Mwangaza Education Centers

What is this Project?

Each of the Education Centers will offer both preschool and adult literacy and language classes. Preschool classes will provide access for all children in this large community to basic education in literacy and arithmetic. Regular Parent-Teacher Association meetings will involve the family of students in their education. The Education Centers will also provide literacy and English language classes for adults. The Centers are entitled Mwangaza, meaning light in Swahili, because the community believes the Centers will enlighten the lives of all the refugees living in the surrounding area.

Why is it Needed?

The majority of children living in this remote area of Meheba Settlement have never had access to early childhood education. Preschool education offered through the Mwangaza Education Centers will prepare children to succeed when graduates matriculate to Basic School. Lack of access to education and illiteracy are widespread problems among adults. Providing writing, reading and language education to adults in the community will enable them to better communicate within their culturally diverse community and with people in their host-country, Zambia.

Who does it Help?

Annually, the Mwangaza Education Centers will directly benefit about 150 children between the ages of 3 and 6 as well as at least 75 adults. Indirectly, the Centers will lift the burden of childcare from the children’s caretakers for much of the day, and bring regular activity and educational opportunities to what is currently a community with low literacy levels and no access to early childhood education.

What are the Daily Activities?

• Conducting daily exercises in basic literacy and arithmetic
• Leading lessons that develop play skills, communication and teamwork tools
• Hosting monthly Parent-Teacher Association meetings to involve families as volunteers and solicit feedback on student progress
• Teaching adults both reading and writing skills as well as how to read, write and speak in English

What are the Objectives?

• To prepare the 150 children living in the surrounds of the Center for primary education
• To ensure at least 90% of the preschools’ graduates matriculate at local Basic Schools
• To eliminate the burden of childcare up to 5 hours a day for caretakers living in the community
• To ensure that both men and women are given the opportunity to learn to read and to write
• To increase the number of community members who can communicate in English

How does it Measure Progress?

*Because of budget constraints, FORGE has temporarily scaled back the scope of many of its projects. The project descriptions and budgets seen here describe the project's typical operations, and might therefor not reflect the current situation on the ground. Once sufficient funding is secured for each project, its operations will be expanded back to those reflected in this description and budget.