Support Teachers to Educate 200 Children Monthly

Dear friends and partners,

This September I would like to share real teacher stories about their experiences at Acres of Mercy Learning Centre.  I do this as a way of preparing to celebrate our teachers and teachers in general in the next two weeks when we celebrate World Teachers Day on October 5th.

Reflective Teachers, Growing Teachers, Growing Students

Teacher M "In the past three years, i have been with Pre-school children. In my first year, I had  a challenge. I was expecting to deliver the perfect lesson as I planned it. As the days went by I learnt the importance of accepting and learning from my own mistakes...It made me create room for mistakes where learners amke mistakes and learn from their mistakes rather than let the mistakes demoralize them... Through being honest about my mistakes and imperfections, I can noow form a stronger connection with the learners and form strong strong relationships with mystudents in order to create a better learning environment"

Teacher E "Many are the times I feel so encouraged...I look at the way the students do their work independently, compared to the times I used to push them...Teachers , [sic] colleagues,  also encourage me through their support, correction and words of encouragement...Whatever I do, I do because I believe that all learners can learn no matter what through all support.."

Teacher L "I have learnt a lot through the learning meetings we have been having...The new Competency Based Curriculumn has made learning and teaching in Pre-School so enjoyable.."

These and more are stories being told through committed practice of our teachers. They are not without challenges, but through consistent practice and teamwork they are being overcome. Below is one such story re-told.

We admitted him in the middle of last term. He was a troubled teenage boy, bearing the scars of a brutal period in the Kenyan public schools. Our public schools are violent places for differently abled children. This boy had a chip on his shoulder and soon after joining the school he was out to prove himself...he wanted so much to be respected, to be valued, to be loved.

His first infraction was to declare that he could beat all the teachers (female) within the school. We called in the parent, thankfully the father came. What emerged was a student disrepectful to women, in constant conflict with the mother as he sought to be loved, to be respected. Perhaps he had been projecting and needed a little careful intervention.

There has been marked change in the boys' level of discipline, thanks to the efforts of a caring and understanding teacher.

Friends, your investment in these teachers are yielding results one day at a time. Thank you for your continued support. Acres of Mercy has an 11 team teaching team, three volunteers.

Our goal in the next 12 months is to retain 12 teachers at an average monthly salary of $220 a month per teacher. We are  also working on different ways to motivate our staff, in the words we speak, in the trainings, in finding ways they can progress in their careers as mentioned by facilitating increments in remuneration and other teacher benefits so they can continue to invest in our children for a better society whilst living too. To this end our Board is aconsidering a strategy to provide these in a sustainable way.

Your ideas on how to do this in sustainable ways are needed and are welcome.

Get in touch via email- acresofmercy@gmail.com 

Visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/acresofmercy

Consider increasing recurrent giving for this project through involving friends, colleagues and families.

Once again, I celebrate your partnership, friendship and trust. Thank you!