Photo via mnnonline.org

Interns supplement school system to improve literacy

With over a million orphans in Zambia, few have a chance to receive an education--something which could give them a flicker of hope to improve their lives in the future, reports MNN.

Samfya Community of Care Providers (SCCP) pitches in as much as they can and sponsors around 800 orphans, allowing them to attend local school. However, these students then face obstacles, such as lack of nutrition, focus and interest, coupled with inadequate school systems, which lowers their ability to retain the information being taught. Often, any chance at success down the road seems impossible.

That's why Bright Hope International interns Courtney O'Connell and Heather Cogswell stepped up and developed an after-school literacy program, working with SCCP and Bright Hope Partnership Developers, Mark and Carmen Brubacher.

Starting with 15-20 students, the program meets two afternoons a week and combines small class size with creative teaching methods to be intentional with each student.

In most classrooms, copying what the teacher puts on the board is the only teaching method, and students are not encouraged to think for themselves. As Bright Hope gives these kids one-on-one attention, it boosts their confidence and encourages them to want to improve.

The program develops the student's knowledge, understanding, and usage of the English language, and all of their testing is done in English. Through their grasp of English, they can be future productive members of their own community, as well as being able to contribute globally since English is increasingly becoming a common language for people around the world.

Not only will literacy enable these kids to have hope for their future careers and lifestyles, it will also give them a chance to pick up the Bible and read it for themselves.

Pray for these children as they go through the rest of their school. Pray they will see Christ's love and compassion in the actions of Bright Hope's interns and the others involved in the literacy program.

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TAGS: Zambia literacy Bright Hope International literacy program school systems

[06/19/2010]

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