A teaching opportunity of a life time

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ChildFund NZ is offering 10 Kiwi teachers a life changing opportunity to experience the challenges of teaching in poverty stricken Zambia with the launch of the ChildFund Global Schools Programme.

The ChildFund Global Schools Programme will see 10 carefully selected teachers participate in a two way exchange that will raise awareness and generate a true understanding of the importance of education in the developing world.

The inaugural exchange programme is between NZ and rural Zambia. ChildFund is inviting applications from Auckland based teachers willing to travel to Zambia for two weeks early next year to live in the local community and teach at a local school.

In return they will commit to a fund-raising target and agree to help host a Zambian teacher who will visit NZ later in the year.

The programme is the brainchild of Kiwi expatriate and former teacher Sally Hewlett who recently returned from 12 years overseas to take up the role of education programmes manager at ChildFund. It is based on a similar programme she operated in the United Kingdom.

Ms Hewlett says the experience will be life changing – personally and professionally – for the 10 lucky teachers who are selected.

“Just imagine you are a teacher in rural Zambia with 83 students in a classroom, sitting on a dirt floor or on bricks, with only a blackboard and a piece of chalk. What would you do? How do you ensure your students learn effectively? How do you teach without basics such as textbooks and classroom space?”

The two-way exchange of teaching and learning skills continues back in NZ, when a teacher from Zambia will have their chance to spend time in a school here, enabling both Kiwi students and the visiting teacher to learn directly about each others’ lives and culture.

“The opportunity for Kiwi teachers and their schools to partner up with teachers and schools in a poverty-stricken country such as Zambia is invaluable in helping our children and their wider school communities understand the issues around poverty in developing nations and the importance of education as a key to lifting underprivileged communities out of the poverty cycle.”

ChildFund works with children and communities in countries affected by poverty by helping needy children realise their full potential – and education is a key focus for this.

ChildFund Global Schools Programme will help participating NZ schools meet new curriculum requirements for students to be actively involved in values and issues learning experiences.

Ms Hewlett says students will be motivated by the insights and experiences of their teachers to consider actively supporting children in need, think about their own contribution to the world and the impact they can have.

“Every UK teacher who has been through this experience has gained significant insight into the lives of teachers and pupils in developing countries.

“I would particularly recommend it for mid-career teachers looking to take their teaching experience to a new level.

“Learning about other cultures through the eyes of a fellow teacher is particularly meaningful and will enable Kiwi teachers to give their own students a better understanding and respect for human rights and values. It gives the issue an important human touch.”

Teachers interested in participating in the ChildFund Global Schools Programme should contact Sally Hewlett, ChildFund NZ, E-mail: globalschools@ childfund.org.nz