Africa

Ros Hatfield who went to Tanzania with Oyster last year has done a fantastic job raising money for Sekei Primary school where she was a volunteer teacher. Ros organised a music concert which was a huge success and raised over £1,000. That, together with £1,000 that our Tanzanian representative Madeline raised with her friends and family was enough to buy Sekei some much needed equipment and build toilets for the children providing a more hygienic environment for the 2,000 plus pupils.

For more information about our projects in Tanzania click here.

The first time I met my class I wondered how on earth I would control this bunch of cheeky monkeys; They were jabbering away in Swahili, fiddling with each other’s hair and there were 85 of them. I’m not sure I ever fully got control over them; when you’re trying to teach the finer points of reflexive pronouns to a class, a small child tying a friendship bracelet onto your wrist isn’t very productive, but it’s hardly worth a caning. Most of the authority in my class room was held by Gladness, my self-appointed P.A who would periodically stand up, turn round and scan the class, hands on hips, before shouting “Shut up! Shame on you, you stupid boys!” at the troublemakers. Read the rest of this entry »

A lot of my friends thought I was mad when I told them I had decided to spend six months ‘somewhere in central Africa’, and I have to admit I didn’t think I would be spending the time teaching thirty 9-12 year olds everything from English, to Music and Art, and I certainly never imagined that I would enjoy it so much! The combination of teaching, sports coaching and home based care for people with HIV/Aids has really given me the opportunity to experience and see many new and interesting things. I cannot think of anywhere better to have come; from the beautiful landscape, to Victoria Falls, the mango trees in the garden and of course the children…I’m already dreading having to leave it all behind!

Click here to visit our Zambia page.