Zambia

Ten Houghton students spent three weeks during Mayterm on a service learning trip to Choma, Zambia, where they developed and implemented an English literacy program for over 60 children in first through seventh grades. The trip marked the beginning of a partnership between Houghton College and World Hope International in Zambia (WHIZ). “World Hope specifically requested Houghton’s help in the area of literacy development,” said Associate Professor of Education Cathy Freytag.

“Each day a truck jam-packed with smiling students entered the compound.” wrote Daniella Knapp ’06, “The joy on their faces was incredible in light of their disheartening circumstances.” The truck carried 65 children from the Mochipapa Orphan Trust.

Under the supervision of Professor of Education Dan Woolsey ’77 and Freytag, each session began with an assembly that incorporated exposure to English through culturally-relevant African literature and music. Small group tutoring followed, each Houghton student working with a group of three to five Zambian children. “Soon the compound was filled with bustling activity.” Knapp continued, “Voices rang out with the alphabet song or students reading and discussing books together. Older children were hard at work writing creative stories or working on their ‘Book about Me.’”

The Houghton students and faculty worked together to plan and implement the daily instruction, then spent time reflecting on the day’s activities and fine-tuning their plans. “At times we struggled to plan lessons,” Knapp recalls, “but WHIZ Hope Club Coordinator Shelli Martin, encouraged us: ‘We’re not expecting you to have kids speaking fluently [in 2 weeks]. Your goal should be to instill the love of learning in these children.’”

Houghton students also observed and interacted with teachers and students at St. Patrick’s Basic School, a government-sponsored school serving first through ninth graders, and Choma Secondary School, which enrolls over 1,200 students in grades nine through 12. The group also attended seminars offered by Zambian colleagues on topics such as Zambian culture and customs, relief and development initiatives, the HIV/AIDS crisis and the Zambian educational system.

“With the Lord’s provision and support from the WHIZ staff we were able to make an impact!” Knapp says, then adds, “Zambian children still need much support with English literacy. We look forward to future interactions with World Hope and to the development of a sustainable literacy program.”

Milieu welcomes readers' comments.—Ed.