Help 80 Secondary Pupils in Niger Read and Write

The Big Challenge

We have been writing for years now about our big challenge to bring reading and writing skills up to level for students at Hampate Ba Secondary School. This is especially true concerning our underprivileged scholarship students who arrive in 6th grade, coming from public schools with jam- packed classes where they virtually have learned very little, if anything at all and who have the added disadvantage of having illiterate parents who do not speak French with them at home. So they start Hampate Ba Middle School with a big disadvantage and are discouraged from the beginning. We have remedied this mostly through our fabulous new After School Tutoring Program that we have started to implement with trained teachers who are able to boost the students. And now, in conjunction with this tutoring action,  we were able to confirm during our trip in April to Niamey, that our recent introduction of technology is also giving good results. Therefore, we are proud to announce that we are currently using new technology to enhance motivation for improving the very necessary skills of reading and writing. 

Reading and Writing as a Backbone of all Content Areas 

Before discussing technology and its unquestionable advantages with the reading and writing process (language arts), it is necessary to remember that many other subjects within a school curriculum require reading and writing skills in order to address the content. Mathematics as well as science projects often require explanations in writing and comprehensive reading understanding to do research. In fact, all subjects in the curriculum require reading comprehension and knowledge of the writing process, as students need to be able to read, research and write about a particular topic. 

How does Technology Help?

Technology is definitely a valuable tool that has the ability to enhance the learning skills for reading and writing and has the capability to motivate the learner and the teacher for creativity. Students acquire literary skills vital for success in school today and teachers invent new methods for teaching. 

Projectors as an efficient and fun Tool

As we visited different classrooms during our visit to Niamey in April, we were pleasantly surprised to see that the projectors we had purchased and delivered were being well put to use ! History/geography teachers were able to develop thematic units on weather and world regions.  Projecting images and illustrations on the screen gained a whole new dimension and certainly beat copying texts from the blackboard. This type of resource also helps develop the autonomy of the students, as they also learn to use the projector on their own and present their projects.  

Our computer lab has proved successful so far as a guide and a tool : it keeps getting better!

The Internet is constructing global bridges for students to learn, by changing the way that information is absorbed, processed, and used. Technology is influencing how students read, write, listen, and communicate. Our computer lab, under the supervision of an expert computer teacher, is encouraging students to be attentive, to do research, and to go further than what they have learned in class. From an attendance list, we are happy to confirm that during our visit at the school, we were able to determine that the students who have regularly used the computer lab for research, are more enthusiastic and have a higher success rate than those who have only copied a lesson from the blackboard in class. This is excellent news and we hope the tendency continues!

 Listen to what the Students/Teachers have to say : 

« I come to the computer lab afterschool as often as possible. I want to succeed my BEPC exam and when I do Internet research, I am able to go deeper into the subjects and then I get motivated to learn more and more. » comments  Razak, an avid computer user in middle school.”

“I hear the students repeating often that they are excited since they know that the computer work they are doing is special, since it is something that their parents did not have the opportunity to do when they were at school. I am really amazed to see the progress made by the students and how technology has enhanced their motivation to do schoolwork. » says Mr. Namata, the proud computer after-school teacher.

«  I love science and I am happy to see I can read new scientific terms and also use those terms in a sentence.Those new words quickly become familiar to me » comments Nafissa who aims to be a doctor one day.

“ I like getting to my history/geography class as early as possible. We have a team that is interested in technology and so we have learned to set-up the projector and have everything ready for the lesson when the teacher arrives. We all feel good about being independent and accomplished. We want this to continue because the class is so much more alive and interesting with images projected onto the screen. The technique of this teacher really makes us learn better.” exclaims with enthusiasm Sidi who is a 6^th-grader

What is Next ?

Next on the list is to teach the students how to do Power Point Presentations with visuals, so important for keeping the attention of young minds.  When all of these technology-enhanced lessons are combined, we hope the young learners at Hampaté Bâ will continue eagerly to improve their reading and writing skills.  Most find it more enjoyable to use the computer than struggle with flipping pages.  

Students and Teachers going beyond ...  

We are happy to have some Technology- savvy teachers at Hampaté Bâ, who are becoming an inspiration to our students.  It is evident that technology is in everyone’s best interest, especially that of our students, to utilize this dynamic tool within their school day and to give them better chances for employment in the future. 

We need your donations to help finance scholarships and keep girls in Hampaté Bâ School that implements such   innovative projects. Be part of the change! Your contributions give our students a better chance through technology education to improve their skills, to help their families, to develop their community.  You can make a difference in their lives. THANK YOU !

Give more to those who have less! This has always been an important objective of our organization, les Amis de Hampaté Bâ.  Our charity is constantly searching for ways to give better opportunities and a quality education to our students who come from under-privileged backgrounds.  Achieving this goal is especially critical for students in the last year of Middle School and High School, as receiving the BEPC Brevet Diploma in 9th grade or the BAC Diploma in 12th grade could make a big difference in their future, giving them opportunities for jobs or continued studies.

Computer Lab gives access to equal opportunities. It is not easy for our students to succeed when they have long distances to walk to school and at home have no electricity to study in the evening when it gets dark, nor support for help with homework from parents who are illiterate.  In addition to a specialized tutoring program set up to help struggling students improve their level, we are now offering the availability of our computer lab after school.  Needless to say, our students DO NOT have computers at home, so this opportunity to use Internet with free access after school is a tremendous gift. Our idea is that through the computer lab, even though Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with the lowest of the UN Human development index out of 187 countries, our students have access to the same tools as students in other countries. 

Computer Lab gives access to new research possibilities. We have opened the computer room after school not only for students to better learn computer skills, but especially to conduct research on various topics pertaining to their studies like history/geography, vocabulary, grammar, natural science, physics, philosophy, etc.  Students are independent and autonomous, have a sense of liberty and freedom. It motivates them to study and they are proud of mastering computer science. 

As Ibrahim, one of our star students, remarked, « I go to the computer lab as often as I can since I want to be sure to have the best chance possible to get my BEPC Diploma. I do research on history and also on geography, which are subjects I am weak in. On Internet after school, I learn better because I can explore these topics calmly at my own rhythm and deepen my knowledge on topics I don’t understand that well in bigger classes, and I can study in a cool place. »

A cool place to be! Of course, the computer lab is not only a perfect place to study and gain knowledge, but it is also an air-conditioned space which beats being at home with 45 degree temperatures common at this time of year in Niger. The after-school computer lab is of course supervised at all times by the computer teacher who keeps an eagle eye on the use of internet, which is restricted to using educational programs and doing research. 

Technology effects on students.  So far our students are often found to be challenged, engaged, and more independent when using technology. By encouraging experimentation and exploration of new frontiers of knowledge on their own, through the use of technology, they seem to gain a greater sense of responsibility for their work — producing higher quality assignments that reflect the increased depth and breadth of their knowledge and talent. And technology energizes students. 

Sidi was proud to observe : « I like to come to the computer lab to improve my skills in typing and making word documents and soon I hope to learn Excel. I feel good about myself because I even know more about using the computer than my teachers! » 

Reading and Writing. Students are able to read texts, find information, organize and evaluate it, and express their new knowledge in compelling ways. The use of technology seems to improve students’ motivation and attitudes about themselves and about learning to read and write. 

Djamila was happy to say: « I feel so good in the computer room, because I am able to explore texts in French and English on my own and verify my knowledge. It gives me confidence in myself and I feel satisfied. I can work independently and I am so motivated to make progress in my studies.  I have definitely improved my capacity to write and express my ideas. »

Hadiza, a young student having problems reading and writing, mentioned: « I love coming to the computer lab, because I can read different texts, improve my vocabulary and check on the spelling of different words which gives me self-confidence. I can also look for definitions and do on-line exercises. It’s simpler than a dictionary, which could be eaten by termites!  Since I can’t stay too long after school, I go to the computer lab during recess.  At first I was alone, but now the room has groups of students working together. Thank goodness the computer teacher is there during our break too! »

Students help Students: Ability to teach others. Razak feels respected since he masters the computer programs better than his peers. « I am really happy that the computer teacher has given me the task of explaining different programs to other students so they understand better and improve their skills. I am proud to share my knowledge and help others. » 

As a result, we believe our students will be far better able to connect with the world through the Internet.  We hope that positive effects of implementing this program will include increasing writing skills, better problem solving and critical thinking skills, greater self-esteem and lower drop-out rates of underprivileged secondary pupils with reading and writing deficiencies. Our dream is to bring underachievers up to level and to turn struggling students into confident above average achievers.

We have been able to create new programs which successfully help our students thanks to your generous contributions. Please give any amount possible. Your donations fuel our projects and really make a difference in our students’ lives. Thank you so much!