Support Quality Schooling of 250 Kids in Nguluni

Dear friends.

Let us join our hands in applauding the Class of 2016- Acres of Mercy Learning Centre.

Through myriad challenges they have persisted and succeeded.

Many fought through the challenge of limited resources at home, and family instability.

A few others fought through the stigma of low academic achievement in other schools, and a community whose idea of success is warped and limited to attaining high test scores.

Still they trudged on along, from the student who in 2009 as a young 6-year-old was admitted to the school. And the other fourteen who came in later with the last two being admitted in 2016 January.

It is the dream to see this girl and others like her complete school successfully that drove us to apply for a place on GlobalGiving in 2010.

Six years later, they have successfully completed this part of their life’s journey. Fifteen young lives. Nine (9) boys and six (6) girls- in some quarters this is 6 villagesJ.

Now I join my hands to thank you, for being a part of this incredible journey. Together, we took them through counselling sessions, we provided mentorship and guidance. We taught them life skills. We worked through math problems, wrote through essays, and practiced grammar. We ran the track fields together. We scored goals on the soccer pitch as they identified their skills and talents. We went after the few who almost gave up on school, visting their homes, we believed them when we should have disbelieved, we ate together and provided food when they were hungry. We cared and we gave hope...HOPE for a better future. And today, they are victorious.

Through the valleys and now we are on the mountain top of their first transition. Thank you for giving. Your gifts have surely given these young lives a head start in life. As they transition to secondary school, or technical school, we trust that the education we worked to bequeath them will serve them well beyond this year.

Thank you…you have made 2016 a success.

Dear partner,

I trust you have been well, having had a successful last three months in your endeavours. I can report that that we have had quite some success. Our success together since we are partners in this work together. This is our shared success. Thank you for making it happen.

Having started the last quarter to achieve the following

a. Improve writing so children can write legibly.

b. Teach students at least 200 key sight words

c. Teach students 300 word meanings through vocabulary instruction

We were looking to have a 20% improvement in students test scores as a measurementt of whether we are improving r not. In this regard I am glad to report that in the areas of Reading and Language we achieved and surpassed the 20% improvement target. On Average the whole school improved English Language scores by 21.48% from 50.09% at the end of Term 1 to 60.85% at the end of Term 2.

In Class 5, the students were taught 150 Key Words and about 150 Word Meanings Wghich yielded an improvement score in English of 18%, from an average score of 33.88% to 40.13%. 

These are the first step towards achieving higher scores in comprehension and reading across the school in all subjects taught in English.

Next term, we will have a school wide handwriting contest to assess students' handwriting. 

 However our challenges still remain the following:-

1. Low Pupil to Student Text Book ratio of 1 Text book for 8 children, a  ratio that must come down to 1:2. 

With your help we can raise $250 per month over the next three months to achieve this feat especially for Social Studies, Mathematics and Science. We would also like to have at least 5 English dictionaries for the five Upper level classes (Classes 4-8)

2. Vocabulary & Word Centres to help anchor learning and create a Word rich class environment ( 110 students) .$ 130 will enable us achieve this target.

Let's continue making a difference together. Increase our impact by making a new giving committment.

You, your friends and family can give now by directly going to our project page on https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/give-the-gift-of-education-to-180-children-annually/

Thank you again for being our partner in helping children have a better fighting chance in life through supporting their education.