been an interesting, beautiful and difficult experience. I've learned a lot of the children, teachers and village life.
- For children to show respect they kneel for the teachers. To me that's so strange and it feels so uncomfertable to me when children are kneeling down for me or for whomever.
- The children are being told to tell to the teacher, or to whomever is in front of the class:
Teacher "Goodmorning"
Children "GOODMORNING"
Teacher "How are you?"
Children "WE ARE FINE THANK YOU! YOU ARE SPECIAL! WE LOVE YOU!"
Poeh... that's quite uncomfertable to me.
- There have been not more then 6 teachers on this school for the whole week. So children have stayed without teachers for long. Some teachers go from one class to another. That makes this dificult job even harder.
- Only in standard 7 and 8 the children have some seats and desks (not enough though) all the other children sit on the floor.
- The breaks are whenever the teachers want or need the break for the amount of time they need. Or maybe there was a system but I never understood.
- A teacher told me "We have 10 subjects to teach, in Enlish, it is a lot. With so many children in one class and only few materials. Most times we just go trough the cirriculum knowing most children do not understand."
It was a nice cultural exchange. I learned a lot I hope the children enjoyed having a Mzungu at school for one week. And enjoyed the cultural exchange. To really contribute you have to spend more time and be a more qualified teacher.
After this experience I went to city and since it was friday night. We went out. (Change the mindset, dance it off)
And wow, people here can dance!! When going out the girls like to dance in front of the mirror(a few walls and parts of the discotheek Blue Elefant are mirrors), and the guys will be checking the girls. If they like what they see they'll start dancing behind the girl. So the girls won't see whom is dancing behind them... (or if they do I don't know how they do that, except with the mirror I do understand)
Since the DJ doesn't really mix the songs, in between everysong there is some tune of laughter or car/bus horns. And in the girlstoilet, wow it's an culture by itself! It is so fub and interesting nightlife in other countries! Another part of culture I love to experience!!
Today it will be a relaxing day and tomorrow I will move on to the next place. That means saying goodbye to a beautiful family that has been so welcoming and nice to me. This morning I made some breakfast of wentelteefjes. So I'm sure they'll remember me ;-)
Thats all for now!
Big hugs, Sabine
After the mountain I wanted to do some volunteering. With some help of Salome and Veronica I went to a village Mkanda, a village where people rely on boreholes for their water and without any electricity. I could help out at the school for sports lessons and help wherever I could.
On monday we left for the village, since there are no shops there I needed to do a week of groceries again. Just before we left I found out that Veronica would join me for the week as well. That's nice that I wouldn't be alone. After groceries we left to the village, one hour on a normal road and 10km on a dirt road (about 30 min). I thought I would be living in a small house where the locals live. It turned out that Veronica has a big house, a living, dining, kitchen and 4 sleeping rooms. And she took a maide with her. But still no running water or electricity.
After arrival we left straight for school we went by car. All children came first to the car to see it (it's not normal to see a car in this village) and then they saw a Mzungu (white person) getting out of the car.... that was apperently even more interesting then the car, the rest of the children came up and stare. Not uncomfortable at all.... ;-)
We went to see the headteacher unfortuntly she wasn't there, with two other teachers we discussed what I could do upcoming week. Since all subjects for standard 5, 6, 7 and 8 are being taught in English, i should help these standards (same as groep 5, 6, 7 and 8 in NL). At least they would understand what I was saying. I could organise some sport activities and help with wathever is necessary. We went back to the car and the children keep staring at tbe Mzungu.
When going back to the house we heard that there would be a meeting of the head of the village. So after lunch we went there. About 45 min in the car (about 8km on a dirt road)and a 15min walk we made it to the house of the head of the village. I knew it wouldn't be in English and it would probably be a bit boring but I thought meeting many people of the village, and experiencing a village meeting could be very interesting. Unfortunatly there was a misunderstanding, the meeting is tomorrow. Veronica and the head of the village had a lot to catch up on, since the head of the village doesn't speak English, it was quite borning. After 45 min I left Veronica and the head of the village and went for a walk with a lady and two boys who all don't speak English. But I saw how beatiful this village is, and also how little people need to survive. (I would not be able to though.. can't even make fire)
Tuesday my first day at school, starting at 7.00 a.m. First meeting the head teacher and then seeing how the children clean the whole school using some sticks as a broom, they do that every day. At 7.30 the daily assembly, all the children of the school are there (about 600 children) the children do some arm movements, they say a prayer and sing their national anthem. Then by surprise they call me to introduce myself and to say something to the children....
Me "goodmorning"
Children "GOODMORNING TEACHER"
Me "How are you t.." (I coudn't finish my sentence)
Children "WE ARE FINE, THANK YOU! HOW ARE YOU?"
Me "uhm, yes I'm good as well. So... uhm... my name is Sabine I'm from the Netherlands, or Holland and uhm.... I'll be teaching here this week, so thank you for having me here this week.
Children "......(sound of crickets)...."
A teacher translates to Chichewa.
Children "YOU ARE WELCOME"
Me "wel... uhm... I guess that was my introduction. :-) "
After some songs the children marched to their classrooms.
Out of 8 teachers there were only 5 teachers today including the headteacher. I started in standard 5 with a teacher. A class with 63 pupils not one single chair, not one single desk.
I found out that eventhough all subjects are being taught in English, the children barely
y speak any English.... First we had the subject of English and after we had sports, so I could help out a little bit.
Teacher "The boys play Football so you can do Netball with the girls"
Me "But uhm.... I don't know what Netball is... I don't know the rules... We don't play Netball in NL"
And so... I played Netball with the girls, there were 2 balls in the entire school that we could use. One ball for the boys to play football and one ball for the girls to play netball. After some throwing the ball around we started to do a game. And the teacher and children made me play in one team... So I tried, I played without knowing any rules. While teachers went for a break I played a bit more. When I was finished playing we waited a bit more untill one teacher decided the break was over. The number of teachers went down to 4 since the headteacher needed to do some training. Somehow the children go to school and stay in their classrooms even when being all day without a teacher.
After school I got a small tour around the village. There is a lot of agriculture in the villages, maize, pumpkin and tobacco. People here eat a los of Nsima (pap, ugali, stiff maize flower cooked with only some water) , cooked pumpkin and fried pumpkin leaves.
When we got back one of the ladies came to me. "Can I please braid your hair?" Me "... well sure" within 30 minutes I had braided hair.
Wednesday another school day standard 6 and 7, the children in standard 7 understand some more English. They had culture class so talked about religion.
Teacher (im front of the whole class) "Are you a christian or a Muslim?"
Me "Uhm... I'm an athiest...."
Teacher "Ohw, how does that work?"
Me "Well that isn't so difficult... it just goes.."
We talked about the continent Europe and on how the Spanish/English came to Malawi and introduced religion, introduced school, introduced many specialized professions.... I thought Colonialism wasn't a good thing. But how the teacher was describing it, it sounded like a good thing.
In standard 6 I tried to explain some games that doesn't involve football or netball, it took long for the children to understand. 60 children without any materials and barely any English skils. Poeh....As soon as we went outside the remaining 540 children where standing around me, watching what thw Mzungu is doing. The children didn't really understand the game, but they had fun!
In the afternoon I was invided to go to another school, in november there was a big storm there waa a lot of damage and of one building the roof came off. So far they fixed most problems but haven't managed to find money to fix the roof. There are 2048 children in this school, there are 20 or 28 classes that means that the teachers have between 102 and 73 children on average... now 200 of the children are being taught under a tree, and when it rains they just squeeze more children in the remaining classrooms who do have a roof.
After hearing the story they asked me if I can do some fundraising... they fixed many problems after the storm themselves but this roof they can't. So I have to figure out what I can do. So I asked to give me an exact amount of what they need. That will come in two weeks. So probably an update on this school in two weeks, or maybe a month. ;-)
Thursday another day of English lessons, sport games. Again I played netball without knowing the rules. According to the teachers I was good in it. :-)
I was asked to do some of the grading work after school. Only 60 kids.... one of the questions "what is a source of risks in the sportsfield" many children replied "loving one another" that's so cute!! But it says so much about their level of English. The children know the answer for sure. Just not in English.... just like these children couldn't tell that the shape on the board was a rectangle (instead of a circle and a square) these children are between 10 and 15 years old.
Friday my final day. For standard 5, 6 and 7 I made a quiz, a game and some English work to get to know what their future dreams and goals are in life. I guess it's difficult to answer these questions. For Dutch kids even more with less oppertunities in life, and in English...
And still after this week and all these hours standing in front of the class the children were still staring at this Mzungu. When I asked their name (in English of in Chichewa) most children ran away.
In the end of my final day I made pictures of all the classes, then I left.
After school it was time to pack my bags and go back to Blantyre.
It has been an interesting, beautiful and difficult experience. I've learned a lot of the children, teachers and village life.
- For children to show respect they kneel for the teachers. To me that's so strange and it feels so uncomfertable to me when children are kneeling down for me or for whomever.
- The children are being told to tell to the teacher, or to whomever is in front of the class:
Teacher "Goodmorning"
Children "GOODMORNING"
Teacher "How are you?"
Children "WE ARE FINE THANK YOU! YOU ARE SPECIAL! WE LOVE YOU!"
Poeh... that's quite uncomfertable to me.
- There have been not more then 6 teachers on this school for the whole week. So children have stayed without teachers for long. Some teachers go from one class to another. That makes this dificult job even harder.
- Only in standard 7 and 8 the children have some seats and desks (not enough though) all the other children sit on the floor.
- The breaks are whenever the teachers want or need the break for the amount of time they need. Or maybe there was a system but I never understood.
- A teacher told me "We have 10 subjects to teach, in Enlish, it is a lot. With so many children in one class and only few materials. Most times we just go trough the cirriculum knowing most children do not understand."
It was a nice cultural exchange. I learned a lot I hope the children enjoyed having a Mzungu at school for one week. And enjoyed the cultural exchange. To really contribute you have to spend more time and be a more qualified teacher.
After this experience I went to city and since it was friday night. We went out. (Change the mindset, dance it off)
And wow, people here can dance!! When going out the girls like to dance in front of the mirror(a few walls and parts of the discotheek Blue Elefant are mirrors), and the guys will be checking the girls. If they like what they see they'll start dancing behind the girl. So the girls won't see whom is dancing behind them... (or if they do I don't know how they do that, except with the mirror I do understand)
Since the DJ doesn't really mix the songs, in between everysong there is some tune of laughter or car/bus horns. And in the girlstoilet, wow it's an culture by itself! It is so fub and interesting nightlife in other countries! Another part of culture I love to experience!!
Today it will be a relaxing day and tomorrow I will move on to the next place. That means saying goodbye to a beautiful family that has been so welcoming and nice to me. This morning I made some breakfast of wentelteefjes. So I'm sure they'll remember me ;-)
Thats all for now!
Big hugs, Sabine
Veel zin om je volgende avonturen te lezen.
Liefs Wieteke