Building a school is the easy part. Sustaining a quality learning environment that addresses the needs of girls and boys requires vision, commitment and partnership.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

THE FIRST YEAR OF MANY

Staff, students and parents at Atsemba Grade 1-4 Community School can now say that they have one successful school year under their belts. They are ready to take the lessons that they have learned and apply them to this upcoming school year. Meet the members of Atsemba's community and learn about the countless ways that your investment is still making an impact and how school leaders plan to increase the quality of education in the coming years.

Berhe has been the Principal at Atsemba Grade 1-4 Community School for a year now and is looking forward to a summer of rest, reflection, and preparation. We caught up with him to talk about the challenges and achievements of the past year, as well as the new possibilities he is creating for the coming year.

In the past year many things have changed in Atsemba that are making a big impact.

Last fall, Birhan, Atsemba's Grade 5/6 Teacher, attended imagine1day's Life Skills Training. He was so inspired by the impact that simple hygiene practices could make that he returned to his school and dubbed himself Atsemba's unofficial Sanitation Officer.

i1d: Birhan, what is your role as the Sanitation Officer?

B: My focus as the Sanitation Officer has three parts: first, I educate the students about HIV/AIDS and teach them how to protect themselves from it. Second, I teach them about basic sanitation practices, like hand washing and pit latrines. Third, I spend most of my time motivating students to be clean and healthy.

i1d: That sounds like a pretty comprehensive job. What are some changes that you have made around the school?

B: I put a jerry can full of water by the latrine and appointed students each week to bring Omo (soap) or ash for the rest of the students to wash their hands with. I also noticed that students were wiping with stones and throwing them into the latrine. So now I keep the latrine stocked with paper for them to wipe.

i1d: Have you noticed any changes in the students since you started working as the Sanitation Officer?

B: The students are definitely healthier. They used to get sick easily because of simple things like not washing their hands after using the latrine. I also notice that they are taking these basic lessons home to their families. For example, close to 100% of our students' families have built latrines in their homes now.

One of the best measures of quality education is the students' transfer of knowledge from the classroom to the home. Atsemba's Grade 4 class shares the different lessons they've learned that they thought were worth bringing home with them:

A good Science teacher has the capacity and imagination to transform Science lessons from theoretical textbook teachings to practical life skills. Thanks to the provision of a 180-piece Science Kit for Atsemba, students are learning the scientific principles about the world around them and how to manipulate them to enhance their lives.

Meet Mulugeta, Atsemba's Grade 4 teacher and Science Kit aficionado. Trained at imagine1day's Science Kit Teacher Training in November 2010, Mulugeta knows the power that a few batteries and a handful of beakers have to open up a new world of learning for students.

i1d: Mulugeta, what did you know about Science and how to use a Science Kit before attending imagine1day's Science Kit Teacher Training?

B: I didn't really know anything practical. All of my knowledge was theoretical. It was very difficult for me to create experiments for my students that were effective in demonstrating scientific principles, mostly because I didn't know how to use the materials.

i1d: What was the most valuable part of Science Kit Teacher Training?

B: I gained practical knowledge and skills in terms of using the Science Kit. I also gained a lot of confidence. I was in charge of replicating the training for 6 other teachers at my school. It went really well and now we are all incorporating the Science Kit materials into our lessons.

i1d: What changes do you see in your students since you began using the Science Kit in your lessons?

B: I did a few lessons about how to create a tool that distills water, using materials they can find at home like a water bottle and cotton balls. They loved it and definitely took it home to their families. When they can see the practical application of a theory they remember it much better because it is more interesting for them and much more fun. Since I started using the Science Kit, my class' grade average has gone up from 59.2% to 66.8%.

Contrary to popular belief, not all parents want their children to go to school. Such is the case in Northern Ethiopia – especially for girls – where issues like household chores, long walks to school, and early marriage can often affect a parent's decision about whether to send their children to school.

10-year-old Akeza, however, is not one of these girls. With a family that supports her education and does whatever they can to make sure she studies hard, Akeza is destined for great things.

i1d: Akeza, what is your vision for your life?

A: When I am older, I would like to become a teacher. This is because I think that we go to school to learn things to share with other people. If I am a teacher, then I will be able to share knowledge with many people in my community and make their lives better.

i1d: Is your family supportive of you coming to school?

A: My parents are very special because they allow me to freely come to school. I never have to do housework that takes me away from school. At first, my parents didn't support me but then when I explained my vision of being a teacher and how I could help to support our family in the future, they began to understand. They want me to have the best life and school will get me there.

i1d: Is it common among your friends to have parents like yours?

A: No, it's not common. One of my closest friends must fight her parents to be able to come to school every day. It's very difficult for her and often makes her upset, which distracts her from her studies.

i1d: How do you think attending school will affect your future?

A: I know now that education is more important than looking after cows. Cows can't teach you anything but going to school means endless learning. In the future, I think that having an education will mean I don't have to look after cows anymore but I can do things that help other people.

Atsemba's students are enjoying their summer vacation and a closer look will reveal that it hardly seems like a vacation. When not attending school, children have long days of hard work in the family fields: weeding, plowing and tending livestock.

We visited Atsemba's students right before the 2010-11 school year ended for the summer to find out what this past year at school has meant to them, what they are planning to do with their summer holiday and what they are going to miss most about school.

What is the most important thing you learned this year?

"I learned about nutrition. I learned about vitamins and the foods that are important to eat to stay healthy."

- Mehari - 10 years old

"I learned many new expressions in English. My favourite one is, 'how are you?'"

- Abrahet - 14 years old

"In Tigrigna Class, I learned all the words I need to describe all of the items in my classroom."

- Godifey - 9 years old

How will you spend your summer holiday?

"I will spend the summer supporting my family by fetching water and firewood for them."

- Tsadkan - 9 years old

"My responsibility during the summer is to use my slingshot to protect the crops from the birds."

- Lenti - 8 years old

"I will take books home with me for the summer so that I can continue learning. I will also support my family by watching the cattle."

- Aregawi - 12 years old

What will you miss the most about coming to school?

"I will miss learning new things. School is interesting for me. I think I will be bored during the summer holiday."

- Tsenait - 9 years old

"I will miss my teachers' advice and guidance."

- Welamo - 14 years old

Thanks to the countless supporters from around the world who have helped to bring quality education to Northern Ethiopia. It's been an extraordinary year of growth, learning and fun for Atsemba.

This has been the first year of many. We are excited to continue supporting Atsemba Grade 1-4 Community School as it continues to discover even more potential for educating the future leaders of Ethiopia.

From Atsemba with Love,

The imagine1day team