Mkhanya Community School aims to promote quality education among the children through the provision of free education. Mkhanya community school is a new school which was built by YAZ volunteers and the community through workcamps. The community school has two classrooms, one office and two store rooms. YAZ and the community are currently molding bricks in readiness for the construction of 3 teachers houses in the upcoming work camps slotted for August 2007 and thereafter. The school has 223 pupils with only 4 teachers to cater for the all number of children. The school has five grades from grade one to grade one. The subject offered are Mathematics, English, Environmental Science, Social Studies, Local Languages, Hand writing, drawing etc. All the teachers at the school have not yet gone through formal teaching training. However, they are more organised as all of them have completed secondary/high school and they are able to speak good English and write. There is a water well near the school which is used for drinking water as well as cooking and bathing by the local people.
Volunteers can also match their skills and interests to the needs of the community. You may also initiate local research projects for a thesis. The volunteers will be immersed in rural village life and will spend time with warm and welcoming villagers; you will also have the opportunity to assist villagers in areas of great importance to their community. The volunteers will be expected to teach, run and manage the resource centre with some teachers from the community. They will also be able to teach English and introduction to a foreign language for those interested in teaching.
Location:
Mfuwe is located in the south Luangwa National Park area East of Zambia. It is about 685 Km away from the capital city Lusaka and 100 Km from the provincial capital Chipata. It is 25 kilometers from the park main entrance. Mfuwe is one of the busiest destinations for tourists coming to Zambia and has the best animals in the world!
Languages:
English, Kunda.
Qualifications:
The volunteers should have teaching skills especially English and foreign languages for those interested in teaching. Flexible and open minds, desire to help children from poor communities and be willing to reach out and inspire hope where there might be none.
Accommodation/Food:
The volunteers will be accommodated in a home stay where he or she shall have a chance to interact with the African family and have a cultural exchange experience. The food provided shall be what is locally available and if the volunteers want anything outside of these they shall have to provide for themselves. A volunteer with justified reasons may be allowed to arrange a separate basic accommodation at their cost but must be within the community.
Duration:
The volunteers have a chance to be in the placement for 3 months or more.
« The organisation of the camp community was fantastic! The group was great and we bonded quickly, language was always going to be a tricky one, but everyone attempted English and Indonesian so it made the whole experience fun and educational. »