As we ended last year with an up close and personal report on our Aid For Africa project, we felt that an appropriate way to start 2008 would be to provide yet another up close and personal report on some of the people directly involved and affected by this special and important program.

In last month's newsletter, we had the pleasure of meeting one of the teachers, Linnie Jamali, and a special student, Eliza Malunga. This month, we are happy to introduce two more "friends" from Malawi, both of whom we believe you will be happy to have met:

WILLIAM KAMUNDI - teacher

William Kamundi is 26 years old and lives in Matanda Village. He had one year of teaching experience in a preschool before he started his job at Umodzi-Mbame in October 2006.

"Over the last year, I have learned so much regarding the teaching profession. I have always loved children and liked teaching and playing with them, however now I am much more aware that each child is different. Today I enjoy trying to observe and getting to know each individual child's needs, interests, and way of learning so that I can support each of them in the best way. Through the regular trainings and exchange with the other teachers I have gained many new ideas on how to deal with and respond to children's behavior. The practical trainings - learning through observing, discussing, and evaluating - has helped me to better understand and implement the underlying methodology."

SHAIBU ENOCK - student

Shaibu is 4 years old and lives in Juma Village with his mother. Umodzi Teacher William Kamundi (our featured teacher above) says: "In the beginning, Shaibu was a very difficult child. He used to shout out, ignore instructions from the teachers, and would often get into fights with other children. Over the last year we tried to encourage more positive behavior through various disciplinary methods, using praise, passing on responsibility and supporting his understanding for our social rules at this school."

Linnie (last month's featured teacher), who is teaching with William, continues: "Now Shaibu is using his enormous energy and his urge for attention in a much more positive way. He actively takes part in the lessons, is always there when a task needs doing and is even actively reminding the other children about the school rules if they tend to forget or ignore them."

Shaibu, when asked what he likes about school, responded: "Playing with the wooden blocks and singing the Alphabet Song."

We look forward to providing more updates later in the year, along with more profiles of these special people!

Home - Monthly Horoscope - Monthly Winner Story - Aid For Africa Update - Winner's List - Promo Details