Author name: Emmanuel Chilyambuto

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TTCSZ’s Library/Resource Centre in Lusaka

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In 2024, we delivered our teacher training programme in TTCSZ’s ‘new’ Library/Resource Centre (RC) in Lusaka. All volunteer trainers were from Zambia and did a great job sharing their knowledge and experience with our latest enthusiastic group of community school teachers. The teachers gave up almost all their school holidays to focus on the teaching of English, Maths and ICT. Our RC is basically a 3-bedroom home that is conveniently located for community school teachers in the south of Lusaka. The big room accommodates the training while the bedrooms are being repurposed into a computer room, library and a playroom for young children. Having our own ‘home’ is fantastic as it enables us to increase the services we can provide community schools. The establishment of our library has been supported by volunteer library students from University of Zambia. Our playroom is now a bright learning space for young children. We are delighted that Camara Education UK Ltd is partnering with us and will instal computers in our RC. Working with their partners, they recycle donated computers for educational purposes in Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Although ICT is part of the curriculum in Zambia, community schools do not have computers. We intend to fill some of that gap by providing weekend workshops. Computers need a reliable source of electricity and in Zambia that means hydroelectric power. But 2024 was a drought. ‘Load shedding’ started in March i.e. many hours in the day with no power. People told us they were without electricity for days, and then it might only return for a few hours. To make things worse, the shortage of electricity leads to water shortages. Most water in Lusaka is groundwater that requires electricity to pump it into tanks. This situation is incredibly challenging for everyone. To secure our future supply of water and electricity in the RC we are fundraising to instal solar panels. They will give us a reliable and sustainable supply of power. That will enable us to confidently plan events and training programmes for teachers. Please visit our Donate Page if you can support us.

News

Fun and games visiting community schools

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Recently TTCSZ volunteers Tongayi Musiwacho (Zambia), James Kirkland (UK) and I visited four schools and lead some language and physical activities with students aged 4 -12 years. The visits in the Chawama and Chibolya zones of Lusaka were kindly co-ordinated by community school Zonal Representatives. The physical activities started with MeMe/Mei Mei, a traditional Zambian circular tag game. There was some fast running around the outside of a circle once children already tagged by a ball tried to escape the child chasing them. We followed this up with team games including skipping ropes, a bean bag throwing activity and a team competition to see who could walk fast/run while balancing a ball on a racquet. Serious concentration was evident as students tried to keep the balls still as they raced back to their teammates! The games included skills from Zambia’s primary school PE curriculum and activities inspired by Mini Movers, University of Wales TSD. The ‘big finale’ was having fun with a multi-coloured parachute. The children moved it around in circles and enjoyed rippling it up and down. But, when some light balls were put on top of the parachute, the fun really started. They were flung high into the air! The students also loved running under (and even jumping on top of) the parachute. We also took with us a big book of ‘Handa’s Surprise’, a basket full of exotic (felt) fruits and a range of masks for the African animals who sneakily stole delicious fruits from Handa’s basket! There was singing, role play and student participation. One of the Head Teachers sent a message saying the story was amazing. As visitors, we were treated to very special poetry readings and singing at some schools. The joyful laughter of the children, and the adults, made this a memorable exercise. Thanks to everyone involved. Lyn Hall (Chairperson, TTCSZ)

Rev. H. S. Chomba
teachers say

Rev. H. S. Chomba

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TCSZ has taught me how to apply teaching to real life situations and how to plan lessons using many different methods of teaching. The role of community schools in Zambia is to educate those who are vulnerable and orphans because they do not have enough money to pay for education in government or private schools. The training has really helped me teach these children.

Mr C. N. Shachele
teachers say

Mr. C. N. Shachele

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The two weeks of my training at this school was fantastic. I have enjoyed it and gained a lot. The programme had made me more passionate about teaching. We greatly appreciate the work that TTCSZ is doing from the bottom of our hearts. We really don’t know what we would have done without you. They say knowledge is power, you have made us acquire the knowledge and skills that we never had before.

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