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
Hi Theo, Thank you for your Email and I will start my response by mentioning I have a Great Grandson, Christian names Theodor Norman. You volunteers are giving your countries a promise of a better life in the years to come. Be proud of yourself Theo.
Theonas
Dear Norman,
Ooo that's nice to hear, Norman. It is very inspirational and encouraging to hear about Theodore, who is 3, doing great work with a tablet computer. Rarely, can you find a child at 3 using a tablet, here, you may hear such ages to be at a day care centre.
Norman, I am 60 now. My life has been spent in teaching and supporting education related projects. I was once an inspector and advisor of primary schools hear in Malawi before I joined VSO. I had at one point in my life visited UK when I was doing some studies. I lived in Luton for five years from 2009 to 2014. I liked being there and learnt many things. However, when my Visa ended I returned to my home, Malawi. I hope one other day I will revisit UK and meet Mr.Norman, God willing and keeping fingers crossed.
Norman, honestly you right, learning through the tablets makes children to learn fast and quickly because from my experiences the learners learn at their own pace and they are entertained as the learn, this makes them to develop great interest in the lessons . Indeed, if things continue going on like this, we may have a better Malawi. At this juncture let me thank you sincerely, Norman, for the support you give to VSO, it is making children here in Malawi and other parts of the world access tablet usage. Thanks, thanks a lot for this kindness.
Hope to reach 80 one day, like you, despite the tough conditions we are experiencing.😜😜
Greetings to Theodor.
Regards
Theo
Ooo that's nice to hear, Norman. It is very inspirational and encouraging to hear about Theodore, who is 3, doing great work with a tablet computer. Rarely, can you find a child at 3 using a tablet, here, you may hear such ages to be at a day care centre.
Norman, I am 60 now. My life has been spent in teaching and supporting education related projects. I was once an inspector and advisor of primary schools hear in Malawi before I joined VSO. I had at one point in my life visited UK when I was doing some studies. I lived in Luton for five years from 2009 to 2014. I liked being there and learnt many things. However, when my Visa ended I returned to my home, Malawi. I hope one other day I will revisit UK and meet Mr.Norman, God willing and keeping fingers crossed.
Norman, honestly you right, learning through the tablets makes children to learn fast and quickly because from my experiences the learners learn at their own pace and they are entertained as the learn, this makes them to develop great interest in the lessons . Indeed, if things continue going on like this, we may have a better Malawi. At this juncture let me thank you sincerely, Norman, for the support you give to VSO, it is making children here in Malawi and other parts of the world access tablet usage. Thanks, thanks a lot for this kindness.
Hope to reach 80 one day, like you, despite the tough conditions we are experiencing.😜😜
Greetings to Theodor.
Regards
Theo
Dear Theo, Thank you for your April newsletter. I am very impressed by the valuable service you and your colleagues are doing in Malawi. The children are obviously gaining enormously from the new educational technology you are providing. Thank you.
Theonas
Dear Jenny
Oooo, that's nice to hear, Jenny. Your encouraging words will be shared to my colleagues and I am pretty sure that this will empower us all to work well through our hardships and efforts in the field. Continue giving support to VSO so that some rural children may access the basic education knowledge and skills. We salute you.
Regards
Theo
Oooo, that's nice to hear, Jenny. Your encouraging words will be shared to my colleagues and I am pretty sure that this will empower us all to work well through our hardships and efforts in the field. Continue giving support to VSO so that some rural children may access the basic education knowledge and skills. We salute you.
Regards
Theo
Thank you for your report. Congratulations on the wonderful work you are doing. Long May you continue Regards Ganesh
Theonas
Hello Ganesh
Thank you so much, Ganesh, for your encouraging words. It is very kind of you to have time and read through my report. Let me also say that your support Ganesh, is doing wonderful work here; allowing some children access the education basics in a modern way. All because of the support you are giving. It is not easy when it comes to thinking about the resources and environment for the teaching and learning process in general.
Thanks alot, you can ask things for your information or knowledge about the situation here.
Regards
Theo
Thank you so much, Ganesh, for your encouraging words. It is very kind of you to have time and read through my report. Let me also say that your support Ganesh, is doing wonderful work here; allowing some children access the education basics in a modern way. All because of the support you are giving. It is not easy when it comes to thinking about the resources and environment for the teaching and learning process in general.
Thanks alot, you can ask things for your information or knowledge about the situation here.
Regards
Theo
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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