Join me on a Malawian school tour
In this update, I’ll be taking you through one of the 17 primary schools I work in. I’ll show you around the school grounds, inside one of the classrooms and a VSO learning centre, and how the children use the educational tablets.
July's featured volunteer
Moni onse! I’m Theonas Kalumika, VSO Education Specialist in Malawi, and I’ll be taking you forward on your Sponsor a Volunteer journey. Read on to find out how, with your support, we’re giving children here the education they deserve.
In Malawi, poor learning conditions and a lack of resources have created barriers to children’s education.
Over two thirds of students don’t finish primary school and those that do often lack the skills needed to thrive as older children and adults. Many primary schools have classes full of hundreds of students but only one teacher, meaning many children get left behind in their education, and eventually drop out altogether.
By supporting children with educational tablets, they're taking huge leaps in their learning. I was very excited when I heard about the work VSO is doing in schools in Malawi, and ever since I started volunteering I've been able to share my knowledge with everyone here. I can't wait to update you on how our work here in Malawi is going, and how your support is helping change children's lives.
July '24 volunteer update
Here in Malawi, most primary schools are very basic. Some lack fundamental resources such as textbooks or desks, and some don’t even have running water or electricity. I’m sure you can only imagine how impossible it is to teach and learn in conditions like this. It’s unbelievably challenging for children to progress through their education and finish school in these environments.
But thanks to support like yours, the learning centres built by VSO have been instrumental to children’s learning. In the video below, you’ll see and hear the incredible difference between a class of 200 children, and the peace in the learning centre. With a teacher and volunteer on hand, the learning centre is a quiet and productive space for 30 children at a time. The educational tablets have been fundamental to providing quality education that children deserve.
Thank you
Generosity like yours is changing the lives of children here in Malawi - they’re learning to read, write and count thanks to time spent in the learning centre.
I’d love to hear your thoughts – or simply, come and say hello – by leaving me a message below.
Speak soon,
Theo
VSO Education Specialist, Malawi
Want to ask a question?
VSO’s Sponsor a Volunteer team will share your message with the VSO volunteer and get back to you with a response. Your email address will not be used, disclosed or transferred to any VSO personnel, it will be stored securely in accordance with VSOs privacy policy. A sample of messages including display names will be published to the Sponsor a Volunteer homepage each month.
Your latest questions answered
Thank you for your update. Yes 27°c is very hot for us. It's summer here at the moment and about 21°c. Yes schools are a lot different here. I work as a teaching assistant and at the school I work at there are 2 classes per year group...
Theonas
Thank you so much, Hannah for the information about the age range and class level. They appear similar but indeed, the way we are teaching and what we are emphasisng on definitely it's different. For example most of our students cannot read and compute well at these levels a thing I think is different from your country. This is why this program started to pull up learners who can't read, write and compute figures. Hannah, is it ok with you to share me with your syllabuses both English and Maths, if possible? As you might have already guessed, here there is no lunch time for the years 1,2,3 to grade 7. Hence, there is no particular gathering place for learners to take there lunches. Further more, the assembly does not take place in a hall. It occurs in an open space which can accommodate the whole enrolment within the school premises. Over 95 percent of the learners do not have packed food. Everyday learners just knock off and straight go to there respective homes where they individually experience life i.e to find something to eat or spend the day without proper food. Hannah, if you can share me the school time table as well for your school, just to appreciate how different our time tables are.
So , you can imagine how much we appreciate your financial support as we use the tablets.
Thanks a lot, Hannah and keep it up.
So , you can imagine how much we appreciate your financial support as we use the tablets.
Thanks a lot, Hannah and keep it up.
Hi Theo, Good to hear from you and keeping me up to date with your work and more widely with the work of the school to which you are attached. It was most interesting, as well to hear from Artwel about the achievements and difficulties he is facing.
Theonas
Hi Tony
Thank you so much, Tony, for your email . As stated by Artiwel , head teachers of schools face a lot of challenges during their work particularly in the most remote areas. There are very limited teachers' houses, no offices, the houses of heads are mostly used as storerooms for school materials. However, people like you who support organisations such as VSO, help alot in reducing the pressure of administrators of schools. But the truth is that there are too many problems in most schools in Malawi.
Tony, you wanted to know if the the ipads and tablets are being supplied by VSO , yes VSO has been supplying the ipads and the tablets are being supplied by the Imagine Worldwide (IW) a partner of VSO in the current program implementation.
Tony, you say there are also teacher shortages in UK. What is causing this, is it people not willing to join the profession, or something else, but what is it? Here , in Malawi trained teachers are available but no funds to enable the government to employ them. The financial situation is bad. Once more the support you are giving VSO assists us as well, so continue please. May the Almighty God bless you.
Until next time enjoy your time, Tony.
Regards
Theonas
Thank you so much, Tony, for your email . As stated by Artiwel , head teachers of schools face a lot of challenges during their work particularly in the most remote areas. There are very limited teachers' houses, no offices, the houses of heads are mostly used as storerooms for school materials. However, people like you who support organisations such as VSO, help alot in reducing the pressure of administrators of schools. But the truth is that there are too many problems in most schools in Malawi.
Tony, you wanted to know if the the ipads and tablets are being supplied by VSO , yes VSO has been supplying the ipads and the tablets are being supplied by the Imagine Worldwide (IW) a partner of VSO in the current program implementation.
Tony, you say there are also teacher shortages in UK. What is causing this, is it people not willing to join the profession, or something else, but what is it? Here , in Malawi trained teachers are available but no funds to enable the government to employ them. The financial situation is bad. Once more the support you are giving VSO assists us as well, so continue please. May the Almighty God bless you.
Until next time enjoy your time, Tony.
Regards
Theonas
Dear Theo, Just a note to say how interested I was to receive your letter introducing yourself and VSO's work in Malawi. In 2018 my wife & I were fortunate to visit Malawi. I can imagine how difficult it must be for teacher and pupils to stay motivated.
Theonas
Dear Antony
Thank you so much for your response and encouraging words, Antony. Indeed, most situations are not motivating for teachers and pupils in our country. As you know our country, Antony, the challenges are many, there is poverty, transportation and communication in terms of roads and buses not good at all, health services not good and inadequate hospitals in the rural, not medication, plus plus. So, VSO with this project, is reaching out to the most remote areas. However, this is happening because of your support and we appreciate your help, otherwise all you read about children learning through the tablet could not be possible. Thank you so much and continue supporting VSO so that in turn we receive your assistance too.
By the way, Antony, which part of Malawi did you visit, if you remember.
Thank you so much for your time.
Regards
Theonas
Thank you so much for your response and encouraging words, Antony. Indeed, most situations are not motivating for teachers and pupils in our country. As you know our country, Antony, the challenges are many, there is poverty, transportation and communication in terms of roads and buses not good at all, health services not good and inadequate hospitals in the rural, not medication, plus plus. So, VSO with this project, is reaching out to the most remote areas. However, this is happening because of your support and we appreciate your help, otherwise all you read about children learning through the tablet could not be possible. Thank you so much and continue supporting VSO so that in turn we receive your assistance too.
By the way, Antony, which part of Malawi did you visit, if you remember.
Thank you so much for your time.
Regards
Theonas
Did you know?
We bring about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions. You can read more about VSO’s areas of work and discover more about our projects here.
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