This nursery school was started by WOFATA ( Women Fighting Against AIDS in Tanzania.)
Alumni References: Lana Corbett: lana__corbett@hotmail.com
Emily Davies: emilydavies14@hotmail.com
Contact person: Esther John 0754- 069773
WOFATA nursery school is located in a very poor area, a few miles from our home base. The guardians / parents can hardly get one balanced meal per day. It is very new and not registered so far.
This nursery school was started by WOFATA mid-2006 to do the following:
• To support the orphans who were left behind after the deaths of their parents / guardians.
• Rejected children. (Young girls giving birth and the male concerned has refused responsibility.)
• Children born by young (underage) parents. Since both are jobless they cannot take any responsibility.
• To give education to the marginalized young citizens of Tanzania who are not privileged and are not sure of going further.
• Everything is on voluntary basis.
• There is a lot to be done. E.g. the classroom is not in good shape, teaching materials are scarce.
Activities:
• To assist resident teacher in teaching basic literacy (i.e. writing, reading, counting, shapes, colors)
• Providing physical activities to a group of children.
• Playing games with the children and have fun
• Work hand-in-hand with the Tanzanian teacher to develop pre-school activities and materials that can be used.
• Providing personal presentation and experience to the children and teacher for cultural and educational exchange.
Supplies and Equipment
• Readily designed group activities with facilitator instructions, ready for review and implementation.
• Supplies for physical education activities, music for different activities
• Toys/things to be used for teaching different activities
• Materials for painting
Attributes:
• Love of children and a flair for teaching
• Patience with children and ability to provide effective classroom management
• ESL teaching skills are important and ability to adjust your speech to a very low of annunciation
• Creativity in the design of learning activities with very little supplies or modern equipment
Other notes
The volunteer should speak slowly and not take it for granted that the pupils understand what they’re saying. Find new and creative ways of teaching English. The kids really thrive on positive feedback to build their confidence.
It is important to balance maintaining control in the class and reinforcing the children’s learning.
The children have memorized songs about ABC and colors, but they do not really understand what they are singing. It would be good to reinforce these topics.
It is good to take the children into a small group and teach them. When the kids are all in one room it is difficult to teach and maintain order. In the beginning, the work is challenging, but you will love the kids and you will get a lot of pleasure from seeing the kids learn.
Volunteers have also found that the kids are curious about volunteer’s skin and hair and may like to touch you! It is a good way to bond and also give them exposure to people of different cultures.
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3 comments:
Dear readers,
First i should introduce myself, my name is Lana and im from Penticton (vancouver area) Canada. Im 19 years old and arrived In Tanzania febuary 17th. Ive been placed at Wofata nursery school where ive been teachin kids from 3 to 7 years old. The school is in a church about 40 minute walk away from ccs. I think theres about 70 students that come to that school but usually only about 50 show up each day. I say school but its really only one class in a dirt floored room with benches for the kids. The kids are great, and will love whomever is there as long as they come with open arms. For someone not used to be touched a lot it can be overwhelming but you have to know that its only their way of showing affecting.
Right now ive been working on the alphabet and basic adding. With some help from home, they have gotten new exercise books that have been a great success. Since then we have been working quite hard on writing. There is a local volunteer teacher there also which is a big help but she also like me has little training as a teacher being the same age so it can be quite a handfull. But with a bit of creativity it can be great fun with the children. We usually start the class with songs which they love! (to the next volunteer ill leave a list with lyrics for you). Also when you arrive there should be some tables there which will be great for group activities and art projects if you feel so inclinde. If you have any room in your bags bring supplies!!!! everything here is limited and anything you bring can be used by wofata or another school. A good thing to have there would be a GOOD pencil sharpener. the kind that teachers nail to there desks because the ones here are terrible. Also art supplies like glue, siccors, markers, CRAYONS, paper and BOOKS! I think the hardest thing to find here is a good book. They really have nothing so if you have any left kids books bring them! For wofata its good to bring ones that have about one sentence on each page with easy enlgish so that they understand. I still have 2 weeks here so to the next volunteer email me if you want to know anything or want to see some pics @ lana__corbett@hotmail.com. even after you arrive let me know if you want to know anything or need some help.
cheers
Lana Corbett
All is well here. I love my placement and you were right about the importance of being a self starter and creative, as there are very few(none actually)resources but very open , enthusiastic kids.
We are working on English(body parts, colors, shapes,
greetings.) You work with an interpreter who is incredibly good and very positive. I have been helping them work on some behavior ideas as well but hopefully without the teacher feeling judged,as she did last placement. It is dark and dirty... not glamorous and I think it is important that whoever gets assigned is very clear about that, as Kileo told me, that before me 2 differnt original placements asked to be moved.
I really love the placement and my team(teacher and interpreter). They can always use pencils, and I wish I brought more English books to read that Kileo can interpret as I read.
I have been working with them to add some other teaching methods to incorporate more then the visual learner, i.e.: songs, art projects, games that are related to the topics we are working with in English.
They were willing to break the kids in small groups to work on math which seemed helpful as well. Someone could bring math manipulatives to try. I have been using bottle caps. I have been trying very hard not to introduce activities,be they art,math or English that cannot be sustained, as it is clear resources are always going to be very scarce here.
The teacher is very young (19) and is working very hard,so if someone is appreciative and respectful of her position, I think she is open to try new things. But the bottomline is, she is staying and we move on and that feels important to remember and respect.
Helpful Swahili words:
ACHA - STOP (COMMAND)
KULA - EAT (COMMAND)
CHAKULA - FOOD
HAPA - HERE
HAPANA - NO
MGENI - VISITOR (this is what they call you)
CHOO - TOILET
KAA - SIT (COMMAND)
NZURI - GOOD
NJOO - COME (COMMAND)
SIMAMA - STAND (COMMAND)
UKO - THERE
KUTEMBEA - TO WALK (to go for a walk)
WAPI - WHERE
NAOMBA - CAN I PLEASE HAVE IT
PICHA - CAMERA
PIGA PICHA - TAKE A PICTURE
KIMBIA - RUN
UNA MIAKA MINGAPI - HOW OLD ARE YOU
KUWA MAKINI - BE CAREFUL
KWAHERI KESHO - GOODBYE SEE YOU TOMORROW
PENDANENI - LOVE EACH OTHER
SIELEWI - I DON’T UNDERSTAND
SIJUI - I DON’T KNOW
KAZI NZURI - GOOD JOB
SUBIRI KIDOGO - JUST A MINUTE
SUBIRI - WAIT
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