Grail Movement Kindergarten - Montessori

The Grail Movement/Emmy Gordon
P.O. Box 1127 Moshi
Mother in Charge: Sr. Imelda Gaurwa
Telephone: 255.027 2753631

General Information about the Partner Organization

The Grail Movement was founded in 1921 by a Jesuit priest in the Netherlands. Though it is spread in 20 countries, it is rooted in the local cultures. In Tanzania the school began in 1970. The center in Rau Village started in 1997 through initiative of the local leadership. It is a non-governmental organization, which works through religion to encourage its students to make the community a better place. The organization is located about 2 kilometers from the Home Base. The organization works for women empowerment to develop their full potential in different ways through education and workshops.

It also works in line with the major contemporary problems situations of the environment care, HIV/AIDS, globalization, poverty reduction, children care and evangelism through literature distribution. The organization focuses on two programs at Rau Village:
• Youth Vocational Program: Youths undergo two years training to gain skills in income generation through dressmaking and cookery
• Children program: To prepare children for a better future, set them in a learning environment by providing the basic knowledge, social integration, creating critical thinking and discovery before entering elementary schools. To make them create a spirit of independence and attitude of respecting each other and making them learn from daily observation within the cultural system.
• Women’s initiatives: Volunteers can work on income-generation activities and skill-training activities with the women. Life skills and business development skills are also helpful.

Teaching is done in Kiswahili but English is among the 6 subjects normally offered. These include Maths, science, Kiswahili, English, General Knowledge and Arts and Crafts. The ages of the students are 6-15.

The school has shortage of teachers and supplies for arts and crafts. It has a total of 4 teachers all women in the Youth Program, which has 45 girls.

In the Children program it has 3 teachers with 30 girls and 28 boys, total 58.

Duties

a) Classroom teaching: The Volunteer will work with the assigned teacher to support the teaching of certain topics(s) within the curriculum. Activities could range from providing direct teaching on a given topic, assisting in the design of student subject activities and managing group activities, providing exercises for class work and or home work and marking students work that are geared to promoting utilizing use of English language skills.
b) Specific student projects can be set up to promote cultural exchanges and explore differences between Tanzania and other nationalities through reading, writing discussions etc.

Supplies and equipments:
• Depending on your subject area, book resources would be very useful as reference material.
• Supplies of mathematical models, scientific models, maps and student centered activities.
• Drawing and music materials
• Readily designed group activities with facilitator instructions, ready for review and implementation.
• Team building activities, self esteem and empowerment games are greatly encouraged.
• Primary pupils’ sports gear.
• Magazines, brochures on your current or past experiences or any pieces of reliable material to help introduce your regular environment to your colleagues.
• Special costumes that explains your cultural background or institution affiliation, etc.
• Ability to teach small children 3 – 6 years
• Respect for spiritual practices