Education Days In Mozambique

This post compliments our 'To Chimoio - but not quite beyond' entry and was written by Lynn Lagore from ASAM Ministries
 
Over the past few weeks, we have had the privilege of receiving a number of short term mission guests. Among them was a team from Mercy Air, South Africa. Anne Herbert, one of Mercy Air’s team members, has provided much help and support to our student remedial education effort over the years already. She was able to accompany the current team and dedicate her time here to helping train mission staff members in student assessment and basic literacy and numeracy activities.

This will help us strengthen our students’ foundation in reading, maths, and learning in general, all so critical as they grow and as their minds develop!

Staff members who will monitor student progress and provide encouragement and instruction to students got plenty of fun, hands-on training.

Children from the community close to ASAM as well as some of the teenage mothers enjoyed a full afternoon of fun, games, activities and LEARNING – divided into early literacy, numeracy and physical activities.

Children were blessed with sweets that had been sent in a container from Mercy Air Sweden thanks to the hard work of Camilla and family to cap the afternoons activities. The following day parents wanted to know if this would happen on a more regular basis where there children could LEARN

Thankfully, there is no age restriction on learning.

A session was also conducted for general staff members who are fathers, husbands, and heads of their homes. It was heart warming to see their enthusiasm to learn in anticipation of being able to help their families, and others, learn better as well!

Lynn reported after devotions the next day that the guys were so excited about the class Anne did with them that the next morning at devotions they talked about it with everyone and asked if that was the end of it? So Lynn assured him it was not! Lynn with the help of Rick another team member, plan to continue starting Monday afternoon.

Apparently one of the shepherds who was there, Elia, went up to the airstrip with Andy (another team member at ASAM) and was excitedly reading the numbers on Andy's radio. This came up during staff meeting and was so heart warming time for everyone to hear, especially me and I know now for you too. These guys have realised THEY CAN LEARN!

Then today I was reviewing the commitment agreements we've had the external students' parents and students. As they had to sign the form I realised yet again (sadly), how many of the parents could only sign with an "x" or just a scribble.

This reminds me of the tremendous change even a bit of learning makes in the life of an individual. My heart’s desire is to sit down with each of these parents and teach them to read and write. As we work together on this, with help from Mercy Air and their wing of 'Education to Build a Nation', this no longer feels like an impossibility. It can become a reality.

Thank you

Mercy Air and ASAM teams