There are many weird and wonderful things about Africa’s countries that make them unique and remarkable places. The people, the scenery, the wildlife, the activities and quite simply the culture. All these things are amazing. However, we have to be aware that there are also many issues and situations that are devastating across this vast continent. It is the developing world, after all. I have not been to every country, but I can speak for the areas I have seen. It’s easy to turn a blind eye when you hear about these issues, especially when you are quite far away from it all and living in a western society. It’s not until you actually go see for yourself that you realise how fortunate some of us really are. It gives you a greater appreciation of life itself.
Some of the devastations across many countries in Africa see people dying of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other such diseases, every single day. Many children have become orphaned because their parents have contracted these diseases and the outcomes have been fatal. There are many households headed by children because of this. Plenty of children have also contracted the diseases themselves and will not have the chance to survive.
Many people have not eaten for weeks, and if they have eaten they do not get all the nutrients required in their diets to be healthy, which leads to low immune systems, sickness, diseases and can be fatal. It is especially devastating to know that many children have to go through this. How is it that in the same world, some people are overweight and obese, yet others are starving and suffering from malnutrition? The unequal distribution of wealth does not make sense to me.
Many people don’t have a roof over their heads, or if they do, they share one tiny room with their families. Many people don't even have a bed and sleep on the floor or on a mat.
Many people have never owned a pair of shoes and have one set of clothing (if at all).
Many people have never had the chance to get an education and have no idea about many basic things.
The water supply in many areas is poor, and people in some communities have to walk for miles to fetch a bucket of water.
Poverty is devastating and something that cannot be eradicated overnight, or in a few years. It’s something that is gradual in the development process and any kind of minor or significant contribution from anyone can help the process that extra little bit. It is such a large scale so a lot of people don’t think that the little things they can do will make a difference. But it is not true. Yes you can’t help everyone, but you can help one person, or a family, or many little things that can benefit a community.
Many people in the developing world have so little, but they are still happy, in good spirits, have a good outlook on life and appreciate all the simple things. I think they could teach us a few things. We live in a world of waste, excess, selfishness and greed. So often people are not satisfied when what they have or are used to is not there anymore, instead of appreciating it when it is there. A bad day at home is not even a bad day compared to what many people have to go through. We have food on the tables, clean water running from our taps, a roof over our heads, an education and health care system, clothes on our backs, the list goes on. We have the basic necessities of life and a million other things we so often take for granted. We don’t even have to think twice about any of it because we have all these things and plenty more. We have been given the fortunate life.
After visiting Africa the last time and then being back in western society, I so often heard people say how they can’t live without their iPhone or how they need to update to a Blu-Ray player. I’d sit on the train and see people playing with all their different gadgets. The latest MP3 players, phones, cameras, laptops. All those little luxuries that many people in this world have no idea about and probably never will.
So often I see food go to waste and people not even caring because they can always buy more. Sometimes I’d wonder what I was doing here. I'm not here trying to make people feel guilty for the fortunate life they were born into, but instead just trying to raise some awareness. I live comfortably and am so grateful for it and try to enjoy it while I can, but I also can’t help but think of the ones less fortunate than myself. I could not even imagine what it would be like to not have access to such basic things. That’s why I will never send food back in a restaurant unless it’s absolutely inedible, I don’t keep updating my phone or computer to the latest design, I don’t need the latest fancy gadget on the market, I hardly go shopping for new clothes unless there’s something specific I need to buy for (which isn’t very often). There are many things I try to be mindful of and yes we do all have our little comforts and luxuries but as much as I can I do try to live modestly.
I think it’s important for people living in developed western societies to visit the third world developing countries to be made aware of exactly what is going on. The more people that know can hopefully amount to more people taking action and lending a helping hand to do their part and give something back.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Some thoughts and ideas
In Malawi, there are many pre-schools in the communities that we will be working in, so I will potentially have the opportunity to work with the kids. I think it’s important to visit the pre-schools and/or the primary and secondary schools to understand the educational system that is already in place, and to help improve and create more efficiency in teaching methods if and where possible. Improving the meals so that the kids have enough nutrients in their diet is also important.
In the process of training teachers, the idea will be to monitor, do research, give feedback, give courses and help organise evening and weekend activities to pass on information and involve the people. We can offer support in classes, help with lesson plans and ideas for different teaching techniques.
I believe that education is of utmost importance and that the training of teachers is a vital component in the development process in Africa. To be able to teach is a valuable skill that one can pass on, and to be educated and gain as much knowledge as possible is extremely important. Having the opportunity for all children and adults to be literate is priceless.
Some ideas to contribute to the project which I can work on in my preparation period here in Denmark, as well as when I am in Malawi.
•Preparing courses about different countries, the global situation, issues in the world today.
•English workshops.
•Computer skills workshops.
•Outreach activities to fundraise.
•Having “Education Days” or educational workshops on a broad range of subjects and with the vision to promote education and to contribute to helping with basic knowledge and life skills.
•Develop youth and community clubs with educational activities that people of all ages in the community can be actively involved in.
•Health clubs with skills training courses in things such as basic first aid/health in Africa, food and nutrition and basic hygiene and sanitation. Also giving courses to address and raise awareness about the issues of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other such diseases.
•Evening and weekend programs where we encourage the students to do things such as make theatre plays or activities about what they have learned so they can use them to raise awareness in the community about certain issues (such as sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS, malaria, health and nutrition, family planning, etc).
•Sports, dance and music programs.
•Film and documentary evenings.
•Making booklets about teaching methods.
In the process of training teachers, the idea will be to monitor, do research, give feedback, give courses and help organise evening and weekend activities to pass on information and involve the people. We can offer support in classes, help with lesson plans and ideas for different teaching techniques.
I believe that education is of utmost importance and that the training of teachers is a vital component in the development process in Africa. To be able to teach is a valuable skill that one can pass on, and to be educated and gain as much knowledge as possible is extremely important. Having the opportunity for all children and adults to be literate is priceless.
Some ideas to contribute to the project which I can work on in my preparation period here in Denmark, as well as when I am in Malawi.
•Preparing courses about different countries, the global situation, issues in the world today.
•English workshops.
•Computer skills workshops.
•Outreach activities to fundraise.
•Having “Education Days” or educational workshops on a broad range of subjects and with the vision to promote education and to contribute to helping with basic knowledge and life skills.
•Develop youth and community clubs with educational activities that people of all ages in the community can be actively involved in.
•Health clubs with skills training courses in things such as basic first aid/health in Africa, food and nutrition and basic hygiene and sanitation. Also giving courses to address and raise awareness about the issues of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other such diseases.
•Evening and weekend programs where we encourage the students to do things such as make theatre plays or activities about what they have learned so they can use them to raise awareness in the community about certain issues (such as sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS, malaria, health and nutrition, family planning, etc).
•Sports, dance and music programs.
•Film and documentary evenings.
•Making booklets about teaching methods.
Teacher Training Colleges, Malawi
There are two Teacher Training Colleges in Malawi. One in Blantyre which is in the Southern part of rural Malawi, and one in Lilongwe, the capital city.
The Teacher Training Colleges in Malawi were established as a result of the need for qualified rural primary school teachers following the introduction of the free primary school education policy in 1994. This led to a rapid increase in primary school enrolment and the constant demand for qualified teachers.
The colleges train modern rural primary school teachers for rural areas where development is lacking and the need for qualified teachers is high. They are producing teachers who are creative, rich in initiative, innovative and ready to create development in the rural school and community.
Students are trained to take development work as an integral part of teaching profession. The training programme is for 2 ½ years and is divided into 8 periods.
The periods are:
1st The world in which we live
2nd Our country - Malawi
3rd We continue building our college
4th Teaching practice and further studies
5th Specialisation and charter subjects
6th Teaching practice
7th The Pedagogical Workshop
8th Final Examination
In the 1st period the students are learning about the world in general, exposing them to international education. They do courses, research work, experiments, carry out investigations and study contemporary issues like conflicts and wars, HIV/AIDS, development and poverty.
In the 2nd period students focus on their own country, Malawi, and study it in a practical way through field work and getting information on culture, history and practices from different regions.
The 3rd period is construction work at the college. The students upgrade buildings at the college or construct new buildings. The construction experience is essential for the students in preparation for the construction work in the rural schools.
In the 4th period, school practice and further studies, students are teaching at a neighbouring primary school for half a day and use the other half-day for studies, integrating practice and theory.
In the 5th period the students choose one or more subjects to specialise in, and in addition a charter subject. The charter subjects are dedicated to different aspects of community building.
The students work as teachers for 11 months in the 6th period, doing their teaching practice. Apart from the teaching in the classes the students engage in community development initiatives as an integral part of the school practice period. The students reach out to the community with adult literacy classes, community development projects and awareness campaigns.
The 7th and 8th period - Back again at the College, loaded with new experience, it is time for a short course on "The Pedagogical Workshop," and then the final examinations and graduation.
The Teacher Training Colleges in Malawi were established as a result of the need for qualified rural primary school teachers following the introduction of the free primary school education policy in 1994. This led to a rapid increase in primary school enrolment and the constant demand for qualified teachers.
The colleges train modern rural primary school teachers for rural areas where development is lacking and the need for qualified teachers is high. They are producing teachers who are creative, rich in initiative, innovative and ready to create development in the rural school and community.
Students are trained to take development work as an integral part of teaching profession. The training programme is for 2 ½ years and is divided into 8 periods.
The periods are:
1st The world in which we live
2nd Our country - Malawi
3rd We continue building our college
4th Teaching practice and further studies
5th Specialisation and charter subjects
6th Teaching practice
7th The Pedagogical Workshop
8th Final Examination
In the 1st period the students are learning about the world in general, exposing them to international education. They do courses, research work, experiments, carry out investigations and study contemporary issues like conflicts and wars, HIV/AIDS, development and poverty.
In the 2nd period students focus on their own country, Malawi, and study it in a practical way through field work and getting information on culture, history and practices from different regions.
The 3rd period is construction work at the college. The students upgrade buildings at the college or construct new buildings. The construction experience is essential for the students in preparation for the construction work in the rural schools.
In the 4th period, school practice and further studies, students are teaching at a neighbouring primary school for half a day and use the other half-day for studies, integrating practice and theory.
In the 5th period the students choose one or more subjects to specialise in, and in addition a charter subject. The charter subjects are dedicated to different aspects of community building.
The students work as teachers for 11 months in the 6th period, doing their teaching practice. Apart from the teaching in the classes the students engage in community development initiatives as an integral part of the school practice period. The students reach out to the community with adult literacy classes, community development projects and awareness campaigns.
The 7th and 8th period - Back again at the College, loaded with new experience, it is time for a short course on "The Pedagogical Workshop," and then the final examinations and graduation.
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