School Life in Zambia

Today was a day spent with children...what an experience!

This morning we started by touring the mission base school which serves 200 students from grades 1-9. The children come from villages located within a 7 kilometre radius of the base and children walk to and from school each day. School in Zambia starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 with a half hour break at 10:30. I had the opportunity this morning to visit the grade 1 and 6 classroom and I must say I was very impressed with the work that the students were doing. The students in grade one were working on basic facts in mathematics, and when asked were able to read a short story with no issues at all. The students in grade six were very interested in Canadian life and asked a number of questions about our life and homeland. The students shared with me their understanding of evaporation, humidity, and the characteristics required for water to freeze. The end of our visit was spent in the principals office. Luke, the principal of the school is a Zambian who has been the principal of the school since it started 8 years ago. He took us down to the river and showed us pictures of the original huts that were used to educate the children and then walked us through the many changes that have taken place over the last eight years...an incredible story...and an incredible guy...I loved every minute of it!

This afternoon we drove about 7 km's to a local village that hosts a market for local produce and fish. While we were in the village we took part in a children's program that served about 200 students from 4 to 14 years old. I will never forget this experience! From the moment I got out of the truck, until we left, I had numerous Zambian children hanging off of me, holding my hand, and mostly pulling at the hairs on my arm (often until it hurt). It was obvious that they are not use to seeing a balding red head from Canada in their village! I spent the afternoon observing a lesson for children 7 and 8 years old and then worked with a small group on how to throw and catch a frisbee. These kids were very open to us visiting their village and loved physical stimulation through hand holding, piggy back rides, or just being held. I will never forget this day!

Tomorrow is our last day at the mission camp and they have arranged for us to spend the entire day in a traditional village. It should be a very interesting day as well!