HOME
OUR WORK
NEWS UPDATE
WRITE ME
Click on any image to see the full-size one. Then hit your browser's 'Back' button to return.
|
(Note: we hope to keep this page fairly up-to-date with news of our work. Unfortunately, internet connections are on occasion hard to come by in Africa. So, please check frequently.)
Literacy Classes and Closing Ceremonies
|
We had 5 different places (or centers) where we had literacy classes this year. Tinpnanyon (to the left) was out in the country side as was Kobo. There were two classes "in town" at opposite ends of Toussiana which is stretched several kilometers along a paved road
|
|
First we tested the students as to their reading and gave a dictation. We used three different texts and the students could choose which one they thought they could read best. They were scored accordingly. The very easiest were just syllables. Toussian is quite hard to read and even harder to write because of the tone.
|
|
|
Most of the teachers were only learning to read last year themselves so they have advanced pretty far. Since the people here are so busy the only time they can take out for classes is durning the dry season. There are only about 50-60 days available that they aren't involved in something else. That's not very long to go from having never read to reading fluently. Many have either had school in French or have taken the class already.
|
|
We decided to have a closing ceremony for each class. As an encouragement to the class and as PR for the community. No closing ceremony is complete without speaches. To the right a representative of the community leaders is accepting a letter of appreciation and a calendar. To the left some students are reading a short play that is found in the last reading text of the primer.
|
|
|
To the left is a student spokesman for the group thanking everyone for their help. Guests who came to the event were pleased to see how the students could read.
|
|
|
The students really liked their certificates which signafied that they were either successful or just participated. Various guests were able to present them to the student.
|
|
|
Pastor Pierre has helped out with several closing ceremonies.
While waiting at Tinpnayon for things to get started he used a small table hung from the rafters so to speak as a chalk board for a quick review of the numbers.
|
|
|
We decided this would be a good time to publicise some of the books we have in Toussian. Many were sold. It was neat to see them being read and the interest they created.
|
|
|
Sometimes you need a success story. Marie Claire is one of ours. She is from the Catholic church and wanted to work with the translation team. She didn't read or write Toussian and even her French had some weak points. She was encouraged to attend the literacy class even though it would be pretty slow for her.
|
|
When we tested most of the students we asked them what the story they had read was about. Mostly we got blank stares or a shocked look. "I have to know what this means?!!?" When we gave the text to Marie Claire she went off to practice reading it. I saw her laughing and asked what was so funny. "This story is funny!" she said. Hallelujah! Africans don't smile much for pictures, she really isn't mad, or upset in this picture. I think she thought it was supposed to be more formal. Marie Claire has started working with a revision team and hopes to take a kind of second year reading writing class that we offer for some of the better and more motivated students. Marie Claire is shown here with Esther Wiesmann our Toussian collegue who works on the translation with her husband Hannes.
|
|
What's a party without food? When you eat with your hands you don't have to worry much about cleaning all those utensils!
|
|
Happy Easter
from Wilhelm andTrudi Pleis
|
Previous Updates
Go back to top of page.
|
