Summary of project status and achievements:
English classes continued this month. Students began writing their exams during the last week of November. The coordinator continued to compile the curriculum he uses for submission to the PM.
Practice times for keyboard and guitar were chosen. However, the keyboard students all decided to continue learning from Donat Kankaji by switching to the keyboard class he teaches at Kunachi once a week in the afternoon. No one has yet taken advantage of the guitar practice time.
Future Activities and Projections:
English classes will graduate in the first week of December. A new intake will begin in January.
Indicators and statistics:
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or requests:
None.
By Nick Reese(Note - This blog was written by the refugee Project Facilitator Solomon for this project. As English is not his first language, there may be some minor grammatical errors in his writing. Care was taken to clarify any passages that were confusing, while leaving most of the blog untouched in order to preserve his original tone.)
The FORGE MCAC English classes have been empowering the refugee community based in Meheba refugee camp, Zambia with communication skills. This program deals with adults who learn to speak, read and write a new language. The interest is too big, whereby almost 95 people enroll for classes each semester. It’s a six month semester, with two intakes each year. We have different levels of classes - Level 1 for beginners, Level 2 Intermediate, Level 3 Advanced which still need more supports.
By SolomonSummary of project status and achievements:
English classes continued this month.
Due to the budget cuts, the MCAC music program was discontinued at the end of October. During October, guitar classes were held at the MCAC building with 15 students. Keyboard classes were also held in the MCAC building with 21 students.
Future Activities and Projections:
English classes will continue at the MCAC building. Additionally, a schedule will be created to allow former music students to practice guitar and keyboard, as the instruments will remain at the MCAC building.
Indicators and statistics:
Summary of project status and achievements:
English classes continued this month. The PM visited an English class at Dufatanye, the only other FORGE project in Meheba currently offering English classes, and concluded that it would be useful to standardize the curriculum and implement a training program for English teachers. However, given the fact that at this point there is only one “satellite” English program, now may not be the time to do so.
Guitar classes continued this month at the MCAC building with 15 students. Keyboard classes began on September 6. Theory was taught for the first two weeks while we awaited the rechargeable batteries. Once the batteries were received, there was an issue with the voltage. The batteries did not last as long because rechargeable batteries are of a lower voltage than regular batteries. We have worked out a system in which we use two sets that are swapped out during class as they expire. This arrangement is working, and it appears that for now the power issue with the keyboard is solved. There are 24 students in the keyboard class.
Future Activities and Projections:
English, keyboard and guitar classes will continue at the MCAC building. Dufatanye Preschool has expressed interest in a music program, and guitar teacher Clement Nduba has expressed interest in expanding his hours, so there may be a collaboration along these lines in the next month. Logistics of moving the guitars back and forth will need to be worked out.
Indicators and statistics:
Summary of project status and achievements:
English classes continued this month. The beginning English class was so large that the teacher, Solomon Kasongo, split it into a morning and an afternoon class. There are now three English classes: morning beginning, afternoon beginning and advanced. Each meets three times a week. Solomon has been informed about the monthly demographic information needed on each student, so the indicators and statistics will reflect these next month. Solomon also has a notebook containing his curriculum, which he created himself.
Music classes had their advanced graduation on August 9, culminating six months of instruction. Keyboard graduated 9 students and guitar graduated 11 students. This actually only represents 16 students because some students graduated from both keyboard and guitar. Additionally, 2 of the 16 were the guitar and keyboard teachers because each took the other’s class. Teachers Donat Kankaji and Clement Nduba organized a graduation ceremony and recital. Biscuits and groundnuts were served to the students.
Registration for a new round of guitar classes was held on August 23. Classes began on August 26 with 15 students, including one Zambian who lives outside the camp.
Keyboard class was suspended due to a lack of batteries for the keyboard. The PM has requested a AA battery charger and rechargeable batteries to be sent from the United States. In anticipation of its receipt, keyboard registration was held on August 30. Twenty students registered, and classes will begin on September 6 with music theory.
Future Activities and Projections:In the next month, the PM will work with Solomon to update the pre and post knowledge tests and to create an English class evaluation. The PM will also work with Donat and Clement to create a post class evaluation for the music classes.
The PMs feel that Solomon could be utilized more. His English classes are extremely popular and seem to be very effective. He has created his own curriculum that we think could be used throughout Meheba to standardize FORGE English classes. Perhaps other FORGE English teachers could even be trained by Solomon. At this point, these are just ideas, but Solomon is an employee in whom we see great potential.
Indicators and statistics:
*English class statistics are unavailable at this time. They will be included in next month’s report.
Substantial problems or issues:
As mentioned above, the keyboard has some power issues. This can hopefully be resolved by using rechargeable batteries.
Additionally, the music classes seem to be serving the same population again and again. The keyboard class especially often feels more like a club than a class. To help reach out to a wider group of people, the guitar teacher and the PM have talked about moving the guitar class to Block F once this current session ends. This is partly in response to popular demand in that block.
Summary of project status and achievements:
Language classes celebrated their big graduation this month. English graduated 32 students in the beginner’s class and 18 in the advanced. Portuguese class graduated only 6 students (which marks the end of the Portuguese classes).The graduation was well planned and executed by English Teacher Solomon Kasongo. FORGE provided Meheu and biscuits and the students cooked a big meal of rice, beans, and greens. Each class performed a skit and the valedictorians of each class gave speeches.
The music classes restarted a new session.
Indicators and statistics:
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